Healing

Healing is the process of restoring lost hit points to a creature.

Healing can never restore more hit points than a creature's hit point maximum, and cannot restore temporary hit points. Player characters are generally only able to heal their party members and allies, not hostile or neutral creatures.

Most healing effects use a dice roll, similar to a damage roll, to determine how many hit points are restored; for example  Cure Wounds cast as a level 1 spell 1d8⁠⁠Hit Points plus the caster's spellcasting modifier as a flat bonus. More rarely, an effect may heal a fixed amount, like the  Heal spell.

Any amount of healing removes the  Downed or  Bleeding conditions, and many sources of healing also have other beneficial effects; for example healing potions also remove the  Burning condition when drunk, and some healing spells also remove diseases.

Sources of healing

For a comprehensive list, see the Sources of healing category.

There are many ways to heal creatures:

• Resting - a short rest will restore hit points to each party member equal to half of their maximum, while a long rest will restore all of the party's hit points if you have enough camp supplies, or restore them to half their maximum hit points without the supplies.
• Healing spells - there are many spells which restore hit points, mostly available to clerics, druids and bards, and (less so) paladins and rangers. Most healing spells can target an ally or the caster.
• Healing potions - these are frequently for sale from vendors and found as loot, and can be crafted via alchemy. Rarer versions restore more hit points. A character can drink one to heal themselves, or throw one to heal creatures in a small area of effect.
• Miscellaneous items - some items can be consumed for a healing effect, similar to a healing potion but without expending a bonus action; see below for a list.
• Class features - many classes and subclasses have features that can heal themselves (like  Second Wind) or others (like  Lay on Hands).
• Creature actions - some creatures have inherent healing abilities, such as the Water Myrmidon's  Healing Vapours.
• Some magic items provide healing, usually through granting access to a healing spell or improving the character's existing ability to heal. Some rare items may automatically heal the bearer in certain circumstances.
• Some conditions, especially those provided by buff spells, improve healing from other sources, and in rare cases provide some healing each turn they are active.

List of miscellaneous healing items

Some items can be used for healing as a free action, even in combat, which is presumably a bug. Some of these can also be used as camp supplies, while others have no other use. Free action healing items trigger the on-heal effects of magic items like  Broodmother's Revenge,  The Whispering Promise,  Slippery Chain Shirt, and  Boots of Aid and Comfort, even in combat, without expending an action or bonus action.

Camp supplies:

• Gruel (3d4⁠⁠Hit Points)
• Milk bowl (1d4⁠⁠Hit Points)
• Raspberry (1d4⁠⁠Hit Points)
• Red Apple (1d4⁠⁠Hit Points) (only some)
• Suspicious Meat (4d4⁠⁠Hit Points)

Items with no other use:

• Cup of Water (1d4⁠⁠Hit Points)
• Spoiled Treacle Tart (1d4⁠⁠Hit Points)

The following can be used exclusively by The Dark Urge:

• Roasted Dwarf Belly (4d4⁠⁠Hit Points)
• Roasted Dwarf Leg (4d4⁠⁠Hit Points)
• Roasted Dwarf Ribs (4d4⁠⁠Hit Points)

Notes

• Removing a party member and re-adding them to the party restores their hit points.