Lesser Restoration
Lesser Restoration removes common debilitating effects. The modern spell cures conditions; PF1e and D&D 3.5e instead repair temporary ability damage and fatigue.
At a Glance
| Modern level | 2nd-level Abjuration |
|---|---|
| 2024 classes | Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger |
| 2014 classes | Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger |
| PF1e | Cleric 2, Druid 2, Paladin 1 |
| D&D 3.5e | Cleric 2, Druid 2, Paladin 1 |
| Core use | Remove a debilitating condition or repair temporary ability damage/fatigue, depending on edition |
Choose Your Edition
The name stays the same, but the spell changed significantly. Fifth edition focuses on conditions; PF1e and D&D 3.5e use the older restoration model.
Lesser Restoration — 5.5e / 2024
| Level | 2nd |
|---|---|
| School | Abjuration |
| Casting Time | Bonus Action |
| Range | Touch |
| Components | V, S |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Classes | Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger |
Touch one creature and end one of these conditions on it: Blinded, Deafened, Paralyzed, or Poisoned.
The 2024 version is notably faster than 2014 because it uses a Bonus Action.
Lesser Restoration — 5e / 2014
| Level | 2nd |
|---|---|
| School | Abjuration |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Range | Touch |
| Components | V, S |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Classes | Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger |
Touch one creature and end either one disease or one of these conditions: Blinded, Deafened, Paralyzed, or Poisoned.
Edition note: the 2014 spell can cure disease; the 2024 spell no longer includes disease in its effect.
Lesser Restoration — Pathfinder 1e
| School | Conjuration (Healing) |
|---|---|
| Level | Cleric 2, Druid 2, Paladin 1 |
| Casting Time | 3 rounds |
| Components | V, S |
| Range | Touch |
| Target | Creature touched |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Saving Throw | Will negates (harmless) |
| Spell Resistance | Yes (harmless) |
The spell dispels magical effects reducing one of the target’s ability scores, or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one ability score.
It also removes fatigue and improves the Exhausted condition to Fatigued. It does not restore permanent ability drain.
Lesser Restoration — D&D 3.5e
| School | Conjuration (Healing) |
|---|---|
| Level | Cleric 2, Druid 2, Paladin 1 |
| Casting Time | 3 rounds |
| Components | V, S |
| Range | Touch |
| Target | Creature touched |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Saving Throw | Will negates (harmless) |
| Spell Resistance | Yes (harmless) |
The 3.5e spell uses the same restoration chassis as PF1e: dispel a magical ability-score reduction, heal 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one score, remove fatigue, or reduce Exhausted to Fatigued.
Permanent ability drain is outside the spell’s power.
What Changed?
- 2024: Bonus Action; removes Blinded, Deafened, Paralyzed or Poisoned; disease curing is gone.
- 2014: 1 action; removes one disease or one of the same four listed conditions.
- PF1e and 3.5e: 3-round casting; repairs temporary ability damage and fatigue rather than using the fifth-edition condition list.
Using Lesser Restoration
Keep it ready for action denial. Paralysis, blindness and poison can remove far more value from a party than the spell slot costs to fix.
Know what the spell cannot cure. It does not replace Greater Restoration, and the 2024 version no longer doubles as a disease cure.
Legacy editions reward preparation. In PF1e and 3.5e, a three-round casting time makes the spell far more practical after immediate danger has passed than in the middle of a fast combat.
Related Magic
- Greater Restoration — handles more severe magical debilitation.
- Remove Disease — remains the dedicated disease-removal option in legacy editions.
- Bard Spells — modern Bard access.
- Cleric Spells — core access across editions.
- Druid Spells — core access across editions.
Sources and Licensing
- D&D 2024 Basic Rules — Lesser Restoration. SRD 5.2 material is available under CC BY 4.0.
- D&D 2014 Basic Rules — Lesser Restoration. SRD 5.1 material is available under CC BY 4.0.
- Pathfinder 1e Core Rulebook — Lesser Restoration. Open Game Content under OGL v1.0a.
- D&D 3.5 SRD — Lesser Restoration. Open Game Content under OGL v1.0a.
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