OVERALL RATING: S-TIER

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Healing Word 5e

In the 2014 rules, Healing Word was the king of action economy, despite its meager healing output. It was used almost exclusively to pick unconscious allies up off the floor. In the 2024 update, Wizards of the Coast has buffed the already-amazing spell.

By doubling the healing dice and the scaling, Healing Word has transformed from a “stabilizer” into a genuinely potent healing spell. Below, I break down the new math, the school change, and why this remains one of the best spells in the game.

What Does Healing Word Do in 5e?

Healing Word instantly restores Hit Points to a creature you can see within 60 feet. The amount healed is 2d4 plus your spellcasting ability modifier (Wisdom for Clerics and Druids; Charisma for Bards).

The defining feature of the spell is its speed. Because it has a casting time of a Bonus Action, you can cast it and still use your Action to Attack, Dash, Disengage, or cast a Cantrip on the same turn.

Note: You can’t expend a spell slot on the same turn as you cast Healing Word. You can only expend one spell slot per turn (PHB 2024, pg. 236).

Spell Rating: Healing Word

Overall: 🚑 S-Tier (Essential Support)

Contextual Performance (1-10)

• Combat: 10/10. This is the gold standard for combat healing in DnD 5e. Combat healing is generally inefficient because enemies deal damage faster than you can heal it. Healing Word sidesteps this issue by costing a Bonus Action. You do not have to sacrifice your offensive output to save an ally.

• Exploration: 2/10. It can top off Hit Points between fights if you’re unable to take a Short Rest, but spells like Prayer of Healing or Goodberry are better for downtime recovery.

• Social: 2/10. Maybe saving a dying noble’s life with a mere word could help curry favor and demonstrate your power. But by and large, Healing Word is not going to be your go-to spell in social situations.

Core Metrics (1-10)

• Raw Power: 7/10. In 2014, this was a 2/10 for power (average 5.5 healing at level 1 with a +3 mod). In 2024, with 2d4 base dice, the average healing jumps to 8 (with a +3 mod). This is a significant increase that makes the spell useful for mitigating incoming damage, not just reversing unconsciousness.

• Versatility: 6/10. It does one thing — restore Hit Points — but the range (60 feet) and casting time (Bonus Action) allow it to fit into almost any tactical turn.

• Efficiency: 10/10. The action economy of this spell is perfect. Being able to cast a Cantrip (like Toll the Dead or Sacred Flame) or make a weapon attack in the same turn you heal an ally ensures you are contributing to ending the fight while keeping your party alive.

• Upcast Scaling: 5/10. The new scaling is solid (+5 average healing per slot level). A level 2 Healing Word now heals 4d4 + Mod. A level 3 heals 6d4 + Mod. This scales much more aggressively than the 2014 version. It’s viable to upcast it, but with the “yo-yo” healing method, it still won’t be necessary most of the time.

Playstyle and Synergy

• Playstyle: This is a reactive spell. You hold it in reserve until an ally drops to 0 HP. It allows Clerics, Druids, and Bards to play aggressively, knowing they can fix mistakes with a Bonus Action.

• Party Synergy: High. Every party needs healing. This spell enables “Yo-Yo Healing” (bringing a conscious ally back from 0 HP repeatedly), which, while controversial for immersion, is optimal for survival and efficiency.

What Are the Rules for Healing Word in 5e?

The rules for Healing Word in the 2024 Player’s Handbook are as follows:

• Bonus Action Spellcasting Rule. If you cast a spell with a Bonus Action (like Healing Word), you cannot expend another spell slot on the same turn. You can, however, cast a Cantrip with a casting time of 1 Action. For example, you can cast Healing Word and Sacred Flame, but you cannot cast Healing Word and Guiding Bolt in the same turn.

  The exceptions here are if you have some way to cast a leveled spell without expending a spell slot (e.g., via a subclass feature like the Land Druid’s Natural Recovery or via a magic item that lets you cast a spell without expending a spell slot or via a spell scroll).

• Line of Sight is required. The spell text specifies “A creature… that you can see.” If an ally is hidden in a Fog Cloud or around a corner, you cannot heal them.

• You can target yourself. The target is “A creature of your choice.” You are a creature. If you are low on health, you can use a Bonus Action to heal yourself and still attack.

• Undead and Constructs. In the 2014 rules, this spell explicitly did not work on Undead or Constructs. This limitation is absent from the 2024 spell description provided. Unless a general rule or specific stat block says otherwise (such as a feature stating it cannot be healed by magic), Healing Word now works on these creature types.

How to Use Healing Word in 5e

To use Healing Word to maximum effect in the 2024 rules:

1. Prioritize the unconscious. Despite the buff to healing dice, the best use of this spell is still bringing allies back from 0 HP. It denies the enemy a kill and keeps the party’s action economy flowing.

2. Utilize the range. Cure Wounds requires touch. Healing Word has a range of 60 feet. This allows you to stay safely in the backline while supporting your tank. Never run into melee to heal someone if you have this spell prepared.

3. Combo with Cantrips. As a Cleric or Druid, your turn should often look like this: Bonus Action Healing Word, Action Sacred Flame/Toll the Dead (or Starry Wisp/Produce Flame, Vicious Mockery, etc.) This allows you to output damage and healing simultaneously.

4. Upcast in emergencies. In 2014, upcasting Healing Word was a waste. In 2024, a 3rd-level Healing Word heals 6d4 + Mod (approx. 18-20 HP). This is enough to help a squishy caster survive a round of attacks, making upcasting a valid option when desperate.

Is Healing Word 5e a Good Spell?

Yes, Healing Word is arguably the most important low-level spell for Bards, Clerics, and Druids. While it doesn’t deal damage or control the battlefield, its ability to reverse death as a Bonus Action defines the support meta of DnD 5e.

With the 2024 buffs (doubling the dice to 2d4), it has moved from “mechanically necessary” to “actually potent.” It provides meaningful HP restoration at a very low cost to your action economy.

Because you’re only adding +5 healing for each level slot above the first, the upcast potential for big heals scales off in the middle levels. However, the range, bonus action, and efficient death-reversing potential of Healing Word keep it relevant and good all the way to level 20.

Healing Word 5e Compared to Cure Wounds

The rivalry between these two spells has changed in 2024, as both received significant buffs.

• Healing Word (2024): 2d4 + Mod (Avg 8 with +3). Range 60 ft. Bonus Action.

• Cure Wounds (2024): 2d8 + Mod (Avg 12 with +3). Range Touch. Action.

The Verdict: Healing Word is still superior for combat. While Cure Wounds heals about 4 more Hit Points on average, it costs your Action and requires you to be next to the target. Being able to heal from a distance while keeping your Action free for attacks or cantrips is worth far more than 4 Hit Points.

That said, Cure Wounds is still the better out-of-combat, single-target heal for when you can’t short rest or are out of hit dice. And it scales much faster (+9 vs +5 per slot level).

But if it’s a choice between preparing Healing Word or Cure Wounds, Healing Word is the better option.

Healing Word 5e DM Tips

Because Healing Word is a vocal spell (Verbal component), encourage your players to actually choose a “Word” or short phrase they say when casting it. This adds flavor to what can otherwise become a repetitive mechanical action.

For example, a Cleric of a War God might shout “Stand!” or “Fight on!”, while a Bard might whisper a comforting lyric. Small touches like this stop the combat from feeling like a video game health bar simulation.

DnD 5e Healing Word FAQ

1. Is Healing Word better than Cure Wounds? Yes. Even with the 2024 buffs to both spells, Healing Word is generally better because it is a Bonus Action and has a range of 60 feet. The tactical advantage of keeping your Action and staying at range outweighs the slightly higher healing of Cure Wounds.

2. Can Healing Word be used as an Action? No. Spells must be cast using the casting time specified in their description. Healing Word is a Bonus Action spell. You cannot use your Action to cast it.

3. Can a Ranger get Healing Word? No, Healing Word is not on the Ranger spell list in the 2024 Player’s Handbook. Rangers get Cure Wounds. To get Healing Word, a Ranger would need to take the Magic Initiate (Druid or Cleric) feat or multiclass.

4. Does Healing Word work on Undead in 2024? Based on the provided text for the 2024 version, the restriction against Undead and Constructs has been removed.

2014 Healing Word (Legacy Version)

The text below covers the version of Healing Word found in the 2014 Player’s Handbook. I have preserved this section for players running legacy campaigns or using older modules that haven’t updated to the 2024 rule set.

If you are playing with the 2024 rules, use the guide at the top of this page.

Matt Zane

Author, DnD Lounge

Matt Zane started DnD Lounge in 2021. Matt began playing DnD 5e in 2015, and has been DMing since 2017. He loves optimization, but also enjoys looking for creative ways to use spells and abilities that follow the spirit and letter of the rules. He also eschews pure optimization in favor of a more balanced approach, where building a character is primarily about serving an interesting story arc and party dynamics rather than maxing out DPR.