Boneshaker

1st-level necromancy

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: 100 feet

Components: V, S, F (human-shaped fetish made of bones)

Duration: instantaneous

Classes: cleric, sorcerer, warlock, wizard

By using a bone fetish like a marionette, you take control of a target creature’s skeleton. This has a variety of effects depending on whether the target is living or undead.

A living creature has its skeleton rattle within its flesh, causing it grievous harm. The target takes 2d6 points of bludgeoning damage. In addition, you can move the target 5 feet. A successful Constitution saving throw halves the damage and negates the movement.

An undead creature takes no damage. Instead, you manipulate the undead, forcing it to use its reaction to either move up to its speed or make a single attack against a creature of your choice in its reach.

Either of these is the most basic version of the action the creature can take (it doesn’t activate any special abilities that it could apply to the movement or attack, such as grapple).

A successful Constitution saving throw negates this effect. A mindless undead creature doesn’t receive a save against this effect (GM’s discretion).

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the bludgeoning damage increases by 1d6 vs living creatures for each slot level above 1st.