Simulacrum is a 7th-level illusion spell for wizards. Over 12 hours, you make an ice-and-snow duplicate of one beast or humanoid. It has the original's statistics but half its hit point maximum, it obeys you, and it acts on your turn. It never gains levels and cannot regain spent spell slots. It lasts until it drops to 0 hit points or is dispelled, and it costs a 1,500 gp ruby each time.
Simulacrum is a 7th-level illusion spell that gives a wizard a permanent, loyal copy of a creature. Wizards can cast it from 13th level, when they get 7th-level slots.
The copy is a creature. It uses the original's statistics, including its attacks and, for a spellcaster, its spells. It has half the original's hit point maximum. It is friendly to you and to creatures you choose, and it follows your commands.
The spell is expensive and slow. The casting takes 12 hours, and the powdered ruby worth 1,500 gp is consumed. Damage to the simulacrum is repaired at 100 gp per hit point. You can only have one at a time, since casting the spell again destroys the old one.
Many of the spell's famous uses depend on DM rulings. The 2024 version answers several of them directly, so check which edition your table uses.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Level | 7 |
| School | Illusion |
| Casting Time | 12 hours |
| Range | Touch |
| Components | V, S, M |
| Material | Snow or ice in quantities sufficient to make a life-size copy of the duplicated creature; some hair, fingernail clippings, or other piece of that creature's body placed inside the snow or ice; and powdered ruby worth 1,500 gp, sprinkled over the duplicate and consumed by the spell. |
| Duration | Until dispelled |
| Concentration | No |
| Ritual | No |
| Save/Attack | None |
| Classes | Wizard |
| Metric | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Slot Efficiency | Very high over time. One slot and 1,500 gp for a creature that lasts until destroyed. |
| Action Economy | The simulacrum acts on your turn, adding a second set of actions to every combat. |
| Opportunity Cost | Competes with Forcecage, Plane Shift, Teleport, and Etherealness for your 7th-level slot. The 12-hour casting also takes most of a day. |
When worth the slot: Long campaigns with downtime and gold, where a permanent ally pays off over many sessions.
When NOT worth the slot: Short adventures, tight budgets, or tables where the DM rules the copy very narrowly.
Why it works: Under the 2014 rules, the simulacrum is formed without any equipment. A creature whose AC and attacks come from natural abilities or spells keeps more of its strength.
This avoids the mistake of: Copying a heavily armored warrior and getting a much weaker version.
Why it works: A spellcasting simulacrum cannot regain spent spell slots. Each slot it uses is gone for good.
This avoids the mistake of: Spending its best slots on easy fights.
Why it works: It has half the original's hit point maximum. Repairs cost 100 gp per hit point, so every point of damage costs real gold.
This avoids the mistake of: Using it as a frontline tank and paying thousands to fix it.
Why it's bad: It never increases its level or other abilities. It stays as the original was at the time of casting.
Do this instead: Recast later if the original has grown much stronger and the old copy is no longer useful.
Why it's bad: Casting the spell again instantly destroys any active duplicate you created with it.
Do this instead: Plan around one simulacrum at a time.
Why it's bad: It only works on beasts and humanoids. Owlbears are monstrosities, and dragons are dragons.
Do this instead: Check the creature type in its stat block before you buy the ruby.
The 2024 rules keep the core idea and answer several common table arguments:
In 2014, the copy can be "affected as a normal creature," so many tables let healing spells work on it. In 2024, repair is the only way to restore its hit points. The 2024 text also does not repeat the 2014 line about the copy having no equipment. Ask your DM how they handle gear.
You spend 12 hours and a 1,500 gp ruby to make an ice copy of a beast or humanoid. It has the original's statistics and half its hit point maximum, obeys your commands, and acts on your turn. It lasts until it drops to 0 hit points or is dispelled.
The spell text allows any beast or humanoid in range, and you are a humanoid within range. Many tables allow it. Some DMs restrict it because it doubles a high-level wizard's spellcasting, so ask first.
No. In 2014, the text says it cannot regain expended spell slots. In 2024, it cannot take short or long rests, so it cannot regain them that way either. Whether it starts with full slots is up to your DM.
In 2024, no. The spell says it cannot. In 2014, the text only destroys duplicates that you made, which left room for argument. Most DMs rule against copies making copies.
You repair it at 100 gp per hit point. In 2014, that happens in an alchemical laboratory, and many DMs also allow normal healing because it is affected as a normal creature. In 2024, the long-rest repair is the only way.
Not from the same caster. Casting the spell again instantly destroys any simulacrum you already created with it.
No. It never gains levels or improves its abilities. It stays exactly as strong as the original was when you cast the spell.
Only beasts and humanoids. Other creature types, such as dragons, giants, fiends, and monstrosities, are not valid targets.
Citations: SRD 5.1 (Simulacrum, Dispel Magic); SRD 5.2.1 (Simulacrum)
Includes SRD 5.1 and SRD 5.2.1 content per CC BY 4.0.
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