Swarm Damage Type

[Zathraas]

Basic swarms do 1d6 damage automatically, but it doesn't say it if has a type (slashing, piercing, bludgeoning). I am wondering because our group fought some zombies and my warlock opted not to swarm them (can 4 at a time which is helpful) and I was not sure how the swarm damage interacted with zombies' DR that is bypassed by slashing weapons.

 

[frankthedm]

Swarms in all likelyhood are biting, which is ALL 3 damge types. However I also could see a DM saying the nicks and nibbles of a swarm just don’t add up to the tissue damage it takes to get past a zombie's DR.

 

[Twowolves]

I dunno, how does nature get rid of corpses if not by feeding them to the bugs?

 

[frankthedm]

I dunno, how does nature get rid of corpses if not by feeding them to the bugs?

One damage every six rounds is about the speed I'd expect them to chew away at.

 

[werk]

The same type of damage you get from falling?

I think that's the same type of damage that a wraith deals too.

 

[Zathraas]

frankthedm - is it written someplace that biting is all 3 types?

 

[frankthedm]

Natural weapons have types just as other weapons do. The most common are summarized below.

Bite
The creature attacks with its mouth, dealing piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning damage.

Claw or Talon
The creature rips with a sharp appendage, dealing piercing and slashing damage.

Gore
The creature spears the opponent with an antler, horn, or similar appendage, dealing piercing damage.

Slap or Slam
The creature batters opponents with an appendage, dealing bludgeoning damage.

Sting
The creature stabs with a stinger, dealing piercing damage. Sting attacks usually deal damage from poison in addition to hit point damage.

Tentacle
The creature flails at opponents with a powerful tentacle, dealing bludgeoning (and sometimes slashing) damage.