Command Undead (spell) vs Control Undead

Question

So, I have started playing a necromancer for the first time and have come across the following two spells.

Command undead and Control Undead.

Now, command undead is a second level spell, has day/level duration, and no HD limit. But targets 1 creature, and requires a charisma check to influence them.

Control undead, has a 2HD/level limit, but can affect multiple creatures, however only for minutes instead of days. The major upside I can see here is the multiple targets and easier time controlling intelligent undead.

Overall, command undead seems like a much more useful spell. While Control undead is a 7th level spell, and I cant see the justification for such a high level spell.

Is there something that I am missing or is control undead just a really lackluster spell compared to command undead?

Answer 1

The control is absolute

The huge benefit of Control Undead is when attempting to destroy intelligent undead. Consider vampire hunting as an example - a necromancer can cast Command Undead until the cows come home and a vampire will still refuse to go sunbathing for a couple of rounds or jump into a fast-flowing river because Command Undead includes:

An intelligent commanded undead never obeys suicidal or obviously harmful orders, but it might be convinced that something very dangerous is worth doing.

However, if you cast Control Undead on a vampire that fails its Will save, then, provided there is a source of sunlight or running water within 13+ minutes' travel, you have just won the battle with no further rolls required — the control is absolute. Similarly, if you really need the vampire / powerful mummy / other intelligent undead to fight to the (un)death in order to soften up a tough opponent for you (rather than bugging out when things go badly), Control Undead is the spell you need.

If the necromancer is just looking to appropriate low-level undead to be cannon fodder for the next few days, Command Undead is obviously the more efficient spell.