Sun Blade versus Skeleton

[Lord Pendragon]

Against Negative Energy Plane creatures or undead creatures, the sword deals double damage (and
x3 on a critical hit instead of the usual x2).

A Fighter swings a Sun Blade at a skeleton, and rolls a natural 20. How much damage does he do? x2 or x3?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

x2. Undead are immune to critical hits.

He'd get the bonus damage should he be fighting a "Negative Energy Plane" creature that was not immune to critical hits.

 

[shilsen]

What Patryn said.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Yup.

This was addressed in the 3E Main FAQ:
You can’t inflict a critical hit on an undead creature, even
with a sun blade, and you cannot make sneak attacks against
undead creatures or use the ranger’s favored enemy bonus
against them.
To get the x3 critical with the sun blade, you have to use the
weapon against a negative energy creature that is susceptible to
critical hits, such as an outsider or magical beast.
When dealing double damage to an undead or negative
energy creature, roll all damage (including all your normal
damage bonuses and the sword’s +4 bonus against evil
creatures, if applicable) twice. Note that the reason the sword
deals a x3 critical against negative energy creatures is because
it’s dealing double damage. (When you double a double, you
get a triple, see Multiplying on page 275 of the Player’s
Handbook.)

(The favored enemy comment no longer applies in 3.5.)

-Hyp.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Thanks guys.