Can You Cure Wounds on Undead? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer to the question “Can you cure wounds on undead?” is generally no, you cannot. Most conventional healing spells and abilities, designed to restore vitality to the living, are ineffective or even harmful when applied to undead creatures. This is a core feature across various fantasy role-playing games and fictional universes, establishing a fundamental difference between living and undead beings. However, as with many things in the realm of fantasy, exceptions and nuances exist, which we’ll explore in detail.
Why Standard Healing Doesn’t Work on Undead
The primary reason healing magic fails against undead lies in the fundamental nature of these creatures. Undead are animated by negative energy or some form of dark magic, unlike living beings, which are sustained by positive life force. Healing magic is designed to interact with this life force, repairing damaged tissue and restoring vitality. Since undead lack this essential life energy, the magic has nothing to latch onto and instead often interacts negatively.
Consider spells like Cure Wounds in Dungeons & Dragons (5e) – the spell specifically states it has no effect on undead or constructs. This highlights a critical design choice in many game systems: healing magic is meant for the living, and other methods are needed for undead.
Exceptions and Alternative Healing for Undead
While conventional healing is a no-go, the idea of “healing” undead isn’t entirely impossible. Here are a few notable exceptions and alternatives:
Negative Energy
Instead of positive energy healing, undead are sometimes affected by negative energy. In some systems, spells that inflict necrotic damage or drain life force can be channeled to “heal” undead, essentially replenishing their negative energy reserves. However, this isn’t always a direct equivalent of healing. It might repair the undead’s body, but it doesn’t bring them back to life. It is also important to note that many undead are resistant or even immune to necrotic damage, meaning these “healing” spells may not always work.
Specific Spells and Abilities
Certain setting-specific spells or abilities might directly heal undead. For instance, in the Elder Scrolls universe, the spell Heal Undead in Skyrim specifically heals the undead target. This is an exception rather than the rule, and is often a unique feature within a specific lore. These spells, when they exist, often function by reinforcing the negative energies that animate the undead.
Necromantic Manipulation
In some cases, undead might be considered to be healed by having their components forcibly reassembled or altered by dark magic or necromancy. This isn’t “healing” in the traditional sense, but rather a form of manipulation of necrotic forces.
Reanimation and Resurrection
While not exactly “healing,” spells such as True Resurrection or Wish can restore life, even to beings who have become undead. However, the creature is no longer considered undead, therefore it wouldn’t be considered “healing an undead”.
The Case of Vampires
Vampires occupy a unique space in the undead spectrum. While technically undead, they sometimes retain traces of their former life, and specific rules may apply to their interaction with healing magic. For example, some fictional universes depict vampires as being immune to traditional priestly curative magic. However, there are instances, like in “The Vampire Diaries,” where taking a specific cure allows vampires to revert to human, living states. This emphasizes that curing vampirism is not about healing undead as much as reversing the transformation.
The Inability of Certain Abilities to Affect Undead
Beyond traditional healing spells, many other abilities do not work on the undead. Lay on Hands, a Paladin ability that can heal or cure ailments, specifically states it has no effect on undead and constructs. Similarly, Cure Disease is ineffective on undead as they are not biologically susceptible to diseases in the same way as living beings. These restrictions highlight the clear distinction made between living and undead by the mechanics of these abilities.
The Role of Story and Setting
Ultimately, whether or not undead can be healed is often determined by the specific rules and lore of a particular setting. Some game masters or authors may choose to introduce unique mechanisms for healing undead for story purposes, or they might opt to maintain the stark difference between the living and the undead. Therefore, it is crucial to always consider the setting context when dealing with this question.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Cure Wounds work on vampires?
No. Generally, vampires are considered undead and immune to Cure Wounds.
2. Can you heal a vampire in Skyrim?
In Skyrim, Heal Undead can be used to directly restore health to undead, including vampires. This is a setting-specific exception, not a general rule.
3. Can Lay on Hands heal undead?
No. The Paladin’s Lay on Hands ability explicitly states it has no effect on undead or constructs.
4. What kind of damage are undead immune to?
Undead are often immune to effects like death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and anything that requires a Fortitude save unless it also works on objects or is harmless.
5. Can you cure vampirism with a disease cure?
Yes, you can. In Skyrim, taking a simple Potion of Cure Disease will cure Sanguinare Vampiris which is the initial stage of vampirism.
6. How do you cure vampirism in Skyrim?
You need to visit Falion in Morthal. He is the expert who can perform a ritual to cure you and Serana of your vampirism.
7. Can you join the Dawnguard as a vampire?
You can initially join the Dawnguard as a vampire, but you will eventually have to cure your vampirism to continue their questline.
8. Does turning undead destroy undead?
At higher levels, yes. The Turn Undead ability can destroy undead if they are of a low enough CR and fail their saving throw.
9. Can you revive undead?
Yes, with specific spells like True Resurrection or Wish. However, the creature will no longer be considered undead once revived.
10. What sword kills undead in Skyrim?
The Dawnbreaker is a sword that causes fire damage and has a chance to cause an explosion when killing undead.
11. Can Necromancer spells heal undead?
Some Necromancer spells and abilities may heal undead, particularly those that channel negative energy. This varies greatly based on the system or setting. In the example cited, Geomancer poison spells also heal undead.
12. Does First Aid heal undead?
No. Typically, conventional healing spells like First Aid deal damage to undead.
13. Do undead feel pain?
Generally, undead may not feel pain in the same way living creatures do. They might be able to sense negative sensations, but not the same pain signals as the living.
14. Does Finger of Death affect undead?
No. Spells like Finger of Death are ineffective against undead because undead are already considered “dead”. However, a spell like Disintegrate can still affect them.
15. Can a Paladin heal themselves with Lay on Hands?
Yes. A paladin can use the Lay on Hands ability to heal themselves or others, as long as the target is not undead or a construct.