Phantasmal Killer vs Breath of Life

[Xavram5]

Pretty straightforward, someone failed both their Will save and Fort save vs Phantasmal Killer, so they died. Cleric was right next to them and used Breath of Life. BoL says it doesn't work against "Death Effects" but PK isn't listed as a Death Effect, its an illusion.

So does Breath of Life work in this scenario?

[James Langley]

Doing some quick checking, it looks like it would work just fine. Like you said, Killer isn't a death effect :)

[Spook205]

I'd argue that breath of life works in this situation.

Like you say, Phantasmal Killer is not a death effect (no matter how similar its mechanics may be).

From a fluffy perspective: The subject died from fright, not from some form of dark energy snuffing their life out so breath of life can still fan the waning embers of life back, whereas a finger of death would have snuffed it outright.

[That Crazy Alchemist]

Yep. All good. Phantasmal Killer does not contain the Death descriptor and is therefore not a death effect (though it probably ought to be).

[LazarX]

That Crazy Alchemist wrote:

Yep. All good. Phantasmal Killer does not contain the Death descriptor and is therefore not a death effect (though it probably ought to be).

Not everything has to have the death descriptor to kill you in one shot. We really should not be giving Necromancy's schtick to Illusion.