In the world of Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition, necrotic damage is a type of damage caused by certain spells and abilities that affect living organisms, typically resulting in the degradation or destruction of organic material. This damage is characterized by the creation of black, wispy trails or 'necrotic storms' that envelope the affected area, leading to the slow and painful degradation of flesh from bones.
necrotic damage types & effects
Necrotic damage can be divided into two categories: instant kill and non-instant kill. Instant kill necrotic damage deals sufficient damage to bring a character's hit points to zero, causing instantaneous death. This type of damage is often referred to as "doomsday" damage due to its efficacy against even the最强的 of characters. Non-instant kill necrotic damage, on the other hand, does not guarantee instant death. Instead, it causes the character to fall to 0 hit points, where they become a 'zombie under the control of the caster on their next turn.'
instant kill necrotic damage examples
Some examples of instant kill necrotic damage include:
- The Death Ray ability from Beholders that deals 55 necrotic damage on a fail, half on success.
- The spell described as Finger of Death, which drops a character to 0 hit points and immediately kills them if they are not raised by a spellcaster.
- The trap surrounding the champion of the Raven Queen, which kills any character who falls below 0 hit points.
non-instant kill necrotic damage examples
Examples of non-instant kill necrotic damage include:
- The Withering Corrupting Touch from the Banshee, which deals an average of 12 necrotic damage.
- The Enervation Ray from the beholders' corrupting eyeray, which deals 36 necrotic damage on a failed save, half on success.
- The spell description for the Harm spell, which causes 49 average damage on a failure, more on success.
necrotic damage in character development
Necrotic damage can significantly impact a character's development. On one hand, it can be a valuable asset for characters who prioritize powerful spellcasting, either in the form of instant kill necrotic spells for combat roles or non-instant kill necrotic spells for support roles. However, characters that focus too much on necrotic damage might find themselves limited by their inability to effectively address other aspects of the game, such as combat, diplomacy, or exploration.
necrotic damage countermeasures
To effectively counter necrotic damage, characters can employ a variety of strategies. For instant kill necrotic damage, this often involves applying area-of-effect spells or abilities that mitigate its effectiveness, such as Divine Intervention or Warlock abilities that can disrupt the enemy's spellcasting. Non-instant kill necrotic damage can be addressed through healing spells or abilities that replenish hit points, which can help characters maintain their combat prowess even after taking significant necrotic damage.
necrotic damage in context
Necrotic damage is particularly effective against organic characters in the game, such as humanoids and creatures with the 'undead' keyword. Additionally, it can be useful against certain magical beings, such as devils, demons, and yugoloths, which are classified as 'non-magical plants' and therefore subject to necrotic damage.
summary
Necrotic damage is a versatile and powerful type of damage in D&D 5e, finding its way into a variety of spell descriptions and abilities. Understanding the differences between instant kill and non-instant kill necrotic damage and knowing how to counter its effects can significantly enhance a character's capabilities within the game.
