Animate Dead creates 1-2 undead to aid the caster. Chance of summoning 2 undeads is 5% per caster level, from 15th level it is possible to summon Skeleton Warrior(albeit only one). This spell cannot be dispelled.
Classic Baldur's Gate note
In Baldur's Gate, the amount of summoned skeletons depends on the experience level of the caster, a lvl 7 priest could summon 7 undead creatures, as the five creatures summoning limit doesn't exist. As a result, a party with 2 priests or mages who can cast this spell, could summon between 14-18 undead creatures at the top of the experience limit. Since the undead creatures are also immune to the effects of Stinking Cloud and Cloudkill, but they do become aggressive from Cloudkill to the party, but they are still controllable. Altough they don't have the potential to deal a lot of damage, they can be used to encircle tough enemies and let the party attack them with spells and other ranged weapons.
The caster could control the undead until they were slain or until turned by Turn Undead. The spell was consequently made less powerful in Shadows of Amn and the enhanced edition.
Where to obtain it's scroll
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
- Galoomp's Store
- Rattell in Mae'Var's Guildhall (if it is your stronghold)
- Priestess of Sekolah in the City of Caverns
- Carlig
- Ust Natha stores - Weapons and Scrolls
- Reirra in Suldanessellar
Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
- Arcana Archives - Saradush
- Sister Garlena at Watcher's Keep