Undead

Browse undead creatures · Pathfinder 1e type rules.

Undead are once-living creatures animated by spiritual or supernatural forces.

Undead of the Bestiary

Not every corpse that rises is a mindless servant. Some remember oaths, guard their tombs or pursue old wrongs long after death.

Notable Undead

Zombie

Browse all 101 undead creatures (A–Z)

Youthful hopes, by scores, to all,

When the locks are crisp and curl’d;

Into me my maudlin gall

And my mockeries of the world

(The vision of sin)

Undead Type — Pathfinder 1e

In Pathfinder 1e, undead creatures have the following game statistics and traits.

Source: Pathfinder Reference Document: Undead. Individual creatures may have exceptions in their own entries.

d8 Hit Die.
Base attack bonus equal to 3/4 total Hit Dice (medium progression).
Good Will Saves.

Skill points equal to 4 + Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) per Hit Die. Many undead, however, are mindless and gain no skill points or feats. The following are class skills for undead: Climb, Disguise, Fly, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (religion), Perception, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, and Stealth.

Traits: An undead creature possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

No Constitution score. Undead use their Charisma score in place of their Constitution score when calculating hit points, Fortitude saves, and any special ability that relies on Constitution (such as when calculating a breath weapon’s DC).

Darkvision 60 feet.

Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
Immunity to bleed, death effects, disease, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.

Not subject to nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain. Immune to damage to its physical ability scores (Constitution, Dexterity, and Strength), as well as to exhaustion and fatigue effects.

Cannot heal damage on its own if it has no Intelligence score, although it can be healed. Negative energy (such as an inflict spell) can heal undead creatures. The fast healing special quality works regardless of the creature’s Intelligence score.

Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless).
Not at risk of death from massive damage, but is immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points.
Not affected by raise dead and reincarnate spells or abilities. Resurrection and true resurrection can affect undead creatures. These spells turn undead creatures back into the living creatures they were before becoming
undead.
Proficient with its natural weapons, all simple weapons, and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Undead not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Undead are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.
Undead do not breathe, eat, or sleep.
Per the spell magic jar: “Undead creatures are powered by negative energy. Only sentient undead creatures have, or are, souls.” This is an important sentence when considering any spells or effects which reference “souls.”

Five Facts About Undead — Pathfinder 1e

Look at the former life. Most of these creatures were once living. Their past can explain a haunting, a grudge or an unfinished task.

Use holy water’s own rules. A direct hit deals 2d4 damage to an undead creature. To affect an incorporeal creature, stand adjacent and pour the water onto it. Temples of good deities supply it; see the holy water rules for the touch attack and splash damage.

Check the creature’s alignment. Its own entry gives its alignment. Pathfinder ghosts can have any alignment.

Check the energy effect. Negative energy can heal these creatures, while positive energy can harm them. Apply the spell or ability’s own text.

Read the type traits. The Pathfinder 1e immunities above include mind-affecting effects and damage to physical ability scores, including Constitution. Individual entries can give exceptions.