Necrotic Retribution cloaks your weapon in a ghastly aura imbued with the essence of death. When you next hit a creature with a melee weapon attack while this spell is active, the attack channels the pure force of necrotic energy into the target, dealing an extra 3d6 necrotic damage. Moreover, if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or have its hit point maximum reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage dealt for 1 hour.

This reduction to the hit point maximum vanishes if the creature is subjected to the greater restoration spell or similar magic. If this effect reduces a creature’s hit point maximum to 0, the creature dies.

Necrotic Retribution empowers a paladin’s strike with the devastating touch of necrosis, spreading decay and weakening the very life force of their foes. This spell symbolizes a darker aspect of divine justice, delivering punishment that extends beyond the physical realm to afflict the soul itself.

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the necrotic damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.