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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 1247452" data-attributes="member: 2629">As you have surmised, the description in the PHB under Summon Monster (and on page 172-73) do not fully answer your questions. OTOH, your questions, to an extent do not need to be answered.1.) 'Why' and 'how' are not relevant. The summoned creature does know who to attack. That much is clear from the spell description. There are many things about summoning that are not explained (ie; how the creature travels across the planes, why its spells end when it leaves, etc ...) This is just one of those things. If you need an explanation, I'd suggest that you settle upon divine instruction. On the way across the planes, the beastie is given the information by a divine agent.2.) Technically, the summoned creature is an NPC under the control of the DM. Most DMs allow a player to control monsters summoned by their PC. Although a PC may direct the creature if the PC can speak with the creature, the DM is supposed to control it. In other words, if a PC directs his summoned elemental to kill an enemy, the DM is the one that decides if the elemental does this by directly attacking the PC or by using an indirect attack on the support beam that is keeping the ceiling from falling on the enemy.3.) The description says that the creature attacks your opponents. It should continue to attack after the first enemy falls. As long as there are opponents in range.</blockquote>