Hello all. I MUST remind people what DEATH descriptor means. DEATH means necromancy. this descriptor is absolutly blocked by death ward. Death ward by its nature, by its origin protects versus ALL DEATH SPELLS AND EFFECTS. It is how it works in orginal system.

Sorry, but seeing this BS in Pathfinder WotR is real shame for system design. The only purpose of this spell is to make all undead foes to use their weapons, not magic. Over decades this spell worked this way. In any edition.

If deathward doesn't protect you from just one spell with word or descriptor "death" - please fix this.
Also, I have to notice that necro touch spells do negative damage - they do not work on undead. It is original design. They do negative damage and steal the same amount of HP, transfer it from target to caster.
And this is BS number two.

I have nothing versus DIS spell, it is regular transmutation school spell. It works correctly as it worked decades ago.
But these DEATH spells!!!

Sorry, devs are doing it wrong. Death ward should protect versus any death spell, any death effect.
Quick reminder: it also protects versus Phantasmatic killer(as it is DEATH effect).

Death Ward does protect against death effects (assuming there's no bug); it does so by providing the character with a +4 morale bonus to the saving throw. If you're still getting hit by those spells, that's because your save failed even with the bonus (and keep in mind that it's not supposed to stack with effects like Heroism that also provide morale bonuses to saving throws).

Phantasmal Killer is not a death effect, so there's no reason for Death Ward to affect it. The fact that it can instantly kill does not make it a death effect.

dtgreene is right.

Deathward works differently in Pathfinder than DND 3.:

3.5 version

Death Ward
Necromancy
Level: Clr 4, Death 4, Drd 5, Pal 4
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

The subject is immune to all death spells, magical death effects, energy drain, and any negative energy effects.

This spell doesn’t remove negative levels that the subject has already gained, nor does it affect the saving throw necessary 24 hours after gaining a negative level.

Death ward does not protect against other sorts of attacks even if those attacks might be lethal.

Pathfinder version:

School necromancy; Level alchemist 4, cleric/oracle 4, druid 5, inquisitor 4, paladin 4, witch 4; Domain death 4, repose 4

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF
Range touch
Target living creature touched
Duration 1 min./level
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)

DESCRIPTION

The subject gains a +4 morale bonus on saves against all death spells and magical death effects. The subject is granted a save to negate such effects even if one is not normally allowed. The subject is immune to energy drain and any negative energy effects, including channeled negative energy.

This spell does not remove negative levels that the subject has already gained, but it does remove the penalties from negative levels for the duration of its effect.

Death ward does not protect against other sorts of attacks, even if those attacks might be lethal.

Also, Phantasmal Killer is in both 3.5 and Pathfinder from the Illusion school.