What is Greater Restoration 5E?
Greater Restoration 5E (PHB, p. 246) is a 5th level abjuration spell, which is natively available to Artificers, Bards, Clerics, and Druids. It requires a vocal, somatic, and material component, with the latter being 100 GP worth of diamond dust, which is consumed when the spell is cast. It takes an action to cast, allowing the caster to touch one creature to instantly remove one of the following:
- One level of exhaustion
- One effect that charmed or petrified the creature
- One effect that reduced the creature’s hit point maximum
- All effects reducing one of the creature’s ability scores
- One curse, including attunement to a cursed item
Is Greater Restoration 5E a good spell?
Greater Restoration is potentially a very good, PC-saving spell, however, it is very situational. Depending on the campaign you are playing in, you may rarely, or never, come across effects that require the spell to be fixed. Additionally, a lot of the effects that it can undo are also frequently fixed by taking a long rest, such as the level of exhaustion, or having your hit point maximum reduced by an undead. The standout use case for Greater Restoration is undoing petrification effects or breaking connection to a cursed magic item, both of which are well worth the 100 GP in material components.
There aren’t many ways to improve this spell, the Twinned Spell metamagic would allow you to cast it on two creatures with only one spell slot and set of material components consumed. The ideal for this spell is to have it always prepared without costing a prepared spell, like a Peace Cleric, or have it from an item, such as a necklace of prayer beads.
How can you get Greater Restoration 5E spell?
If you need a way to cure what ails your party, then fear not! These are the ways you can grab this spell:
- Artificer, Bard, Cleric, and Druid – These classes get Greater Restoration on their spell lists natively.
- Ranger (Optional Class Feature) – Using the Additional Ranger Spells feature from TCoE’s optional class features section adds Greater Restoration to the Ranger spell list.
- Divine Soul (Sorcerer Subclass) – This Sorcerer can choose spells from the Cleric list, which includes Greater Restoration.
- Clockwork Soul (Sorcerer Subclass) – This subclass learns Greater Restoration, along with Wall of Force, at 9th level thanks to their Clockwork Magic feature.
- Peace Domain (Cleric Subclass) – Thanks to their Domain Spells feature, these Clerics always have Greater Restoration prepared from 9th level.
- Celestial (Warlock Subclass) – The Expanded Spell List feature allows these Warlocks to choose Greater Restoration as a Warlock spell.
How to roleplay the Greater Restoration
Need some help roleplaying the Greater Restoration? Here are some examples to help you out:
- Trapped in a petrified state after an encounter with a basilisk, the Paladin remains motionless as a statue. Not to be deterred, the Cleric approaches, laying his hands upon her stone form. Invoking a powerful prayer, a warm golden light flows from his fingers, gradually returning life and movement to Elinor’s body, freeing her from her petrified state.
- As the party emerges from the cursed swamps, they realize that the Rogue’s had been ravaged by the haunting spirits of the marsh, leaving him in a state of lethargy.The Bard strums her lute gently, clearing the supernatural exhaustion from him.
- After a deadly combat with a wight, the Fighter feels his life force drained, his vitality sapped by the undead creature’s touch. The Druid, recognizing the seriousness of his affliction, calls upon the power of nature to cast Greater Restoration. The verdant energy mends the deep-seated damage, reviving Arion’s strength and vigor.
Hopefully, this article was informative and helped restore the Barbarian back to health in time for them to pay that debt they owe you. If you’re interested in getting more bang for your buck from this spell, then check out our Sorcerer 5E guide, or If you’re interested in researching other spells then check out our DnD 5E spells section, Good luck out there adventurers, until next time, remember to prepare this spell before you enter the medusa’s den!
