D&D 5E List of instant death spells in 5e

[Tainted Powers]

Can anyone tell me all the instant death spells in 5e?

 

[Fanaelialae]

Can anyone tell me all the instant death spells in 5e?

By the strictest definition of instant death, the only spell I can think of is Power Word Kill. Disintegrate is arguably an instant death spell, since if it reduces you to 0 hp you die. However, there are no "save or die" spells. I'm fairly certain that all death magic in 5e is gated using hp.

 

[Tainted Powers]

So what are the spells that would kill a person without leaving any mark?

 

[Jester David]

So what are the spells that would kill a person without leaving any mark?

Phantasmal killer?

 

[Tainted Powers]

Aye. But the person who died is a psychic user. Any wis save would be hard to counter. Inflict wounds cast at high lvl would leave no mark right?

 

[Fanaelialae]

So what are the spells that would kill a person without leaving any mark?

Killing without leaving a mark would really be up to your DM.

Were I running it, a person killed by phantasmal killer would be frozen in a terrified rictus. In my campaign, necrotic damage causes the target to become desiccated and decayed. I would allow Power Word Kill to kill without leaving a mark.

 

[Mad_Jack]

What's the purpose of the question?

Is there an assassination attempt going on?

The narrative physical effects of a spell are entirely up to the DM - Power Word: Kill could blow the target's head off, and Inflict Wounds might leave wide bleeding gashes all over the target.
Or they might not.
Phantasmal Killer might leave the target's corpse frozen in an expression of utter terror.
Or it might not.

It's entirely up to the DM unless the spell specifically describes the effects.

 

[Tainted Powers]

The guy died with an utter terror on his face. But like I said he was a psychic user and dying by taking psychic dmg every round will he dues with his wis save is highly unlikely.

 

[Henry]

How about in combination with an effect that caused a disadvantage to WIS saves? Can't think of any this moment, but disadvantage is pretty stiff even for a proficient character.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Aye. But the person who died is a psychic user. Any wis save would be hard to counter. Inflict wounds cast at high lvl would leave no mark right?

Inflict Wounds does damage by inflicting wounds. It's right in the name. You would notice that all of their skin was rotting off from necrosis.