Can animate dead be cast on outsiders?

[Dracuwulf]

Can animate dead be cast on slain outsiders? i.e., can you animate a devil body etc...

 

[sfedi]

Usually no.

Look at the SRD definition of Outsider:

Outsider Type: An outsider is at least partially composed of the essence (but not necessarily the material) of some plane other than the Material Plane. Some creatures start out as some other type and become outsiders when they attain a higher (or lower) state of spiritual existence.
Features: An outsider has the following features.
—8-sided Hit Dice.
—Base attack bonus equal to total Hit Dice (as fighter).
—Good Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves.
—Skill points equal to (8 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per Hit Die, with quadruple skill points for the first Hit Die.
Traits: An outsider possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
—Darkvision out to 60 feet.
—Unlike most other living creatures, an outsider does not have a dual nature—its soul and body form one unit. When an outsider is slain, no soul is set loose. Spells that restore souls to their bodies, such as raise dead, reincarnate, and resurrection, don’t work on an outsider. It takes a different magical effect, such as limited wish, wish, miracle, or true resurrection to restore it to life. An outsider with the native subtype can be raised, reincarnated, or resurrected just as other living creatures can be.—Proficient with all simple and martial weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
—Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Outsiders not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Outsiders are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.
—Outsiders breathe, but do not need to eat or sleep (although they can do so if they wish). Native outsiders breathe, eat, and sleep.

 

[Falling Icicle]

There is a big difference between animating the dead and raising the dead. An Outisder can't be raised from the dead (as in brought back to life wiht its soul, memories, etc), but it most certainly can be animated, which simply imbues its corpse with death energy to create a servant for the Necromancer. Animating a creature does not bring it back to life, all it does is create a zombie or skeleton out of its corpse. Outsiders are living creatures, and as long as they leave a corpse, they can be animated.

As quoted from the SRD "Spells that restore souls to their bodies, such as raise dead, reincarnate, and resurrection, don’t work on an outsider." Note that Animate Dead does not restore a creature to life or restore its soul to its body.

So the answer to the original poster's question is yes, they can be animated.

[EDIT] Added clarification

 

[sfedi]

Oooops. my bad.

Thought he asked about Raise Dead :$

 

[Someone]

Depends on the fluff. If your outsiders vanish in a puff of smoke when they are killed, then no. If they fall to the ground, spill their guts and bleed to death, then yes.

 

[Stormrunner]

Summoned outsiders will always vanish when killed. Called or gated ones do not. AFAIK there is no official ruling that explicitly says "Yes, you can animate outsider corpses" - but the Rules As Written don't forbid it, and several articles and adventures in Dungeon and Dragon have had undead outsider corpses, so the official attitude seems to be affirmative.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Can animate dead be cast on slain outsiders? i.e., can you animate a devil body etc...

Yes.

From the SRD:

Animate Dead
This spell turns the bones or bodies of dead creatures into undead skeletons or zombies that follow your spoken commands.

Outsiders are creatures, and there's no specific exception listed for 'em.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

In fact, in his Dungeon of the Fire Opal adventure (DUNGEON #84), Jonathan Tweet includes Osyluth skeletons.