D&D 5E Moonbeam, Am I reading it right?

[David William Baker]

how does a paladin get moonbeam?

 

[jaelis]

how does a paladin get moonbeam?

Multiclass, I guess.

Also, since this is a super-old thread, the main topic has been since clarified in Sage Advice:

Does moonbeam deal damage when you cast it? What about when its effect moves onto a creature?

The answer to both questions is no. Here’s some elaboration on that answer.

Some spells and other game features create an area of effect that does something when a creature enters that
area for the first time on a turn or when a creature starts its turn in that area. The turn you cast such a spell, you’re primarily setting up hurt for your foes on later turns. Moonbeam, for example, creates a beam of light that can damage a creature who enters the beam or who starts its turn in the beam.

 

[Li Shenron]

When our Druid reached 3rd level, we noticed the similarities and the differences between Flaming Sphere and Moonbeam. We've always understood that Moonbeam damages only a creature that enters it or is already inside when its turn starts, but not before. We pictured it as an effect that takes some time to burn the victim, small time but somehow longer than instantaneously.

Now that I read it again, I can see how someone might interpret it differently, but it really would be way too powerful that way, even with concentration (which also the other similar spells require anyway).

In fact there is also this other Crawford tweet:

https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/05/27/does-movement-of-moonbeam-count-as-creature-entering/

 

[Li Shenron]

Moonbeam:

4) Single foe damage (typically, but it can be used against a horse and rider, or an enemy and it's familiar, etc.).

This is an old post but it got me thinking if we've been doing it wrong....

We've always read 5ft radius of a cylinder, and as such potentially targetting a maximum of 4 squares i.e. 4 medium sized creatures, although this is typically going to be a lucky case that lasts only one round.

 

[devincutler]

yes and no. It is a great spell, but you do not inflict damage when you move it onto a creature. If a creature starts it's turn in one, or moves into one, then it takes damage. Basically, it will only take damage once per round (unless it's dumb enough to enter leave, enter, leave, enter again). It's also one of those spells that once cast, the enemy targets the caster to break concentration

Nope. It says when a creatures enters it for the FIRST TIME on a turn. So it can enter and leave multiple times on a turn and only take the damage once.

SORRY...did not notice this was a zombie thread. Rest in peace little thread. Rest in peace.

 

[Staffan]

This is an old post but it got me thinking if we've been doing it wrong....

We've always read 5ft radius of a cylinder, and as such potentially targetting a maximum of 4 squares i.e. 4 medium sized creatures, although this is typically going to be a lucky case that lasts only one round.

5 ft radius is correct, so in an optimal case it could hit four foes. But once you have the 10-foot diameter Beam Of Pale Death sweeping across the battlefield, most opponents aren't going to be bunching up unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Weiley31]

Nope. It says when a creatures enters it for the FIRST TIME on a turn. So it can enter and leave multiple times on a turn and only take the damage once.

SORRY...did not notice this was a zombie thread. Rest in peace little thread. Rest in peace.

Until some Necromancer appears.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Until some Necromancer appears.

He might just have been confused with the RAW / RAI thread which seems to be an identical twin...

 

[Blue]

The quote is "When a creature enter's the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts it's turn there..."
The first part wouldn't be necessary in the description if the spell was limited to the second part. You could easily make that mean when the beam is first moved on top of the targeted creature, since that is the initial point at which the creature "enters" the circle - which means you could adjudicate the damage as being done right then and not at the beginning of the target's turn, just like ramming the flaming sphere into a creature... as I said. If you wanted to wait until the creature's turn to roll the damage, that's your prerogative I would say, but not necessarily how I would do it. I wouldn't make the damage roll twice, but I don't see a reason not to roll the damage at the time it centers on the creature - in case that has a difference on the outcome.

If you put it in a hallway, someone walking through it will get affected. That clause is still needed for normal interpretation.

And it is when the creature enters the beam - not when the beam goes to the creature. This distinction is used in spells all over the place. That's settled language, and it means exactly what it says. When a creatures enters the spell's area, not when the spell's area enters the creature's space.

 

[Weiley31]

He might just have been confused with the RAW / RAI thread which seems to be an identical twin...

Necromancer Twins: that's just great.