Undead and Potions

cmanos · Dec 9, 2004

OK...can Undead benefit from using potions? Can a lich or a vampire brew up a couple potions of Inflict Wounds to cure themselves? Can a Ghoul benefit from drinking a potion of speed

shilsen · Dec 9, 2004

Yes, as long as it is a potion of a spell that affects undead.

cmanos · Dec 9, 2004

Ah so a regular potion of speed wouldn't work on a ghoul? You'd need something like a Potion of Undead Speed?

frankthedm · Dec 9, 2004

cmanos said:
Ah so a regular potion of speed wouldn't work on a ghoul? You'd need something like a Potion of Undead Speed?

No, it is just that several spells will not help undead due to thier immunities.

Dr_Rictus · Dec 9, 2004

Note that using a potion doesn't require you to be able to metabolize or anything. Just that you ingest the potion.

Arguably, undead which lack any sort of a body cavity (such as skeletons) might reasonably be unable to ingest things in any meaningful way. But there's nothing inherent to being undead that prevents you from using a potion.

irdeggman · Dec 9, 2004

No, it is just that several spells will not help undead due to thier immunities.

And a potion of cure light wounds will not cure an undead's wounds it will cause damage - just like the spell.

Sejs · Dec 9, 2004

Right, you don't need a metabolism to use a potion, you just need the ability to internalize the fluid in some way. So a zombie or vampire can drink a potion just fine, but a skeleton or ghost would probably be out of luck. Heck, a golem can even drink a potion if they're built properly.

Also note, Complete Arcane gives examples of potions in alternate forms such as spell tiles, bone talismans and such. Basically the form the "potion" takes just needs to meet certain criteria, but is otherwise up to the creator. The three pertinant requirements here would be that the item is expended by its use, the item must be manipulated in some way in order to facilitate its use, and that such manipulation provokes an attack of opportunity.

Anthelios · Dec 9, 2004

sejis said:
Heck, a golem can even drink a potion if they're built properly.

Well, they still have their particulare spell immunities, but nothing to stop you from equipping your clay golems with an energy substituted Acid Ball potion to heal them up.