Contagion

Contagion is a level 5 necromancy spell. This spell allows spellcasters to infect their target with an affliction of their choosing, potentially resulting in the target contracting a disease.

Description

Poison a target and possibly afflict them with a disease of your choice.

Once infected, the target will roll a Constitution Saving throw each turn. If it accumulates 3 successes, it recovers. If it accumulates 3 failures, it contracts the Disease chosen by the spellcaster.

Properties

Cost

Action + Level 5 Spell Slot

Details

Attack roll

CON Save

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

At higher levels

Casting this spell at a higher level grants no additional benefit.

Variants

•  Contagion: Filth Fever
•  Contagion: Flesh Rot
•  Contagion: Slimy Doom
•  Contagion: Seizure
•  Contagion: Mindfire
•  Contagion: Blinding Sickness

Condition: Contagion Poisoned

 Contagion Poisoned

• Has Disadvantage on Attack rolls and Checks.
• Each turn, it must succeed on a Saving throw, or the Poison will advance in stage. On 3 successes, it recovers. On 3 failures, it contracts the Disease corresponding to the variant of the spell Contagion that was cast.

Poisoned, Diseased

How to learn

Classes:

• Class Level 9: Cleric, Druid, Circle of the Spores (Circle Spell), and Circle of the Land (Arctic/Forest/Underdark)

• Class Level 10: Bard (via Magical Secrets)

Notes

• The description of the spell is misleading, if the target fails 3 Saving Throws, the disease persists after a long rest, essentially forever, or until the target gets healed by  Lesser Restoration or something similar.
• Casting Contagion outside of battle onto any NPC is not considered an aggressive action.
• Missing the attack roll when casting the spell, on the other hand, is considered an aggressive action and might turn NPCs hostile.
• However, if an NPC is afflicted with  Contagion: Mindfire and fails the 3 Saving Throws, it will turn hostile permanently. Killing an NPC in this way is not considered a crime.
• Furthermore, even though successfully casting Contagion on an NPC will not turn it hostile, if it's a key quest NPC, casting on it might update the related quest, turning it hostile regardless.

External Links

• Contagion on the Forgotten Realms Wiki