D&D 5E Sleep is not a save-or-die spell (minor rant)

[mellored]

No, but if it is effective against a creature with 20 hit point, it does bypass them.

Also, whether there's an actual save or not remains irrelevant.

By that definition, fireball is a save-or-die spell.
As is pretty much any spell that can deal 20 damage.

 

[Wuzzard]

This thread cannot be saved...

 

[CapnZapp]

By that definition, fireball is a save-or-die spell.
As is pretty much any spell that can deal 20 damage.

By what definition?

If you mean my definition, note the "bypass hp".

Fireball is perhaps the game's most powerful spell,but it's "only" a damage-dealing effect nonetheless.

 

[slaughterj]

One way to look at sleep is that it is like doing a form of subdual damage. Sleep is definitely not "save or die" because:
a. It does not involve a save, and
b. It does not circumvent HP to defeat the foe.

Lacking either of the foregoing disqualifies it from being "save or die".