Enchantment · Courage Magic
Heroism Spell
Heroism turns courage into a measurable magical advantage. Modern D&D protects a willing creature from fear and repeatedly refreshes temporary Hit Points; PF1e and D&D 3.5e instead grant a broad morale bonus for much longer.
At a Glance
| Edition | Level and casting | Duration and effect |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5e / 2024 | Bard 1, Paladin 1; Action; Touch; V, S | Concentration, up to 1 minute; willing target is immune to Frightened and gains temporary Hit Points at the start of each turn. |
| 5e / 2014 | Bard 1, Paladin 1; 1 action; Touch; V, S | Concentration, up to 1 minute; fear immunity and temporary Hit Points each turn; remaining spell-granted points disappear when the spell ends. |
| Pathfinder 1e | Bard 2; many other classes 2 or 3; standard action; Touch; V, S | 10 minutes/caster level; +2 morale to attacks, saves and skill checks; Will and spell resistance harmless. |
| D&D 3.5e | Bard 2, Sorcerer/Wizard 3; standard action; Touch; V, S | 10 minutes/caster level; +2 morale to attacks, saves and skill checks; Will and spell resistance harmless. |
Heroism by Edition
Heroism — 5.5e / 2024
| Level | 1st-level Enchantment |
|---|---|
| Classes | Bard, Paladin |
| Casting Time | Action |
| Range | Touch |
| Components | V, S |
| Duration | Concentration, up to 1 minute |
| Target | One willing creature |
Until the spell ends, the willing creature you touch is immune to the Frightened condition and gains Temporary Hit Points equal to your spellcasting ability modifier at the start of each of its turns.
Temporary Hit Point duration: the 2024 spell omits the 2014 instruction to remove its remaining points when the spell ends. Reading this wording together with the 2024 general rule, remaining points last until depleted or the creature finishes a Long Rest; the fear immunity and repeated grants still end with the spell.
Higher-Level Slot: target one additional creature for each slot level above 1st.
Heroism — 5e / 2014
| Level | 1st-level Enchantment |
|---|---|
| Classes | Bard, Paladin |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range | Touch |
| Components | V, S |
| Duration | Concentration, up to 1 minute |
| Target | One willing creature |
Until the spell ends, the willing creature you touch is immune to being frightened and gains temporary Hit Points equal to your spellcasting ability modifier at the start of each of its turns.
2014 expiry rule: when the spell ends, the target loses any remaining temporary Hit Points granted by Heroism.
Higher Levels: one additional creature can be targeted for each slot level above 1st.
Heroism — Pathfinder 1e
| School | Enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting] |
|---|---|
| Level | Alchemist 3, Arcanist 3, Bard 2, Bloodrager 3, Inquisitor 3, Investigator 3, Medium 2, Psychic 3, Skald 2, Sorcerer 3, Spiritualist 3, Summoner 3, Unchained Summoner 3, Witch 3, Wizard 3 |
| Casting Time | 1 standard action |
| Components | V, S |
| Range | Touch |
| Target | Creature touched |
| Duration | 10 minutes/level |
| Saving Throw | Will negates (harmless) |
| Spell Resistance | Yes (harmless) |
The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saving throws and skill checks.
Mythic Heroism (optional Pathfinder rules)
The Mythic version raises the morale bonus to +4 and applies it to all checks, attack rolls, saving throws and weapon damage rolls. Allies adjacent to the target gain a +4 morale bonus on saves against fear effects.
Augmented (3rd): by expending two uses of mythic power, you let the target attempt one additional attack per round when it takes a full attack action, as with Haste. The target can use this extra-attack ability a number of times equal to your mythic tier. This option requires at least 3rd tier.
Heroism — D&D 3.5e
| School | Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting] |
|---|---|
| Level | Bard 2, Sorcerer/Wizard 3 |
| Casting Time | 1 standard action |
| Components | V, S |
| Range | Touch |
| Target | Creature touched |
| Duration | 10 minutes/level |
| Saving Throw | Will negates (harmless) |
| Spell Resistance | Yes (harmless) |
The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saving throws and skill checks for the duration.
What Changed?
- 2024 and 2014: Heroism is 1st level for Bard and Paladin, lasts up to 1 minute with Concentration, grants fear immunity and refreshes Temporary Hit Points each turn.
- 2014 explicitly removes remaining Heroism temporary Hit Points when the spell ends. The 2024 spell text no longer includes that sentence.
- PF1e and 3.5e: Heroism is higher-level magic with a 10-minute-per-level duration and a +2 morale bonus instead of temporary Hit Points.
- PF1e supports many classes and has an optional Mythic version; those rules do not belong to the other edition panels.
Using Heroism in Play
Modern Heroism is most valuable on a creature expected to take repeated attacks or face fear effects while Concentration can be protected. The temporary Hit Point buffer does not stack with itself; it refreshes when the spell grants the target new temporary Hit Points at the start of its turn.
PF1e and 3.5e reward advance preparation. Ten minutes per caster level can cover several encounters, and the morale bonus applies across attacks, saves and skill checks rather than to one narrow combat role.
Heroism in Armies and Courts
Armies depend on discipline as much as armour. Men-at-arms must advance into missile fire, infantry must hold when cavalry approaches, and assault troops climbing a breach have little protection beyond the confidence that those behind them will continue forward.
Heroism magic is valuable because it strengthens the individual at precisely that point of decision. Captains, household champions, standard-bearers, scouts and messengers are natural recipients: people whose success can steady everyone around them even when the spell itself affects only one creature.
Rulings
Do the modern Temporary Hit Points stack every turn?
No. Temporary Hit Points do not add together. When new temporary Hit Points are gained, the creature keeps either its current amount or the new amount.
Does the 2014 target keep its remaining Temporary Hit Points when Heroism ends?
No. The 2014 spell explicitly removes any remaining temporary Hit Points granted by Heroism when the spell ends.
Do the 2024 points vanish when the spell ends?
The spell has no such removal instruction. Under the 2024 general Temporary Hit Point rule, remaining points last until depleted or a Long Rest. The spell no longer supplies fear immunity or new points once it ends.
Does Heroism heal a creature at 0 Hit Points?
No. Temporary Hit Points are a damage buffer, not healing, and do not wake an unconscious creature.
Does ordinary legacy Heroism grant fear immunity?
No. PF1e and 3.5e grant a +2 morale bonus on saving throws, including fear saves, but ordinary Heroism does not make the target immune. Greater Heroism is a separate spell.
Can a legacy target resist a beneficial Heroism spell?
PF1e and D&D 3.5e list the Will save and Spell Resistance as harmless. A creature can normally accept beneficial magic rather than resisting it.
Related Spells
- Greater Heroism — stronger legacy courage magic.
- Good Hope — group morale magic in legacy editions.
- Bless — multi-target battle support.
- Remove Fear — direct fear protection.
- Aid — another resilience spell.
Sources & Licensing
- D&D Beyond — Heroism (2024)
- D&D Beyond — Heroism (2014)
- Archives of Nethys — Heroism and Mythic Heroism (PF1e)
- d20 SRD — Heroism (3.5e)
This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC and available at https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-reference-document. The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.
Download the System Reference Document 5.1.
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.
Charles-Antoine Coypel’s Fury of Achilles, 1737, remains the page illustration. Edition summaries are paraphrased; tactical discussion and setting examples are commentary.
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