Sneak Attack vs. DR

[Justinian]

I believe this has been discussed before on this board, but I was unable to find the thread.

Recently, a rogue IMC used sneak attack on a creature with damage reduction. His rapier was unable to penetrate it, so I ruled that the sneak attack damage was negated as well. This was not a popular ruling, especially since I was unable to find a clear rule in the PHB or DMG to back it up. The rogue felt that sneak attack is different from poison or energy damage, and should take effect even when the damage isn't high enough.

Is there a rule that covers this specifically, or is it open to interpretation? What have some other DMs done about this kind of situation?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

You would do it in the same way you would handle a critical hit on a creature with DR (assuming it is subject to crits). Roll the normal damage and the sneak attack damage. If it is higher than the DR, subtract the DR from the damage and apply the rest to its hit points. The sneak attack damage is not separate from the DR calculation.

 

[Crothian]

The good doctor is correct. Now, energy damage like cold, fire, elctricity, etc is treated as was done here. But all normal damage no matter what the source counts for DR.

 

[Caliban]

I believe this has been discussed before on this board, but I was unable to find the thread.

Recently, a rogue IMC used sneak attack on a creature with damage reduction. His rapier was unable to penetrate it, so I ruled that the sneak attack damage was negated as well. This was not a popular ruling, especially since I was unable to find a clear rule in the PHB or DMG to back it up. The rogue felt that sneak attack is different from poison or energy damage, and should take effect even when the damage isn't high enough.

Is there a rule that covers this specifically, or is it open to interpretation? What have some other DMs done about this kind of situation?

Secondary effects of your attack are negated if they do not penetrate the DR of the creature.

Sneak attacks deal bonus damage, they are not a secondary effect. The bonus damage increases the damage that the base attack does, even if the base attack wouldn't penetrate the DR, the sneak attack damage would add on to it, and may surpass the DR.

This is also answered in the most current D&D FAQ:

A rogue in my party has no magic weapons but did a
sneak attack against a monster with damage reduction
20/+2. How should this attack be resolved? Do I roll the
damage for the hit, add the bonus damage from the sneak
attack, then compare the total to the DR? Or is there no
sneak attack damage unless the basic attack beats the DR?
According to what I could find in the DUNGEON MASTER's
Guide, special effects from ranged or melee attacks don't
apply unless they're magical, such as fire damage from the
flaming weapon, or the attack that delivered the special
effect beats the DR. So, is sneak attack a special effect?


A sneak attack provides bonus damage, not a special effect.
In a sneak attack, roll the bonus damage and apply that against
the DR. For example, a rogue who hits a foe that has DR 20/+2
with a nonmagic short sword for 6 points of damage doesn’t get
through the DR. If the same rogue sneak attacks for 25 points
of damage, 5 points get through DR.
If the same rogue struck the same foe with a poisoned short
sword for 6 points of damage, the foe would not be damaged,
and the poison would not take effect because the DR stops all
the damage. The same rogue sneak attacking the same foe with
a poisoned short sword for 25 points of damage would deal 5
points to the foe and the foe would then have to save against
the poison.

 

[Justinian]

Thanks, I guess I should have checked the FAQ more recently. I'll download the new version and see if it has any more rules that I've been wondering about.

 

[kreynolds]

I'll download the new version and see if it has any more rules that I've been wondering about.

It's kind of a pain now though, since they aren't highlighting the latest changes. Ah, well.

 

[Caliban]

It's kind of a pain now though, since they aren't highlighting the latest changes. Ah, well.

I believe they still are. The latest update that I downloaded has the latest changes in a different color of text.

 

[kreynolds]

I believe they still are. The latest update that I downloaded has the latest changes in a different color of text.

Oh. Indeed they are. Well, I'm much happier now.

 

[Staffan]

The good doctor is correct. Now, energy damage like cold, fire, elctricity, etc is treated as was done here. But all normal damage no matter what the source counts for DR.

Actually, I think energy damage is considered entirely separate from the regular damage. In order to deliver something like poison you need to get through with normal damage, but the extra d6 on a flaming sword is pretty much a second damage source. It doesn't add to the damage that tries to penetrate DR, because DR doesn't concern itself with energy damage.
As an example, if I hit something that has DR 20/+2 with a flaming longsword +1, I have to use the 1d8+1 (plus whatever bonuses I get from Strength, specialization, Prayer and whatever) to try to get through the 20, but the 1d6 fire damage goes right through.

 

[kreynolds]

As an example, if I hit something that has DR 20/+2 with a flaming longsword +1, I have to use the 1d8+1 (plus whatever bonuses I get from Strength, specialization, Prayer and whatever) to try to get through the 20, but the 1d6 fire damage goes right through.

Exactly. Nice example, by the way.