Chill Touch 5e - D&D 5th Edition Spell Book

Call Lightning 5e
Chill Touch 5e Image

Chill Touch 5e Spell Effects

Necromancy cantrip


Casting Time: 1 action

Range: 120 feet

Components: V, S

Duration: 1 round


You create a ghostly, skeletal hand in the space of a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the creature to assail it with the chill of the grave. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 necrotic damage, and it can't regain hit points until the start of your next turn. Until then, the hand clings to the target.


If you hit an undead target, it also has disadvantage on attack rolls against you until the end of your next turn.


This spell's damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8).


All information on Chill Touch 5e comes from the DnD Player's Handbook.

Acid Splash 5e

Classes That Can Cast Chill Touch 5e

The following classes from the player's handbook can cast chill touch 5e:

  • Sorcerer
  • Warlock
  • Wizard


Since chill touch is a cantrip and doesn't have a spell level, it isn't available to any of the cleric domains.


Also, I know what you're thinking: "I thought this spell was called 'chill touch'?" So, why's it deal necrotic damage? Good question. Like you, I also feel that this spell should be called "Grave Touch," or "Skeletal Hand," or something. But, whatever, I guess we can't always get what we want. Chill Touch deals necrotic damage, not cold damage, for some reason. Who knows why.


Chill Touch Spell Effectiveness

Damage 1st Level 5th Level 11th Level 17th Level
Damage Dice 1d8 2d8 3d8 4d8
Average Damage 4.5 9 13.5 18
Average Fighter DPR 11 19 30.5 41

Spell Damage

Only roughly half of the value from chill touch comes from its damage - the other half comes from preventing healing, and in some cases, giving disadvantage on attack rolls (to undead). The numbers presented on this table are compared to a fighter's average damage per round, which is calculated before factoring in hit chance. These numbers are rough estimations, intended to provide only an idea of chill touch's overall value as compared to the damage from another class.


Chill Touch 5e Usefulness

Chill Touch, like many spells in DnD, can be amazing when cast in the right situation. Or, it can be highly mediocre when cast in a suboptimal situation. To get the most from this interesting cantrip, try using chill touch 5e in the following circumstances.

  • If you're facing an enemy who is getting a lot of healing sent their way, be sure to utilize Chill Touch 5e. Since Chill Touch prevents healing on the target for 1-round, it should absolutely be spammed on enemies who rely on incoming heals.
  • Cast Chill Touch 5e when you're out of spell slots. This advice is probably obvious, as the damage/ utility from chill touch is certainly less than even 1st-level spells, but it is an important way to optimize its usage.
  • Use Chill Touch on enemies with low AC. Since a "ranged spell attack" goes against the target's AC to hit, in place of a saving throw, targets like other spell casters are actually relatively easy targets to hit, with chill touch 5e.
  • Finally, chill touch should certainly be prioritized against enemy undead who deal physical damage (not spell casters). Though the disadvantage to undead hit chance from a successful chill touch only applies to attacks they make against you - and not your allies - it's still a useful part of the spell to keep in mind.


Necrotic Damage Resistances, Immunities, and Vulnerabilities

When using Chill Touch 5e, it's worth knowing ahead of time that in the DnD Monster Manual, there are 11 monsters with necrotic damage resistance, 11 monsters with necrotic damage immunity, and 0 monsters with necrotic damage vulnerability.


Dungeon masters may always decide to give enemies you face off against necrotic damage vulnerabilities, but in my experience, most DMs aren't so generous. There are certainly other spell damage types that have more monsters with resistance and immunities (acid, fire, and lightning for example - consider spells like acid splash, burning hands, and call lightning), though the 22 monsters that reduce necrotic damage are worth looking out for.

Combine Chill Touch with the Following Spells

Chill touch is really not an amazing spell in the early game, but it's one of those spells that grows in value the further you get into your RPG campaign. In my experience, the further you go into a campaign, some of the more difficult fights you'll face often come from battling enemy healers. Since chill touch prevents healing for 1-round entirely - and there is no limit to how much healing it prevents - it can be truly amazing past 11th-level or so, when healing spells get really powerful.


Try combining chill touch 5e with the following spells to get the most out of this cantrip, especially in later levels.

  • Bless: normally, bless doesn't benefit spell casters very much, since hit chance is usually determined by enemy saving throws. However, since chill touch is a ranged spell attack, it technically counts as an "attack roll," meaning the +1d4 bonus from bless actually does apply.
  • Haste: characters affected by haste gain an extra action every round, meaning that haste pretty much meshes well with every spell in the game. Though Chill Touch 5e doesn't exactly do a ton of damage, if you're facing one or more enemy healers, you could cast chill touch on multiple enemies per round, effectively preventing multiple targets from being healed. Though chill touch is a mere cantrip, this simple combination could really make life difficult for an enemy healer.
  • Hellish Rebuke: this spell doesn't exactly multiply the effects from chill touch or anything. Instead, it's really just here to remind you that if your target's resistant or immune to necrotic damage, to - for the love of god - cast a spell with a different type of damage.


Chill Touch 5e Counters

If I was a healer, facing an enemy with chill touch, I would certainly make the time to silence them, use charm person, or cast cause fear on them. Really, anything to interrupt them from continually preventing my allies from receiving healing effects would be worthwhile effort.


Additionally though, since chill touch 5e uses AC to hit, it's also worth casting some of the following spells to lower chill touch's hit chance:

  • Bane: as the opposite of bless, you can use bane to lower a target's (3-targets', in fact) ranged spell attack by 1d4. Though bane doesn't outright prevent a spell caster from using chill touch 5e, it does make hitting with the spell more difficult.
  • Mage Armor: similarly, mage armor effectively raises AC of the target (in some cases), making it harder for them to be hit with spells like chill touch.


Chill Touch-Type Spells in Eternity TTRPG

There are so many TTRPGs out there that many players just go with D&D. 5e is the most well-known tabletop RPG in the world, it's a great system, and finding a group to game with is a piece of cake.


If you've ever wondered about finding a game that might better suit your gaming tastes though, let me shamelessly self-promote Eternity TTRPG for a second. In Eternity TTRPG, players can share the game master role, everyone gets to play a character (including GMs), and the game features really awesome tactical combat.


Below, I've included an example spell from Eternity TTRPG that's similar to Chill Touch 5e as a very short example you can use to compare how each game works.

Revenant Class Icon

Revenant/ Witch - Core Class Spell

Hex (Magic): weapon Range, -3Strike Bonus vs. Dodge or 4Range, -3Faith vs. Will. If this spell hits, you prevent the next 2HP of healing that the target would otherwise have received (can stack without limit). The target still receives any applicable Fatigue that they would otherwise have received from the prevented healing effect.

(Double-Hit): also deals 1damage.

  • (Grimly Fated) Not only is the next 2HP of healing prevented, but it instead causes the target to instead take equivalent damage.
  • (Of the Dread Vale) If this spell hits, the target also has -3Resilience, -3Dodge, and -3Will.
  • (Witch's Coven) Up to 3 enemies. *Double-Hit with this critical only allows one of the attacks to also deal 1damage.


Similar to chill touch 5e, Hex prevents healing on affected targets. Though there is a cap to how much healing can be prevented, and hex does not deal damage (unless the attack roll is very high), it's probably the closest example of a comparable spell within Eternity TTRPG. Revenant/ witch happens to be one of my favorite classes in the game (though revenant is an expansion class) as it has many unique debuff-like effects available in its spell/ ability kit.


Curious to learn more about the Eternity TTRPG Game System? Check out the Eternity TTRPG Core Game PDF!

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Jacob Tegtman Eternity TTRPG Creator

Author - Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed this article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

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Crooked Moon: The Crimson Monastery

By Jacob Tegtman • July 29, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QklD9CbOoV0&ab_channel=EternityTTRPG Transcription “In the flames, there is purity and salvation. From the flames, she speaks…”  Those aren’t the words of a prophet. They’re the twisted scripture of a zealot. Deep in the mountains of Druskenvald, a crimson light spills from stained glass windows. It’s not salvation. It’s a warning. Today, we’re venturing into one of the darkest D&D adventures I’ve ever read—The Crimson Monastery, from my new personal favorite, Crooked Moon. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your faithful companion through the wildest realms of Dungeons & Dragons. If you love your fantasy served with horror, vampires, and morally gray decisions, buckle in—we’re about to descend into a bloodstained cathedral of corruption. Let me tell you a story. Once, there was a noble knight named Marius Renathyr. A beacon of honor, clad in gold armor, championing justice in a cursed land. He loved a priestess of the Nightmother, and though they burned with passion, he kept his vows. But as his crusade wore on, so did his soul. Wrath replaced compassion. And that’s when she found him. Viraxys, a devil who fed on twisted souls, disguised her voice as that of a goddess—the Crimson Rose. On the verge of death, Marius accepted her offer of life eternal. But what she gave him was a curse. Now immortal, now a vampire, now a puppet to her whims, Marius returned to the world not as a hero… but as Father Renathyr, the Crimson Abbot. Real quick to interrupt, we now have free downloadable D&D cards at the Eternity TTRPG website that you can use at your table. Everything from combat actions to status effects – no more flipping through your book to see exactly what being “Petrified” does to your character. You can just take our graphics, print them out at home, and slap them on your table for fun and easy reference. Grab yours today using the link, below! Now, back to the video. Father Renathyr took over a mountain monastery, corrupted its clergy, and built a religion around his devil’s false divinity. In the village below—Dawn’s Gate—the people tremble under his sermons. Refuse his faith, and you’ll be burned alive. Embrace it, and you may become something far worse. This isn’t just a dungeon crawl. It’s a full-blown crusade to take down a vampire cult… from the inside. The Crimon Monastery is awesome – there’s just so much to it. But let’s start out by saying that Father Renathyr’s not alone. His cult is sustained by three terrifying Priors, each with their own tragic backstory and twisted gifts: There’s Houndmaster Jaeger , Friar Olaf , and perhaps the most terrifying , Inquisitor Cromwell . Each of them appears human at first. But when defeated, their monstrous Night Creature forms are revealed for a brutal second phase. They’re more than lieutenants—they’re potential successors. If you don’t take out all three, the cult might survive… without Renathyr. And then there’s the monastery itself. It’s not just a setting. It’s a trap. The whole thing. The monastery’s walls are made of bloodstone—a cursed material that prevents blood from drying. If you’re wounded, you leave a visible trail, and stealth becomes nearly impossible. All around are red stained-glass windows arranged in rose-petal patterns. They bathe everything in an eerie light. Inside, the rituals are disturbing: bodies bled at the altar, corpses hanging in the Dead Larder, prayers whispered under a false god. Oh—and there’s no sunlight. A blessing from the Crimson Rose means that even magical sunlight won’t harm vampires within these walls. This is their stronghold. You’re not just breaking in to your usual dungeon crawl. With the Crimon Monastery, you’re invading a fortress of the damned. Finally, this story doesn’t end with one death. Kill Father Renathyr without wiping out his Priors? You start a civil war. The survivors fight for control, leading to bloodshed across the region. But what if you expose the truth—that the Crimson Rose is a devil—and show proof to the faithful? You could cause the entire cult to collapse in one dramatic showdown. The townsfolk revolt. The Bloodless turn on each other. The Crimson Monastery falls into ruin. You get to choose the ending. But be warned: leave even one thread intact, and the nightmare may rise again. So, adventurer... if you haven’t picked up the Crooked Moon yet, it might just be time. If you’ve liked what you’ve heard, the Crimson Monastery is only one of many adventures within this beautiful new book. So, let me know what path you’d take in the comments below. Like this video if you love dark, story-rich adventures. Subscribe for more deep dives into the shadowy corners of D&D, and let us know you want us to cover next. Until next time—stay safe, roll high, and never trust a rose without thorns.
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Baldur's Gate, Moonshae Isles, and Icewind Dale - Adventures in Faerun

By Jacob Tegtman • July 24, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKV7iRcC31c&ab_channel=EternityTTRPG Transcription Wizards just dropped a bombshell—and no, it’s not another owlbear plushie. We’re finally heading back to the Forgotten Realms with a brand-new DM sourcebook—and it’s got survival horror, urban intrigue, and a ton of iconic locations. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your go-to for all things Dungeons & Dragons—rules, reveals, and Realm-shaking updates. Let’s start with the basics. Adventures in Faerûn is the brand-new Dungeon Master expansion dropping this November, and it's built specifically for the new rules update. That means it plays nice with the shiny new Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide. But unlike previous setting books, this one’s taking a genre-first approach. Instead of just a map and a lore dump, each of the five featured regions is tailored to a unique style of play. Think ‘Baldur’s Gate’ as gritty urban fantasy. ‘Icewind Dale’? Full-on survival horror. Yes please. Here’s the lineup of iconic locales we’re getting tools for: Baldur’s Gate – which you probably know from all our favorite, Baldur’s Gate 3. There’s urban crime, political tension, and maybe a little devilry. Calimshan – from older renditions of the Forgotten Realms Lore. You’ll fine scheming nobles and arcane secrets in an Arabian-Nights-esque setting. The Dalelands – from both 2e and 3e Forgotten Realms lore. This is classic high fantasy with lots of room for heroic sagas. Moonshae Isles – from The Moonshae Isles Regional Guide. It comes with Celtic vibes and druidic magic—great for mystery and folklore campaigns. Icewind Dale – which you can read about in the Legend of Drizzt Novels, by R.A. Salvatore. Here, you can expect Frostbitten survival, isolation, and ancient horrors. Each region comes with new adventure hooks, genre tone guides, and NPC inspiration tailored to the vibe. Real quick to interrupt, we now have free downloadable D&D cards at the Eternity TTRPG website that you can use at your table. Everything from combat actions to status effects – no more flipping through your book to see what exactly being “Petrified” does to your character. You can just take our graphics, print them out at home, and slap them on your table for fun and easy reference. Grab yours today using the link, below! Now, back to the video. Here’s the cool part—some of this material with the Forgotten Realms hasn’t been touched in Fifth Edition. Like, ever. They’re digging into the deeper lore of Faerûn and even pulling some artistic cues from Baldur’s Gate 3. You might recognize a few faces—or infernal contracts—from the game. And while it’s not confirmed, early previews suggest the book might come with poster maps—yes, actual tearaway maps. Which awesome. My table is ready. Adventures in Faerûn officially releases on November 11th, 2025. But—if you pre-order through D&D Beyond or an early-access local game store, you’ll get the digital version weeks in advance. Price isn’t locked yet, but it’ll probably sit around the usual $50 USD mark—same ballpark as Phandelver & Below and Vecna: Eve of Ruin. Now, you know how Wizards rolls: we’ll likely get tie-in minis from WizKids, and there’s a good chance Beadle & Grimm's will cook up one of their deluxe kits—metal coins, props, the works. To wrap it all up, here’s why this book matters: 5e hasn’t had a full Realms guide since 2015’s Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. That’s nearly a decade without a dedicated Realms setting book. With the new rules and player guide dropping alongside it, this feels like Wizards’ attempt to make the Forgotten Realms fresh again—for new players and you experience, veteran gamer-grognards, alike. So, what do you think? Which of the five locations would you run a campaign in first? Is this genre-based format the future of setting books? Drop your take in the comments, smash that like button like it’s a mimic, and subscribe for more D&D news, lore, and spicy takes.  Until next time—may your dice roll high and your plot hooks land.
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New Kickstarter - Starset the Great Dimming - GrimDark SciFi

By Jacob Tegtman • July 22, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJt6sfuolo8&ab_channel=EternityTTRPG Transcription Civilization cut off. The solar system dimming. You’re not a hero—you’re just a soul, caught in the aftermath. Hey everyone! Today we’re unpacking Starset: The Great Dimming—the new 2nd‑edition tabletop RPG by Josiah Mork. It's a gritty, hope‑tinged sci‑fi RPG where ordinary lives shape the story. If you haven’t ever tried out TTRPGs besides D&D, this video is for you. I personally love finding the gems out there, especially from people who have fresh ideas in the RPG space. So, let’s dive into what makes this game truly unique. 1. Life‑Path Character Creation – “Your Story Shapes Your Stats” In most tabletop RPGs, you start by picking numbers—your strength, intelligence, gear, etc. Starset flips that completely. Here, you start with a life path : five origin stories to choose from— Combat , Common , Exploration , Mercenary , or Slave . These aren’t classes. They’re your character’s past. Were they a soldier in a forgotten war? A wanderer searching for hope? A prisoner stripped of identity? Once you’ve chosen, you roll dice to simulate major events in that character’s life. Each result gives you a moral choice , like “Did you steal the food to survive… or go hungry and keep your honor?” Your decision directly affects what skills, alliances, and scars your character carries—and even how old they are by the time the game begins. And yes, it’s possible to die before session one. That's how real and brutal the world of Starset is. You also collect keywords —these are mechanical tags that represent things like trauma, friendships, or defining traits. Some make you stronger. Others are burdens that shape how you grow. Either way, they evolve with you, like emotional milestones that actually change your abilities over time. In short: You don’t make a character—you live them. As creator Josiah Mork put it, this is “ backstory on mega-steroids. ” 2. Simultaneous Action Resolution – “It’s Not Your Turn—It’s Everyone’s Turn” In most tabletop RPGs, combat goes in turns: “You go, then I go, then the monster goes.” Starset changes the entire flow. Here’s how it works: Whenever someone targets you—say, with an attack or a persuasion attempt—that action is delayed until the end of your next turn . That delay is called a Floating Action . It gives you and your allies time to do something about it. Maybe you dodge out of the way. Maybe you talk them down . Maybe your teammate steps in with an assist , giving you a boost. These responses turn every round into a mini strategy session. So instead of sitting there waiting for your next turn, the idea is that you’re constantly engaged. Helping allies. Blocking threats. Choosing whether to defend, or risk it all. Your dice pool —which you use for actions—is also your health . Take a hit, and you lose dice. That means fewer options and more vulnerability next turn. The result? Combat is less “hit and wait” and more like chess with story beats— tactical, interactive, and team-driven. Even the quiet players at the table get a reason to act and shine. 3. Rich, Thought‑Provoking Worldbuilding – “Loneliness Is the Real Enemy” Starset isn’t just dark because it looks cool—it’s dark because it wants to say something. The game is set after a cosmic event collapses the Oort Cloud... did I pronounce that right? The Oort Cloud collapses, cutting off Earth from the rest of humanity. Civilization falls into chaos. Survivors are left scattered, alone, and desperate for connection. Every faction in the game is built around a different solution to loneliness : One turns to faith . Another to techno-utopia . One seeks control through power. Others build tight-knit communities . Each choice has promise… and danger. No side is “right”—they just reflect real human struggles. To support this, the game includes the 8 Edicts of Man , a set of philosophical rules that shape society post-collapse. The setting spans 1,000 years of history , giving Game Masters tons of material—from colony ships in deep space to dying cities on Earth. At the end of every game session, players earn experience not for killing monsters, but by sharing how their character helped others or fought against isolation . It’s a system that rewards empathy, as much as power. So yes, Starset is bleak—but it’s also hopeful. It’s a game about surviving the dark… by reaching for the light. Who Should Play Starset… and Why? So who is this game really for? Starset is for story lovers : If you're the kind of player who enjoys deep, emotional character arcs—where your decisions carry weight and shape your story—Starset was made for you. Every character is a layered person with a past, not just a collection of stats. Starset is for strategic thinkers : Starset rewards thoughtful play. Combat and problem-solving aren't just about rolling high—they're about making smart, team-based decisions. And because you’re always involved—even during someone else’s turn—there’s no dead time at the table. Starset is for sci-fi fans with a philosophical streak : Starset tackles big questions: How do we find connection in a broken world? What do we believe in when everything falls apart? If you love sci-fi that makes you think, you’ll feel right at home. And finally, Starset is for game masters who crave worldbuilding fuel : The game’s setting is rich with lore—factions, history, philosophy, politics. It's all there to spark story hooks, conversations, and custom adventures. Whether you’re building a gritty survival tale or a cosmic morality play, Starset gives you tools to explore both. To summarize, here’s Why Starset Stands Out You don’t just create a character—you live their backstory through interactive choices before the game even begins. The simultaneous action system keeps players engaged and reactive, almost all the time. Which is a fresh change to many D&D battles, if we’re being honest. The world of Starset is dark, yes—but it’s also filled with glimmers of hope , and it challenges you to explore themes like empathy, survival, and belief. And finally, every rule and system is designed to reward meaningful interaction —with the world and each other. The Bottom line? Starset doesn’t ask, “How do you win?” Instead, it asks, “What kind of person will you be when everything falls apart?” Intrigued? You can back it now on Kickstarter or check out the rulebook when it’s available.  And lastly, let me know what you think of new game coverage like this, in the comments below. Eternity TTRPG is still feeling out who we are as a channel, so your insight helps me connect you with the content you want most. Until next time!
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