Do automatic hit abilities kill minions?

[Tidus4444]

My friend and I are having this argument: at my table, automatic damage powers (our warlock has a rod that lets him deal 1 damage when he curses an enemy; our DM claims that doesn't kill minions) don't kill minions. He claims this is a house rule, and I'm not sure who is right. Is this part of the core rules?

 

[Tale]

It's most certainly not a part of core rules.

 

[Herschel]

An automatic hit will kill minions, ala standing next to something that got cleaved, etc. A MISS doesn't kill a minion (even if said miss still causes half damage or whatever) is the rule.

That said, house rules are the prerogative of the DM.

 

[Fede]

According to the rules, the only damage that won't kill a minion is the one from a missed attack

 

[Lucas Blackstone]

If a minion has temporary hit points, it also will not die from my understanding. But I could see people debating it.

 

[keterys]

By the RAW, it kills minions. It's not necessarily a bad thing for the game if automatic damage doesn't kill minions all the time... there are a lot of possible options, all of a house rule type nature, that can work well depending on the group.

 

[Mistwell]

My friend and I are having this argument: at my table, automatic damage powers (our warlock has a rod that lets him deal 1 damage when he curses an enemy; our DM claims that doesn't kill minions) don't kill minions. He claims this is a house rule, and I'm not sure who is right. Is this part of the core rules?

Your friend is correct.

DMG pg. 55

Damage from an attack or from a source that doesn’t require an attack roll (such as the paladin’s divine challenge or the fighter’s cleave) destroys a minion.

If a minion has temporary hit points, it also will not die from my understanding. But I could see people debating it.

I disagree.

DMG pg. 55

A minion is destroyed when it takes any amount of damage. Damage from an attack or from a source that doesn’t require an attack roll (such as the paladin’s divine challenge or the fighter’s cleave) destroys a minion. If a minion is missed by an attack that normally deals damage on a miss, however, it takes no damage.

 

[Fede]

If a minion has temporary hit points, it also will not die from my understanding. But I could see people debating it.

Ask wizards said that temp hps work normally with minions

Ask Wizards: 09/26/2008

 

[Mistwell]

Ask wizards said that temp hps work normally with minions

Ask Wizards: 09/26/2008

I disagree with Ask Wizards, as their answer has far reaching ramifications for the definition of "damage" which they did not intend.

 

[Ottergame]

That and it complicates minions, who were built to be 100% uncomplicated.