Death Ward

Death Ward is a 4th level priest spell. It protects one creature from most forms of instant death effects.
==Description==
==Gameplay==
The caster applies this spell to a single creature, including self if desired, designated by using the targeting cursor.
After completing the spell cast, A necromancy spell school casting graphic manifests from the caster and the recipient has a brief bluish-white 3D globe effect and color fade rendered on their sprite and is immediately protected by the Death Ward.
A player character will show an icon (No. 99) titled "Death Ward" on their portrait for the spell's duration.
The spell implements immunity for the recipient from several types of "instant death" that can be delivered in the game - from various sources, such as on-hit weapon effects, wizard and priest spells, innate spell attacks, traps etc.
The warding doesn't block specific spells or weapons that may cause instant death, for example a Finger of Death spell, or from a vorpal blade - instead it provides blanket immunity to various Opcode/effect codes that are responsible for instant death effects in the game.
These include:
* Disintegrate effect
* Kill target
* Power Word, Kill (effect)
* Slay
A Death Ward spell can be removed by any applicable Dispel Magic effect as well as a Breach spell.
This spell is a preventive measure and can't be used to undo a creature's demise from death once the creature has already been slain.
Death Ward will not prevent a creature from being "chunked" by excessive physical or elemental damage.
Death ward offers no protection against being killed by a Level drain effect or draining of Ability Scores.
Death Ward will not protect against being Petrified.
This spell will not protect summoned creatures from the Death Spell or the instant summoned creature killing power of a Death Fog exposure.
==Notes==
*Exhaustive lists of what exactly this protects against can be found in the linked articles above - they also reveal other ways than Death Ward to achieve immunity.
* Kill target, also known as the Vorpal effect, is only handled by Death Ward in Baldur's Gate II.
*This spell doesn't exist in the Original BG1.
*Below is a non-exhaustive list of causes of sudden death that the ward will thwart:
**Black Blade of Disaster
**Chromatic Orb, level 12+
**Cloudkill
**Deathblow
**Death Spell
**Finger of Death
**Greater Deathblow
**Nature's Beauty
**Power Word, Kill
**Slay Living
**Storm of Vengeance
**Symbol, Death (wizard) & Priest
**Wail of the Banshee
** Axe of the Unyielding vorpal attack
** Dark Justice
** Planetar vorpal attack
** Ravager 
** Silver Sword vorpal attack
==Trivia==
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset does not have a Priest spell titled Death Ward, nor is there any similar spell close to what The BG video game spell version implements.
This spell is a creation by the game developers and not based on any existing 2nd Edition PnP magic.
==Mod content==
Spell Revisions mod has changed this Divine spell, revising its range, casting time, and description. See below:
Death Ward
Level: 4
School: Necromancy
Sphere: Necromantic
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 turn/level
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: 1 creature
Saving Throw: None
While under the effects of this spell, the recipient is immune to all forms of death magic. This includes, but is not limited to, Death Spell, Disintegrate, Power Word Kill, Finger of Death, and Wail of the Banshee. This effect will last for the duration of the spell or until dispelled.
==External links==
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Category:Cleric 4th level spells
Category:Druid 4th level spells