Multiple elements resistances and vulnerabilities question

[Kalbutt]

Hello

There are some existing threads on this subject but I can't find an answer. Sorry if it has been already clarified.

Suppose a Flaming longsword-wielding Paladin use "Holy Strike" on an undead which has vulnerable radiant 5 and resist Fire 10.
The attack has Radiant and Fire keywords : do the resistance and vulnerability both apply ? What is the final damage on this attack ?

And if the monster has vulnerable radiant 5 and IMMUNE fire ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fede]

To resist a "radiant and fire" attack you need to have both radiant and fire immunity.
So, in you example you do X+5 damage for the vulnerability

If the monster had "resist radiant and fire 10" and "vulnerable 5 radiant", it would have taken X +5 -10, for a net effect of -5.

It's the same for immunity, fire immunity alone doesn't matter, while fire and radiant immunity negate the attack entirely.

 

[Dragonblade]

PHB pg 55.

Half the damage from the paladin is considered Radiant and half is considered Fire. Let's say the paladin does 10 damage. So the monster takes 5 Radiant and 5 Fire. Then apply vulnerabilities, resistances, and immunities to the appropriate damage types separately.

The monster would take 5 + 5 (vulnerable) = 10 radiant damage and would take 5 - 10 = 0 Fire damage (you can't take negative damage), for a total of 10 damage. If the paladin did 30 points of radiant and fire damage, then the monster would take 15+5 = 20, and 15-10 = 5, for a total of 25 damage.

 

[Dragonblade]

One other thing I'll add is that certain powers will have a description that trumps the rule about dividing damage among the keywords.

For example, a power might do lightning and fire and then specify that the monster must have resistance to both, in that case follow the exception in the power. So a even if a monster had a resistance one damage type when such a power was used on them, that resistance would be completely ignored and they would take full damage.

 

[Fede]

Dragonblade, you are describing how it was before the errata, now all powers work like the cleric 29th level attack astral storm.

 

[Dragonblade]

Dragonblade, you are describing how it was before the errata, now all powers work like the cleric 29th level attack astral storm.

You're right. I forgot about that. D'oh!

Move along. Nothing to see here. These aren't the droids you're looking for.

 

[Kalbutt]

Thanks for the answer ! With the errata it makes more sense : adding an elemental effect to an attack increase your chances to hit a vulnerability and reduce the effectiveness of enemy resistance.

 

[Diirk]

Thanks for the answer ! With the errata it makes more sense : adding an elemental effect to an attack increase your chances to hit a vulnerability and reduce the effectiveness of enemy resistance.

Sort of, but they went too far in the opposite direction imo. Powers that target multiple resistances now basically trivialise resistances. I don't think it makes much sense that a creature with fire resistances isn't protected at all against a power that does a mix of lightning and fire damage.

 

[Tellerve]

I agree, I wasn't happy with the errata change and am still not. It just doesn't feel right to me. You could always house rule it back of course.

Tellerve