Aura of Vitality - D&D 5th Edition Spell Book

Aura of Vitality DnD Spell
Aura of Vitality Image

Aura of Vitality Spell Effects

3rd-level evocation


Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Self (30-foot radius)

Components: V

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute


Healing energy radiates from you in an aura with a 30-foot radius. Until the spell ends, the aura moves with you, centered on you. You can use a bonus action to cause one creature in the aura (including you) to regain 2d6 hit points.


All information about Aura of Vitality comes from the DnD Player's Handbook.

Aura of Vitality

Classes That Can Cast Aura of Vitality

The following classes gain access to casting Aura of Vitality 5e as part of their normal class spell availability:

  • Artificer: Battle Smith Subclass (Xanthar's Guide to Everything)
  • Cleric: Twilight Domain (Xanthar's Guide to Everything)
  • Druid (Xanthar's Guide to Everything)
  • Paladin
  • Sorcerer: Divine Soul Subclass (Tasha's Cauldron of Everything)


One of the most confusion parts of Dungeons and Dragons is that supplemental material often sometimes provides wildly different rulesets than the Player's Handbook. For example, only Paladins are capable of casting aura of vitality through the Player's Handbook. Meanwhile, artificer, cleric, druid, and sorcerer all have subclasses available from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything and Xanthar's Guide to Everything that may cast the spell.


Really, it takes websites like this one to keep track of where to find everything you may need for your game. Why? I don't know. Ask Wizards of the Coast.


Aura of Vitality Spell Effectiveness

Healing Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9 Round 10
Healing Dice 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6
Average Healing 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
Cumulative Healing 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70

Healing Value

Every round of combat in D&D 5e lasts for 6-seconds. Meanwhile, the aura of vitality spell lasts for up to 1-minute (so long as concentration isn't broken). This means that for the small cost of a bonus action every round, aura of vitality can heal up to 10 total instances, for a total of 70 hit points, which is insane.


For comparison, mass cure wounds (a 5th-level spell) heals 3d8 hit points + your spell casting modifier to up to 6 creature, making its total healing probably just a little higher than the mere 3rd-level spell, aura of vitality.


Aura of Vitality Usefulness

Aura of vitality is a healing-over-time effect spell. Players should use aura of vitality in the following circumstances:

  • Ideally, outside of combat. The reason is that since aura of vitality is a concentration spell, there's a chance that its effect may be interrupted by enemy attacks. For the massive amount of hit points restored from such a relatively low-tier spell, it may be best used in between combat rather than during.
  • If you don't have other bonus actions that you want to use. Since aura of vitality requires a bonus action to provide healing each round, you'll have to decide if you want to cause healing or some other effect. If you don't have other useful bonus actions in the moment, then aura of vitality is the clear choice, and allows you to maximize healing.
  • When fighting particularly powerful or high-damage enemies, you can use your bonus action to provide healing with aura of vitality while still using normal actions to cast other healing or utility spells.


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Combine Aura of Vitality with the Following Spells

Aura of vitality is an incredibly powerful spell for it's level. However, you can combine it with other spells and effects for even more added value.

  • Aid 5e: aid provides temporary hit points, and the spell can be cast before battle begins. Send your allies into combat with more hp than normal, then heal them with aura of vitality after they take damage.
  • Armor of Agathys 5e: similar to aid, armor of agathys provides temporary hit points.
  • Cure Wounds 5e: since aura of vitality only requires bonus actions to heal (once the spell has been cast), you can follow up for additional healing to allies with cure wounds or other 1 action healing spells.
  • Mage Armor 5e: the main idea behind aura of vitality is keeping people alive, so a spell like mage armor fits in perfectly well. Give you ally additional AC to reduce damage taken, then heal them back up with aura vitality when they get low.


Note that since aura of vitality requires concentration, you aren't able to combine it with other spells that also require concentration. So, though spells such as bless 5e, charm person 5e, cause fear 5e, and haste 5e are also excellent ways of either directly or indirectly reducing enemy damage, you can't combine them with aura of vitality.


Aura of Vitality Counters

As an added benefit, aura of vitality doesn't really have a lot of counters, aside from effects like dispel magic. Casting the spell does require a verbal (V) component, so silence 5e would prevent the spell from initially being cast. Once cast, however, the only other ways to stop the spell from taking place would be to stun the character concentrating on it, or drop them to 0HP.


Aura of Vitality-Type Spells in Eternity TTRPG

If you weren't aware yet, Eternity TTRPG has its own independently-published TTRPG. Similar to D&D 5e in many ways, the Eternity TTRPG Game System provides players with roleplaying and combat encounters in an immersive world they can explore.


If you've ever wondered about playing other tabletop RPG systems, give Eternity TTRPG a try. Below is a spell sample that's similar to aura of vitality from 5e, for a quick comparison of how the game works.

Druid Class Icon

Druid - Core Class Spell

Seed of Healing (Magic): 4Range, on every one of the target’s turns, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, they heal +1HP. This Spell allows the affected target to heal 1HP above their normal max HP. Every time your target heals with this effect, they are also Fatigued, giving -1Resilience, -1Dodge, and -1Will for 1Day Duration (can stack without limit). You can instead choose to continually maintain this Spell for 2Inspiration.

  • (Nature's Wrath) You gain either +4Strike Bonus or +4Faith against the first enemy that attacks the target of this Spell. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 5Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Nature's Healing) Roll 15-20. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 4Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Primal) Instant Action. Your target also gains +1Speed while affected by “Seed of Healing.” When you use this Critical, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn. 1turn Recharge. 


Once seed of healing has been cast on a target, they have a chance each turn to gain healing. There are no bonus actions in Eternity TTRPG, so once the spell's active, players are free to use any of their other spells or effects each round, while the healing continues in a passive and ongoing manner. When used as a Critical, seed of healing either increases its chances to heal, provides additional hit chance, or gives the affected target more movement, allowing them to flee if combat gets to dicey.


Curious to learn more? Check out the Eternity TTRPG Core Game PDF!

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Jacob Tegtman Eternity TTRPG Creator

Author - Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed this article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


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Critical Role Season 4 - Episode 3 Recap - The Snipping of Shears

By Jacob Tegtman • November 22, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRQRNqRGVMs Transcription Hey everyone, welcome back to Eternity TTRPG.  With the last recap of Critical Role’s fourth campaign, in episode 2, the Falconer’s Rebellion echoed through Dol-Makjar, and an angel’s bloodline rewrote what faith looks like in the series. This third episode — The Snipping of Shears — pulls those threads tight: divine secrets, infernal bargains, and a murder that changes everything. As a quick note before jumping in, if you haven’t seen my prior recaps of this Critical Role campaign, you should know that A LOT happens in these 4.5hr-ish episodes. Cutting all of that down to about 10minutes means that there will be a lot of summarization. If there’s anything you don’t quite follow, check out my previous recaps for more context. This episode opens with Teor Pridesire, the soldier trying to live quietly under the banner of the Candescent Creed. Sir Filoneus Halovar hires him as Wick Halovar’s new bodyguard and sends him to the Mercanaud Couturier — a tailor’s shop with more whispers than fabric. In the bustling Ogrimok Market, where magic is forbidden, Teor runs into Sir Julien Davinos, who’s searching for Occtis Tachonis. Julien recognizes the Couturier’s name — they make problems disappear for the Halovars. Teor, unaware, walks straight toward them. Back in Villa Aurora, Wick faces a truth that upends everything he believes. Photarch Yanessa Halovar reveals that the chained celestial beneath their temple — Aetheon — is his grandfather. After the gods fell, she took Aetheon’s blood and wished for a child touched by the sun. That child became Godard, Wick’s father — and the foundation of the Candescent Creed. The Halovars turned divine theft into religion. Yanessa built her empire of light to survive a world without gods — and tells Wick the rules of faith are for others. His duty is legacy: marry well, expand Filament, and remember that true power runs in the family’s blood. For Wick, his prior belief has just curdled into this sickening feeling of betrayal. Reeling from the truth, Wick turns to the only person who’s ever been somewhat(?) fully honest with him — his demon companion, Tyranny. She was crafted by the Prince of Demonkind, to serve the Creed’s image, and bargain for souls. But Tyranny hates her purpose. She’s bound to Wick alone, and begs him not to send her back to the Pit. They realize they’re both trapped by family expectations — a believer and a demon chained by faith and fear. Wick promises she’ll stay free, and together they plan to rescue Teor before the Halovars decide that he’s expendable. In another corner of Dol-Makjar, the hunt for Occtis grows dangerous. At the Penteveral, Murray Mag’nesson stands up to Primus Tachonis himself — and is promptly cursed for it. Meanwhile, Occtis, Thimble, and Kattigan are ambushed by the Crow Keepers in the Guard Tower. Vaelus bursts in mid-fight, saving Thimble from a grisly end. The gang learns that Casimir — Thimble’s former ally — had been stealing from the Crow Keepers, paid his debt in blood, and left behind a deed to a fortress, now stolen by Cyd. It’s one more piece in a spreading puzzle of betrayal. While others fight and scheme, Thaisha and Hal Fang build something new — the Hallowed Round, a theatre rising from Dol-Makjar’s old scars. Once a temple of oppression, it’s now reclaimed for art and community. An orc musician reminds Thaisha that rebellion isn’t just war — it’s creation. At the Couturier, Teor meets the Mercanaud brothers — charming, unsettling, and reeking of infernal power. Before he can act, he’s trapped in a circle carved into the floor — a nine-pointed star that reeks of sulfur. Calastro Mercanaud begins cutting Teor’s shadow apart, piece by piece, with silver shears. Then, salvation: Wick and Tyranny arrive under false orders, bluff their way in, and free Teor. The three escape, but Tyranny’s terror says everything — they’ve just angered something far darker than House Halovar. At Hal’s home, the pieces finally align. Hal attunes to Thjazi’s sword — the Liar’s Blade — and sends Thimble north to avenge their brother. Wick, Tyranny, Teor, Thimble, and Kattigan form a small band: the Soldier’s Table. Azune watches them ride out, whispering the names of the fallen. It feels like history beginning again. At the Palazzo Davinos, the story turns from politics to nightmare. Julien watches in frozen horror as an invisible assassin reaches into his father’s skull and pulls it free. Upstairs, Occtis and Aranessa are trapped by silence as his brother Ethrand arrives — holding the Stone of Nightsong. He orders the ghouls to open Occtis’s chest and put the stone ‘where it belongs.’ And then? Fade to black. Alright — here’s why The Snipping of Shears hits so hard, and what you can learn from it for your own table.” 1. Secrets mean more when they’re personal. When Wick learns that his faith is built on a lie — that his family’s light was stolen from a fallen celestial — it’s devastating not just because it’s awesome lore, but because it’s his grandmother telling him the truth. That’s the lesson: don’t dump exposition from an old scroll. Deliver it through someone the character trusts. When revelations come from family, mentors, or companions, the heartbreak feels real, and the fallout drives roleplay for sessions to come. 2. Make corruption generational. The Halovars inherited sin. Yanessa’s wish twisted faith into an empire, Godard’s blood carries celestial power as a burden, and Wick now bears that legacy whether he wants it – or in this case, definitely not. And that’s the power of it. Tyranny’s existence also mirrors that cycle — a demon born into a contract she never chose. If you want emotional weight, make power in your world come with ancestry, or family, attached. Maybe a magic sword remembers every life it’s taken, or a player’s bloodline is blessed by something they don’t believe in. Legacy as corruption creates tension between destiny and free will — one of the best engines for storytelling in D&D. 3. Mix horror with heart. The Couturier scene in this episode works because of what’s being taken. Teor’s shadow — his literal sense of self — is being cut apart. It’s a nightmare. And it is the kind of horror that lingers. When using horror at your table, think beyond monsters. Ask, ‘What does this threaten about who the character is, at their core?’ A curse that erases memories, a haunting that whispers a player’s thoughts back to them — those are the scares that deepen character growth. And that’s it for Episode 3. Celestial secrets, infernal contracts, and one unforgettable assassination. What do you think — is Wick destined for redemption or ruin? Drop your theories below, and join me next time as we follow the Soldier’s Table north. Until then — let your dice fly, and may your stories be legendary.
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2025 D&D Gifts and Game Inspiration for the Holidays

By Jacob Tegtman • November 22, 2025
Know someone who’s a D&D fan? Not sure what to get them for Christmas? Or are you a D&D player and want to treat yourself?
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Is Dark Sun Coming Back in D&D 5.5e?

By Jacob Tegtman • November 18, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BYfKn3_nXc Transcription What if I told you that Dark Sun , the brutal, sun-scorched D&D campaign setting, might be making a serious comeback … not with a full book yet, but through new Unearthed Arcana subclasses? That’s exactly what’s happening — and today, we’re breaking down those four apocalyptic subclasses and what they might mean for the future of Athas.  First, some context. Dark Sun is one of D&D’s grimmest, most apocalyptic settings — magic is destructive, the world is a harsh desert wasteland, and mighty Sorcerer-Kings rule with an iron fist. That desolation comes from the fact that in Dark Sun, magic doesn’t just draw power — it devours life . That’s why many mages, called defilers, siphon life from the land or even from living beings to fuel their spells. Historically, Dark Sun has also leaned heavily into psionics , making it very distinct among D&D worlds. Now, Wizards of the Coast has dropped a new Unearthed Arcana (UA) called “Apocalyptic Subclasses” , and all four subclasses in it feel very Dark Sun-inspired. Fans are interpreting that as a possible signal that a full on 5.5E Dark Sun sourcebook could be coming. To understand these Apocalyptic Subclasses, picture yourself stepping onto the cracked earth of a dying world. The sun hangs low and cruel, magic scorches the life around you, and survival is never guaranteed. That’s the energy these four subclasses channel. So let’s break them down — not just what they do, but how each one captures a different piece of Dark Sun’s brutal legacy. 1.Circle of Preservation Druid These druids focus on restoring life. In an apocalyptic wasteland, they represent the fragile hope — trying to heal and revitalize what’s left. Their mechanics emphasize “purifying” conditions or restoring vitality, meaning that they actively reverse the environmental damage caused by defiling magic — turning dead ground fertile again, cleansing blighted areas, and preserving what little life remains. Roleplay-wise: these could be preservers in the classic Dark Sun sense, using magic to bring back life instead of destroying it. 2. Gladiator Fighter A charismatic, show-man-warrior. Gladiators are huge in Dark Sun lore — arenas, duels, brutal spectacles. Mechanically, this subclass leans into “performance + combat.” According to community feedback, it uses weapon mastery and charisma in interesting ways, intimidating foes, rousing allies, and performing daring maneuvers that blend martial prowess with theatrical flair. In a Dark Sun campaign, gladiators could be slaves, champions of sorcerer-kings, or rebels. 3. Defiled Sorcery (Sorcerer) Now this is very Dark Sun. These sorcerers draw life energy — either from the environment or even from other creatures (hit dice) — to fuel their magic. The risk/reward is huge: you get powerful magic, but at a terrible cost. Perfect for a wasteland where magic is taboo and destructive. 4. Sorcerer-King Patron (Warlock) Warlocks who’ve made a pact with a Sorcerer-King — those tyrannical, magically powerful rulers of Athas. The patron imbues them with fear, command, and the oppressive power of their masters. This is a really flavorful pick: warlocks aligned with Sorcerer-Kings could be enforcers, gladiator-lords, or even secret agents of tyranny. To be clear with all of this Dark Sun speculation though, nothing is confirmed by Wizards of the Coast, yet. Unearthed Arcana is playtest material. Just because these subclasses are Dark Sun–flavored doesn’t guarantee a full sourcebook. Still, for longtime Dark Sun fans, this could be the biggest hint yet that Athas is returning in 5.5E. Understanding these subclasses is one thing — but using them in your campaign is where they really come alive. These options have strong thematic identities tied to survival, corruption, and power. So, here’s how DMs and players can integrate them into their campaigns in meaningful, story-rich ways. As a DM: Consider running a campaign set in a Dark Sun–inspired wasteland , even if you don’t go full canonical Athas. These subclasses give you hooks: gladiator arenas, life-draining magic, tyrant warlocks, and more. Think about NPCs: Defilers (sorcerers) and Sorcerer-King warlocks make for excellent villains. The preservation druids can even be the rebels. As a Player: If you want flavor: pick one of these subclasses to lean into the “wasteland survivor” vibe. Think about backstory: why does your defiler steal life? which Sorcerer-King did you make a pact with? That will drive roleplay. Just remember with all of this though because it's not final : some features might change or be removed. Also, balance could be off, currently: some players in the community already think certain features are strong or need tweaking. So yeah — these four apocalyptic subclasses are awesome, and they are giving major Dark Sun vibes . While they don’t guarantee a full Dark Sun 5.5E book, they’re definitely a strong signal. Whether you’re a fan of Athas already or just love grim, high-stakes fantasy, these subclasses open up some very cool possibilities . Let me know in the comments: which subclass do you want to try first? And do you think Wizards of the Coast is actually building toward a Dark Sun comeback?
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