Question about Death Ward

[Asmo]

The spell description states "The subject is immune to all death spells and magical death effects. The spell does not protect against other sorts of attacks, such as hit point loss, poison, petrifaction, or other effects, even if they might be lethal." (PHB 191)

I presume that Death Ward protects me from spells with the "Death" descriptor like Slay Living, Destruction and Death Knell.
But what other spells does Death Ward protect me from? What exactly is "magical death effects"? Sorry if this question has been asked before, but I can´t find any thread that deals with this topic.

Asmo

 

[Plane Sailing]

I presume that Death Ward protects me from spells with the "Death" descriptor like Slay Living, Destruction and Death Knell.
But what other spells does Death Ward protect me from? What exactly is "magical death effects"? Sorry if this question has been asked before, but I can´t find any thread that deals with this topic.

My understanding is that it is spells with the death descriptor and supernatural abilities which are clearly identified as such (e.g. Bodaks gaze). It is the latter which are "magical death effects".

I believe that it now protects from negative energy too, so I guess that it gives protection against enervation, energy drain, negative energy burst etc - should be quick to check that in the SRD.

Cheers

 

[Power_Munchkin]

hm

It also protects from harm and inflicts.

 

[Storminator]

It also protects from harm and inflicts.

In other words, it seriously rocks. I can't imagine a cleric without it!

Except that the cleric I game with doesn't use it. If my PC had a lick of spell knowledge I'd be all over that boy to get his act together. He needs such help.

PS

 

[FrankTrollman]

Dude, this is a 3.0 thread.

In 3rd edition, Negative Energy Protection and Death Ward are completely different spells. Death Ward does not protect from inflict spells or Harm. It does not stop negative energy levels from accumulating.

It just stops you from being subject to [death] effects. That's all the spells in the PHB that have the [Death] tag on them - and all the supernatural abilities in the Monster Manual that are based on those effects.

That's it.

-Frank

 

[Thanee]

That's it.

This almost sounds like it wasn't a good spell!

You are protected against spells with the [Death] tag, like Finger of Death or Destruction, but not others that cause instant death, like Disintegrate or Phantsmal Killer.

Death Attacks are also listed in the DMG under the special abilities. They are unfortunately not specifically annoted as such (like the spells, i.e. the Bodak's Death Gaze is one, but not the Iron Golem's Poison Cloud).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Plane Sailing]

Dude, this is a 3.0 thread.

Mea Culpa. I sometimes forget to check for the little icon.

Cheers