Assassin's Death Attack vs. DR

[Fat Daddy]

If an assassin uses her death attack ability on a creature with say a DR 2/ cold iron and the weapon does not posess that quality, does the DR affect the Save or die? or simply reduce the damage taken if the save succeeds?

Thanks

 

[Legildur]

From the SRD:

Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack, such as injury type poison, a monk’s stunning, and injury type disease.

and

If an assassin studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (assassin’s choice).

So the DR simply reduces the damage from the normal weapon damage and sneak attack dice, but does not affect the saving throw to avoid death or paralyzation unless the DR also completely negates the damage from the attack.

 

[AuraSeer]

If the attack fails to do damage, then the death attack fails. (On preview, I see Legildur has quoted the appropriate rule already.)

If the attack does beat the DR, by even one point, then the death attack goes off exactly as normal. The save DC is not changed, because it depends only on the assassin's level and Int modifier.

Maybe you're thinking of coup de grace? The save DC there is based on damage dealt, so any DR will effectively help you save against a CDG. This has nothing to do with death attacks as such, though.

 

[The Forsaken One]

Legildur quote and emphasised the correct parts so you have your answer, just backing it up .

 

[Fat Daddy]

Thanks

Thanks Legildur. I appreciate the clarification. Auraseer, I wasn't confusing the CDG and the death attack. It was just wishful thinking. Guess I'd better go and roll up a new character.