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The spell Simulacrum reads as follows:

It obeys your spoken commands, moving and acting in accordance with your wishes and acting on your turn in combat. ...The simulacrum lacks the ability to learn or become more powerful, so it never increases its level or other abilities, nor can it regain expended spell slots.

After reading some other answers regarding Sorcery Points, Wild Magic Surges, and Genie Warlock Simulacrums, and now I'm just a little confused. Sorcery Points and health points are, by simple logic, intrinsic resources that are recovered by the natural and supernatural forces operating in a PC. Bardic Inspiration, according to my understanding, is closer to a phenomena as a result of magical music. Does anyone have a different answer for this?

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It's the same as for other limited resources

It does not really make a difference what feature that provides a limited resource we are talking about:

As explained in this answer on sorcery points, as written simulacrum only states that you cannot regain spell slots. That and that the way to regain hit points is the expensive alchemical procedure are the limitations provided on what you can regain. Everything else is regained normally.

The rules as intended have been stated in a tweet by Jeremy Crawford:

A simulacrum is meant to lose efficacy over time, essentially running out of juice, until only at-will abilities remain.

The errata for this that he suggested in that same tweet have however not been carried out to date. It's up to your DM to decide if he wants to follow this guidance, or allow you to use the spell as written.

In my humble opinion (my Wizard has simulacrum) the spell is insanely powerful, essentially doubling all your spell slots and giving you three more attunement slots and doubling all your actions, so it is better in this case to follow intended use and let all other abilities that are not at will get used up.

P.S. The limitations state that the simulacrum

never increases its level or other abilities

Could that "never increases (...) other abilities" means it cannot regain any used features even rules-as-written? You could argue that once it has used up any limited-use feature, regaining it would make it more powerful again, and increase an ability.

If that was meant, why then call out that the simulacrum cannot regain spell slots? That would already be covered. One therefore has to read this limitation in context: it is mentioned together with not being able to increase in level. I think this expresses that the simulacrum cannot acquire entirely new spells or skills, or increase its proficiency bonus or ability scores or other level-dependent class features. So, unfortunately it seems a bit of a stretch to take this as a rule for blocking replenishing of any ability. (And at least it cannot have been seen like that by the designer either, or he would not have suggested the spell needs errata to actually say that).

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  • \$\begingroup\$ What does “it cannot increase its…other abilities” mean? \$\endgroup\$
    – Thomas Markov
    Aug 17 at 20:24
  • \$\begingroup\$ @ThomasMarkovwasonStrike I think that would be an interesting separate question, which to my surprise does not seem to exist yet. At the risk of getting dragged into a comment discussion on something as complicated (which is probably not the best place) I think if this would cover replenishable abilities, why then call out spell slots, so it must refer to things like gaining XP, ASIs, to hit, PB, skill boni and the like. \$\endgroup\$
    – Nobody the Hobgoblin
    Aug 17 at 20:34
  • \$\begingroup\$ I’m asking you here because I think it’s part of answering this and the linked question. No one seems to have paid that part of the description any mind, but I think it ought be the answer to these questions. \$\endgroup\$
    – Thomas Markov
    Aug 17 at 20:40
  • \$\begingroup\$ How do you justify "the only way to regain hit points is the expensive alchemical procedure" (emphasis mine). I agree it seems obvious that was the intent, but struggle to support the "only" to my more raw inclined players. The simulacrum is explicitly a creature by the spell text, so why wouldn't cure wounds work? \$\endgroup\$
    – Ty Hayes
    Aug 18 at 1:55
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    \$\begingroup\$ @TyHayes That question has been discussed ad nauseam on this site, so instead of me trying to explain this here in the comments, take a look at those Q&As. You can challenge that but wether it is airtight or not is not the point of this question/answer. I’ll add the link to it too for those interested. \$\endgroup\$
    – Nobody the Hobgoblin
    Aug 18 at 4:14

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