Greater Restoration

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• Level: 5
• School: Abjuration
• Class: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger
• Casting Time: Action
• Range: Touch
• Components: V, S, M (diamond dust worth 100+ GP, which the spell consumes)
• Duration: Instantaneous

You touch a creature and magically remove one of the following effects from it:

• 1 Exhaustion level
• The Charmed or Petrified condition
• A curse, including the target's Attunement to a cursed magic item
• Any reduction to one of the target's ability scores
• Any reduction to the target's Hit Point maximum

Tactical Usage

Greater Restoration serves as the ultimate condition removal spell, capable of eliminating debilitating effects that lesser restoration cannot address. Use this spell to remove exhaustion levels accumulated during forced marches or prolonged adventures. The ability to restore ability score reductions makes it invaluable against creatures with draining attacks.

For curse removal, Greater Restoration provides reliable solutions to magical afflictions that plague adventuring parties. The spell can break attunement to cursed items, freeing characters from problematic magical effects. Petrification removal restores stone-turned allies to fighting condition.

Resource management requires careful consideration of the 100 GP diamond dust cost per casting. Reserve this spell for serious conditions that significantly impair party effectiveness. The instantaneous effect provides immediate relief, making it excellent for mid-combat condition removal when circumstances permit.

Spell Combinations

Greater Restoration works synergistically with diagnostic spells for comprehensive condition management. Combine with Detect Magic to identify cursed items before attempting removal. Remove Curse might be sufficient for lesser curses, saving Greater Restoration for more severe afflictions.

Layer with Heal for comprehensive recovery from devastating attacks. Mass Cure Wounds can address hit point damage while Greater Restoration handles conditions. Lesser Restoration can handle minor conditions, preserving Greater Restoration for serious effects.

For preventive measures, combine with Protection from Evil and Good to prevent future curse applications. Dispel Magic might eliminate some conditions without requiring expensive components, making it a cost-effective first attempt.

Material Component Details

The 100+ GP diamond dust requirement represents a significant but manageable cost for mid-level parties. High-quality diamond dust must be properly prepared - finely ground to specific consistency for optimal magical conductivity. Many temples and magical suppliers provide pre-prepared diamond dust.

Different diamond sources might affect restoration effectiveness. Naturally formed diamonds provide consistent results, while magically created diamonds work equally well. Some religious traditions prefer diamonds blessed by specific deities for enhanced spiritual connection.

The consumed nature means each casting requires fresh diamond dust, making resource management important for extended adventures. Consider purchasing diamond dust in bulk when available, or establishing relationships with reliable suppliers in major cities.

Creator Notes

Greater Restoration provides crucial party recovery options that prevent permanent character impairment. The spell eliminates conditions that could otherwise end adventuring careers, maintaining character viability across extended campaigns.

When designing encounters, remember that Greater Restoration can counter many debilitating effects. Creatures with draining attacks, cursing abilities, or petrification become less threatening when parties have access to reliable restoration. Balance encounters accordingly.

For campaign pacing, the spell allows parties to recover from serious setbacks without requiring extended downtime. This enables more dynamic pacing where serious consequences can be addressed through magical means rather than campaign interruption.

Environmental Interactions

Greater Restoration functions independently of environmental conditions, though certain locations might enhance its effectiveness. Temples, sacred groves, or areas blessed by positive energy might reduce component costs or improve restoration outcomes.

Some cursed locations might interfere with restoration magic, requiring higher-level spell slots or additional components. Areas with strong negative energy could resist restoration attempts or cause reversion of restored conditions.

Planar effects can significantly impact restoration effectiveness. Positive energy planes might enhance the spell's power, while negative energy planes could require additional resources or completely prevent restoration attempts.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

Condition Selection: The caster chooses which single effect to remove from the available options. Multiple conditions require multiple castings, though some effects might be interconnected.

Curse Specificity: The spell can remove curses including item attunement, but particularly powerful curses might require higher-level magic or specific conditions for removal.

Ability Score Restoration: The spell restores ability scores reduced by magical effects, but not scores reduced through aging, permanent transformation, or similar non-magical causes.

Exhaustion Removal: The spell removes one level of exhaustion, not all levels. Severely exhausted creatures require multiple castings for full recovery.

Alternative Applications

Greater Restoration excels in charitable and community service beyond party needs. Use it to help cursed citizens, restore petrified victims, or eliminate exhaustion from overworked laborers. These applications build positive relationships with communities.

For political scenarios, the spell can remove curses or conditions affecting important NPCs, creating diplomatic opportunities. Restoring cursed nobility or eliminating exhaustion from key figures might influence major political decisions.

Medical applications include treating conditions that conventional healing cannot address. Ability score drain from diseases, curses affecting magical or physical capabilities, or exhaustion from magical afflictions all benefit from Greater Restoration.

Related Spells

Restoration Magic: Lesser Restoration handles minor conditions more economically. Heal provides comprehensive hit point and condition restoration. Regenerate restores lost body parts but not conditions.

Curse Removal: Remove Curse offers cheaper curse removal for lesser afflictions. Dispel Magic might eliminate some cursed conditions. Break Enchantment provides alternative curse removal methods.

Condition Prevention: Protection from Evil and Good prevents many conditions from applying. Death Ward prevents death effects. Mind Blank protects against many magical conditions.

Scaling Analysis

As a 5th-level spell, Greater Restoration provides consistent utility throughout mid-to-high level campaigns. The spell's effectiveness scales with encounter complexity and the prevalence of debilitating conditions in the campaign.

The 100 GP component cost becomes more manageable as parties accumulate wealth, but remains significant enough to prevent casual usage. Higher-level parties might maintain multiple doses of diamond dust for emergency restoration needs.

Resource efficiency improves with party level and available wealth. Early access at 9th level makes the spell precious, while higher-level parties can afford more frequent usage for comprehensive condition management.

Narrative Flavor

Greater Restoration manifestation should emphasize divine or natural healing power flowing through the target. Describe brilliant light, soothing energy, or natural vitality removing the afflicting condition. The diamond dust might sparkle and dissolve as magical energy flows.

The restoration process should feel triumphant and cleansing. Cursed characters might experience relief and freedom, while exhausted allies feel renewed vitality. Petrified creatures awakening should be dramatic moments of life returning to stone.

Different casting traditions might produce varying restoration effects. Divine casters could invoke their deity's healing power, while druids might channel natural restoration energy. The spell should reflect the caster's connection to restorative forces.