This spell creates an
undead servant. Choose a pile of bones or a corpse of a
Medium or
Small Humanoid within range. Your spell imbues the target with a foul mimicry of life, raising it as an
Undead creature. The target becomes a
skeleton if you chose bones or a
zombie if you chose a corpse (the DM has the creature's game
statistics).
On each of your
turns, you can use a
bonus action to mentally
Command any creature you made with this spell if the creature is within 60 feet of you (if you control multiple
Creatures, you can
Command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same
Command to each one). You decide what
action the creature will take and where it will
move during its next turn, or you can issue a general
Command, such as to guard a particular
Chamber or corridor. If you issue no
Commands, the creature only defends itself against
Hostile Creatures. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete.
The creature is under your control for 24 hours, after which it stops obeying any
Command you've given it. To maintain the control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must
cast this spell on the creature again before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to four
Creatures you have animated with this spell, rather than animating a new one.
At Higher Levels:
When you cast this spell using a
spell slot of
4th Level or higher, you animate or reassert control over two additional
undead Creatures for each slot above 3rd. Each of the
Creatures must come from a different corpse or pile of bones.