Divine Magic • Core Spell Reference

Restoration

Restoration repairs damage to a creature’s vitality and removes certain debilitating magical effects. Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e use the original 4th-level Restoration spell with different rules for negative levels and ability drain. In fifth edition, Lesser Restoration and Greater Restoration are separate spells—not conversions of this exact d20 spell.

Restoration at a Glance

5.5e / 2024	No spell named simply Restoration in SRD 5.2.1; see Lesser Restoration and Greater Restoration
5e / 2014	No core spell by this exact name; Lesser Restoration and Greater Restoration have their own rules
Pathfinder 1e	Cleric 4, Paladin 4
D&D 3.5e	Cleric 4, Paladin 4; Witch 6 in the preserved legacy archive only
Browse	Cleric spells • Cleric class

Spell Rules

5.5e / 20245e / 2014Pathfinder 1eD&D 3.5e

Restoration — 5.5e / 2024

Status: no spell by this exact name in SRD 5.2.1. The 2024 Lesser Restoration and Greater Restoration spells have their own levels, casting times, costs and effects. Do not transfer the legacy negative-level mechanic.

Restoration — 5e / 2014

Status: the core 2014 spell list uses Lesser Restoration and Greater Restoration rather than a spell named simply Restoration. Use the 2014 versions of those spells and do not import 3.5e experience-level rules.

Restoration — Pathfinder 1e

Cleric spell level 4. Edition source.

School	conjuration (healing)
Level	cleric 4, paladin 4
Casting Time	3 rounds
Components	V, S, M (diamond dust worth 100 gp or 1,000 gp, see text)
Range	touch
Target	creature touched
Duration	instantaneous
Saving Throw	Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance	yes (harmless)

Base Procedure

Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject’s ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject’s ability scores. It also eliminates any fatigue suffered by the character, and improves an exhausted condition to fatigued. It does not restore permanent ability drain.

Changes and Additional Effects

Changes for this spell: it also dispels temporary negative levels or one permanent negative level. If this spell is used to dispel a permanent negative level, it has a material component of diamond dust worth 1,000 gp. This spell cannot be used to dispel more than one permanent negative level possessed by a target in a 1-week period.

Restoration cures all temporary ability damage, and it restores all points permanently drained from a single ability score (your choice if more than one is drained). It also eliminates any fatigue or exhaustion suffered by the target.

Restoration — D&D 3.5e

Cleric spell level 4. Edition source.

School	Conjuration (Healing)
Level	Clr 4, Pal 4
Components	V, S, M
Casting Time	3 rounds
Range	Touch
Target	Creature touched
Duration	Instantaneous
Saving Throw	Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance	Yes (harmless)

Base Procedure

Changes and Additional Effects

Changes for this spell: it also dispels negative levels and restores one experience level to a creature who has had a level drained. The drained level is restored only if the time since the creature lost the level is equal to or less than one day per caster level. A character who has a level restored by restoration has exactly the minimum number of experience points necessary to restore him or her to his or her previous level.

Restoration does not restore levels or Constitution points lost due to death.

Material Component: Diamond dust worth 100 gp that is sprinkled over the target.

What Changed?

Both older d20 versions retain ability damage, permanent ability drain and negative-level rules. Pathfinder charges additional diamond dust for removal of a permanent negative level and limits how frequently this can be done. D&D 3.5e handles the restoration of lost experience levels differently. Neither set of mechanics should be imported into the two separate fifth-edition Restoration spells.

Using Restoration in Play

Restoration matters after encounters with creatures that drain abilities or levels. Before the party spends rare material components, identify the specific condition and use the appropriate older-edition version. A single 4th-level casting does not automatically cure every form of injury, curse or death.

Counterplay and GM Rulings

Cost: distinguish Pathfinder’s 100 gp and 1,000 gp diamond-dust applications and the 3.5e 100 gp component; use the rules for the chosen edition.
Time: the three-round casting time is relevant if the party tries to cast in an unsafe area.
Scope: restoring one damaged ability score, curing temporary ability damage and removing negative levels each have separate rules. The spell does not undo death.
Counterspell/Dispel Magic: the casting can be countered using the original edition’s rules; ordinary dispelling after an instantaneous cure does not put the cured damage back.

Related Healing Magic

Lesser Restoration · Greater Restoration · Remove Curse · Witch Spell Lists

Mythical Context

Asclepius was honoured in Greek tradition as a hero and god of healing, often shown with a serpent. Restoration suits the idea of restoring a wounded person’s strength after a supernatural ordeal; the serpent, a sign of renewal, makes a compelling emblem for the healer. See the Metropolitan Museum’s Roman gem showing Asclepius.

Historical Context

Egyptian medicine and protective ritual could exist side by side. The Metternich Stela, made in the fourth century BCE, carries texts and images intended to protect from snake and scorpion venom; water poured over it could be drunk as part of the ritual. This documents belief and practice, not a working cure-all spell. See The Met’s exhibition on medicine in ancient Egypt.

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