Chill Touch — Four Edition Spell Rules
The same spell name has very different effects across editions. Use the rules for your edition: the 2024 touch cantrip, the 2014 ranged cantrip, or the Pathfinder/3.5e first-level necromancy spell. The original artwork, videos and legacy mechanics remain below.
Chill Touch at a Glance
- 5.5e / 2024: Cantrip, Action, Touch, 2d10 Necrotic damage at character level 7. Stops healing until the end of the caster’s next turn.
- 5e / 2014: Cantrip, 1 action, 120 feet, 2d8 Necrotic damage at character level 7. Stops healing until the start of the caster’s next turn and impairs undead attackers.
- Pathfinder 1e: 1st-level spell, 1 standard action, Touch. Each hit deals 1d6 negative-energy damage and may also damage Strength; undead may panic instead.
- D&D 3.5e: 1st-level spell, 1 standard action, Touch. The original spell’s negative-energy damage, Strength loss and undead panic rules are retained below.
Three Useful Rulings
Can Chill Touch be cast from a distance? In 2014, yes: it has a 120-foot range. The 2024 spell requires a melee spell attack, and the two older editions require touch attacks.
Does it stop healing in Pathfinder or D&D 3.5e? No. That restriction belongs to the modern cantrips; older versions weaken living creatures with negative energy and potential ability damage.
What happens against the undead? The 2014 cantrip interferes with the target’s attacks against the caster. The Pathfinder and 3.5e first-level spells may make an undead target panic instead of causing damage. The 2024 cantrip does not add either effect automatically.
Chill Touch by Edition
Chill Touch — 2024
Level Necromancy cantrip
Casting Time Action
Range Touch
Components V, S
Duration Instantaneous
Attack Melee spell attack
A successful touch deals 1d10 Necrotic damage and prevents the target regaining Hit Points until the end of the caster’s next turn. The damage increases to 2d10 at level 5, 3d10 at level 11 and 4d10 at level 17. It requires no spell slot or Concentration.
Margaret Aitken, level 7: +7 to hit in melee; 2d10 Necrotic damage on a hit. Unlike the 2014 spell, she must reach her victim.
Chill Touch — 2014
Level Necromancy cantrip
Casting Time 1 action
Range 120 feet
Components V, S
Duration 1 round
Attack Ranged spell attack
A spectral skeletal hand strikes a target for 1d8 Necrotic damage and prevents it regaining Hit Points until the start of the caster’s next turn. If the target is undead, its attacks against the caster have Disadvantage until the end of the caster’s next turn. Damage rises to 2d8 at level 5, 3d8 at level 11 and 4d8 at level 17.
Margaret Aitken, level 7: +7 ranged spell attack, 2d8 Necrotic damage, range 120 feet.
Chill Touch — Pathfinder 1e
Level Witch 1, other eligible arcane lists
School Necromancy
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range Touch
Target Up to one creature per caster level
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude partial for living targets, Will negates for undead
Spell Resistance Yes
Each successful touch deals 1d6 negative-energy damage to a living creature, plus 1 Strength damage unless it saves. An undead target takes no damage but may flee in panic for 1d4 rounds plus 1 round per caster level. Multiple touches follow the edition’s spell rules.
Margaret at caster level 7: up to seven touches; save DC 15 if this spell is prepared. She does not automatically gain the modern healing-suppression effect.
Chill Touch — D&D 3.5e
Level Sorcerer/Wizard 1; other classes only when their own lists permit
School Necromancy
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range Touch
Targets One creature per caster level
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude partial or Will negates, as applicable
Spell Resistance Yes
Each touch deals 1d6 negative-energy damage to a living creature and 1 Strength damage unless it saves. Undead take no damage but may flee in panic for 1d4 rounds plus 1 round per caster level on a failed Will save. At caster level 7 this can produce up to seven touches, subject to the 3.5e spell rules.
Margaret: Her legacy Witch does not automatically gain a Sorcerer/Wizard spell outside the Witch list. She must have a permitted source before preparing this version.
Chill Touch- A touch from your hand, which glows with blue energy, disrupts the life force of living creatures.
Edition sources: the 2024 and 2014 cantrips use their respective Creative Commons-licensed System Reference Documents; the preserved Pathfinder and 3.5e rules below use the appropriate legacy Open Game License sources. The versions must not be combined.
Necromancy
Level Sorcerer/Wizard 1
Components V, S
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range Touch
Targets Creature or creatures touched (up to one/level)
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude partial or Will negates; see text
Spell Resistance Yes
Each touch channels negative energy that deals 1d6 points of damage. The touched creature also takes 1 point of Strength damage unless it makes a successful Fortitude saving throw.
You can use this melee touch attack up to one time per level.
An undead creature you touch takes no damage of either sort, but it must make a successful Will saving throw or flee as if panicked for 1d4 rounds +1 round per caster level.
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