“You utter a word of power that can compel one creature you can see within range to die instantly. If the creature you choose has 100 hit points or fewer, it dies. Otherwise, the spell has no effect.”
– Basic Rules, pg. 266
Power Word Kill
Power Word Kill was first introduced in the 1975 Original Dungeons and Dragons Supplement I: Greyhawk. It originally was a conjuration spell that was conjured up by the Xanad in the games setting. Before going by the name that we all know and love, it was cited to have been called Xanad’s Killer.
It has been a spell that has drawn my eyes to it every time I decide to create a random level 20 wizard. It holds a hefty and honored spot amongst the 9th-level spells and can really spice up an encounter if you aren’t afraid of player/NPC deaths in your game.
If you have a Big Bad Evil Guy who is a spellcaster, why not use this spell to your advantage and use it to teach a lesson to the party and set the campaign towards their ultimate demise (if they can beat them that is)? It can also be good to leave it in your back pocket and save it for the final throwdown, making it a dramatic and well-earned end for that barbarian who keeps getting one too many hits in or that guy who is gathering all the peasants in town together to form a line.
Level
Power Word: Kill is a 9th-level spell that only the wisest and most powerful of arcanists can use unless you somehow got it from either the wish spell, a scroll, or other means that allow you to cast without the necessary requirements.
Casting Time
The casting of the Power Word Kill spell is 1 action, in 5th edition dungeons and dragons, this is usually within the length of one round of combat or 6 seconds.
Range/Area
The range of Power Word Kill is 60 feet. This means that from your person, you are able to use this spell to target anyone within a 60-foot diameter of yourself. You can avoid being targeted by leaving the area of effect.
Components
The Power Word Kill spell only requires a Vocal (V) component. This means that there is a phrase or in this case, word, that must be uttered when casting this spell. This can be prevented by either disallowing the person to speak by means of the silence spell or by stuffing or preventing the mouth of the person casting the spell from speaking.
Duration
The spell is instantaneous, which means that once the Vocal component is fulfilled, the spell will take effect immediately. This can be prevented by a 9th-level counterspell spell and the necessary save that comes with that spell.
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School
The Power Word Kill spell comes from the School of Enchantment. This school focuses on honing the ability to magically entrance and beguile other people and or monsters.
Attack/Save
There is no attack or save to the Power Word Kill spell. The damage/effect is immediate unless other means disrupt the spell or prevent it.
Damage/Effect
When the Vocal component of the Power Word Kill spell is uttered, one creature within the caster’s range dies instantly. If the creature you choose has 100 hit points or fewer, it dies. Otherwise, the spell has no effect.
Clarifications
Some issues that may arise when reading about or casting Power Word Kill:
No Rolling Death Saves
Whether this is cast on a player or NPC, once Power Word Kill is cast on you, you die immediately afterward. There are no death-saving throws, time to roll a new character, or find a way for your party to bring you back to life.
Temporary Hit Points Do Not Count
Some spells allow the addition of temporary hit points, this does not contribute to the overall 100-hit point barrier that would allow some people to avoid this spell’s instantaneous fate. Additionally, if you have 100 hp you will be affected by the spell. If you have 101 hp, you will not.
Power Word Kill Does Not Affect Invisible Creatures or Creatures Hiding
As the spell states, the creature that the spell affects must be someone that you can see within range. That means if you are invisible, hiding behind a big rock, or otherwise totally obstructing the direct sight between you and the caster, you are safe. This means that characters with only partial cover are still affected by the Power Word Kill Spell.
There is no “Canonical” Word for the Spell Component.
This word can be made up by you and your dungeon master. Since there is no game word, that means it is up to your imagination.
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