Beacon of Hope 5e: Maximum Healing and Death Saves

I like Beacon of Hope when several allies are hurt and the party already has a plan to heal them. One action can make every heal they receive go further and give them a better chance on Wisdom and death saves. This guide starts with the 2014 spell.

Beacon of Hope 5e — Quick Spell Reference

Who Can You Target With Beacon of Hope?

Choose any number of creatures within 30 feet when you cast. You can include yourself and an unconscious ally. The chosen creatures keep the benefit if they move beyond 30 feet afterward.

The spell takes an action and lasts up to one minute while you maintain concentration. Beacon of Hope restores no hit points when you cast it. Someone still needs to provide the healing.

How Does Beacon of Hope Maximize Healing?

When an affected creature receives healing with a die roll, use the highest value on each healing die and add any fixed modifier as usual. The effect applies to the recipient, so another character’s spell or a healing potion can provide the healing. The target can regain only as many hit points as it’s missing.

Healing source in the 2014 rules	Normal healing	With Beacon of Hope
1st-level Cure Wounds with a +4 modifier	1d8 + 4	12 HP
Common potion of healing	2d4 + 2	10 HP
One heal from Aura of Vitality	2d6	12 HP

For example, an affected fighter missing 16 hit points regains 10 from a common potion. If they’re missing only 6, the same potion restores 6. Fixed healing already has a set amount, so a paladin spending 5 points from Lay on Hands still restores up to 5 hit points.

How Does It Help With Wisdom and Death Saves?

An affected creature rolls with advantage on Wisdom saving throws, such as a save against Hold Person. It also has advantage on death saving throws while the spell lasts. A creature already at 0 hit points can receive the benefit before its next save if you cast in time.

The spell leaves existing failed death saves in place. It neither stabilizes an ally nor wakes them. If you can restore hit points to an ally in immediate danger, that can get them back up right away.

When Is Beacon of Hope Worth Casting?

Look for a round when several chosen creatures can receive healing or when Wisdom saves are about to matter. For example, cast before another healer uses Mass Healing Word on several injured allies. Each ally you chose for Beacon of Hope gets the maximum from the healing they receive. Allies outside the original selection use the healing spell normally.

If the party needs only one small heal, using your action or bonus action to heal directly can be more effective. Keep your position in mind as well. If you lose concentration before the healing arrives, your allies lose the benefit. A higher-level slot gives Beacon of Hope no extra range, duration, or healing benefit.

Beacon of Hope: 2014 vs. 2024 Rules

The 2024 spell works the same way. Its interaction with revised healing spells uses their new dice. For example, the revised 1st-level Cure Wounds heals 2d8 plus the caster’s modifier, so an affected target can receive up to 16 plus the modifier.

Clerics can prepare the spell in both editions, and Oath of Devotion paladins still gain it at level 9. The 2024 Life Domain gains Mass Healing Word in its always-prepared list where the 2014 subclass gained Beacon of Hope. A 2024 Life cleric can still prepare Beacon of Hope from the Cleric list.

Beacon of Hope FAQ

Can you combine Beacon of Hope with Aura of Vitality?

Yes, if different casters maintain the two spells. Each heal from Aura of Vitality restores up to 12 hit points to a recipient affected by Beacon of Hope. Both spells require concentration, so one caster can maintain only one at a time.