Multiple resistances

[GuJiaXian]

Perhaps this is an obvious question, but I can't seem to find an answer in the DMG. How do attacks with multiple damage types work against targets with resistances to only one of the types?

For example, Joe the Wizard casts a spell at Unlucky the Orc. The spell does 12 fire and lightning damage. Unlucky, for some reason, has resist fire 5. Does that reduce the damage taken to 7, or does Unlucky need resist fire *and* resist lightning to reduce damage in this case?

 

[Eric Finley]

He needs both. More generally, if it's doing fire-and-lightning damage, and Unlucky had resist fire 5 and resist lightning 1, he'd get the benefit of the 1 resistance (the lower of the two). Often, of course, this means no resistance at all.

 

[GuJiaXian]

Ah, that makes sense. It seemed silly the other (incorrect) way, where a multiple-damage-type spell would actually be weaker, with more opportunities to resist the damage. Thanks for the clarification. For the record, where exactly in the PHB or DMG is this spelled out?

 

[NMcCoy]

In the PHB errata on the WotC site.

 

[GuJiaXian]

Thanks.

 

[On Puget Sound]

It may get more complicated with resistance or immunities to effects (fear, illusion) - see the thread on Illusionists for more arguments on this. Pretty much all Fear or Illusion keyworded effects do Psychic damage, yet most (all?) creatures with resistance or immunity to Fear or Illusion do NOT have any Psychic resistance.

So, either Fear/ Resistance immunity on creatures is a waste of ink, or something else is supposed to happen with powers like Dire Radiance and the illusionist's entire spell catalog when used on these monsters.

The most common interpretation goes something like this:

SPELL: Fear, Implement, Psychic
(...)
Hit: Target takes xdx Psychic damage and is dazed until end of your next turn.

Immune Fear: target takes Psychic damage but is not dazed -the damage in the spell is separately keyworded as Psychic damage, not Psychic and Fear damage.

Immune Psychic: target is dazed (would need both immunities to ignore that) but takes no damage.

Immune Fear and Psychic: spell is ineffective.

Resist 5 Psychic: target is dazed and takes the damage minus 5 points.

 

[chitzk0i]

How about this one: a character in our party used the spellscarred power Blurring Blade on a creature with resist 10 necrotic and vulnerable 5 fire. The power causes ongoing 5 fire and necrotic damage. How much damage does the creature take?

 

[Plane Sailing]

ongoing 10 fire.