Avada Kedavra

Avada Kedavra

7th-level abjuration

Casting time

 1 action

Range

 60 feet

Components

 V,S

Duration

 instantaneous

Process 

You cause one creature you can see within range to die instantly. If the creature you have chosen has fewer than 50 hit points, it dies. Otherwise the spell has no effect.[1]

At higher levels 

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 8th level or higher, the hit point threshold increases by 25 hit points for each spell slot level above 7th.[2]

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Harry Potter Spell Description

Causes instant death to the victim wherever it hits on the body, is accompanied by a flash of green light and a rushing noise.[3]

There is no known counter-curse, although there are a number of ways to prevent death by it, such as hitting it with another spell in mid-flight, dodging it, or interrupting the caster.[4]

It is one of the three Unforgivable Curses.[5]

Harry Potter will be saved from this spell a number of times, both by his mother’s sacrifice, because he was an accidental horcrux, and because his wand and his enemy’s were made of the same core.[6]

Etymology

 During an audience interview at the Edinburgh Book Festival on 15 April, 2004 J. K. Rowlingsaid “Does anyone know where avada kedavra came from? It is an ancient spell in Aramaic, and it is the original of abracadabra, which means “let the thing be destroyed”. Originally, it was used to cure illness and the “thing” was the illness, but I decided to make the “thing” as in the person standing in front of me. I take a lot of liberties with things like that. I twist them round and make them mine.”[7]