I thought that DR was always bypassed by damage from a spell. But I'm second second guessing that because I saw something with DR/Magic. So know I need to know does spell damage bypass DR/- or not?
DR/Magic does not refer to spells, it refers to magic weapons, i.e. weapons with a +1 or higher enhancement bonus.
Spell damage bypasses all DR, including DR/-, unless the damage is explicitly bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, in which case you apply the DR as normal. E.g. ice storm deals part cold damage, and part bludgeoning damage. DR applies to the bludgeoning damage, and energy resistance applies to the cold damage. Thus both skeletons (immune to cold) and zombies (DR/slashing) are resistance to that spell.
There are few spells that actually do this type of damage - most deal other types or typeless. For instance, both spiritual weapon and mage's sword deal force damage.
Ninja'd by KainPen, although I would point out that Damage Reduction applies to "attacks" - there is physical damage, such as falling damage, to which it does not apply. Also spell damage that is not energy based.
1. DR is for weapons
2. Resist and immunity is for energy damage (spells and abilities)
spell damage almost always bypasses DR as it typically does energy damage of 1 sort or another.
DR/Magic means you need a magic weapon to bypass it (+1 Longsword) it has nothing to do with having a spell cast on you......
To give a bit of history, in 3.0 there was DR/+1, DR/+2, ..., DR/+5, DR/+6. 3.5 simplified this immensely to DR/magic and DR/epic. (It also broke out silver DR, which was beaten by DR/+1 in 3.0, as well as cold iron and adamantine). So "magic" is shorthand for "+1 or above."
Spells that deal physical damage (piercing, slashing, or bludgeoning) are affected by damage resistance though.
To give a bit of history, in 3.0 there was DR/+1, DR/+2, ..., DR/+5, DR/+6. 3.5 simplified this immensely to DR/magic and DR/epic. (It also broke out silver DR, which was beaten by DR/+1 in 3.0, as well as cold iron and adamantine). So "magic" is shorthand for "+1 or above."
True, but in 3.0 Ice Storm's blunt bypassed all DR as well.
So there are changes.
DR/Magic does not refer to spells, it refers to magic weapons, i.e. weapons with a +1 or higher enhancement bonus.
Spell damage bypasses all DR, including DR/-, unless the damage is explicitly bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, in which case you apply the DR as normal. E.g. ice storm deals part cold damage, and part bludgeoning damage. DR applies to the bludgeoning damage, and energy resistance applies to the cold damage. Thus both skeletons (immune to cold) and zombies (DR/slashing) are resistance to that spell.
There are few spells that actually do this type of damage - most deal other types or typeless. For instance, both spiritual weapon and mage's sword deal force damage.
Ninja'd by KainPen, although I would point out that Damage Reduction applies to "attacks" - there is physical damage, such as falling damage, to which it does not apply. Also spell damage that is not energy based.
Thank you for the clarification, but I previously believed that DR/- was bypassed by magic weapons of +1 or higher. So, is DR/- damage resistance without vulnerability or does DR/- and DR/Magic have the same meaning?
Thank you for the clarification, but I previously believed that DR/- was bypassed by magic weapons of +1 or higher. So, is DR/- damage resistance without vulnerability or does DR/- and DR/Magic have the same meaning?DR/Magic does not refer to spells, it refers to magic weapons, i.e. weapons with a +1 or higher enhancement bonus.
Spell damage bypasses all DR, including DR/-, unless the damage is explicitly bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, in which case you apply the DR as normal. E.g. ice storm deals part cold damage, and part bludgeoning damage. DR applies to the bludgeoning damage, and energy resistance applies to the cold damage. Thus both skeletons (immune to cold) and zombies (DR/slashing) are resistance to that spell.
There are few spells that actually do this type of damage - most deal other types or typeless. For instance, both spiritual weapon and mage's sword deal force damage.
Ninja'd by KainPen, although I would point out that Damage Reduction applies to "attacks" - there is physical damage, such as falling damage, to which it does not apply. Also spell damage that is not energy based.
DR/- is not bypassed by anything (unless it specifically states it overcomes all damange resistance, which AFAIK does not exist).
DR/- is not bypassed by anything (unless it specifically states it overcomes all damange resistance, which AFAIK does not exist).Thank you for the clarification, but I previously believed that DR/- was bypassed by magic weapons of +1 or higher. So, is DR/- damage resistance without vulnerability or does DR/- and DR/Magic have the same meaning?DR/Magic does not refer to spells, it refers to magic weapons, i.e. weapons with a +1 or higher enhancement bonus.
Spell damage bypasses all DR, including DR/-, unless the damage is explicitly bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, in which case you apply the DR as normal. E.g. ice storm deals part cold damage, and part bludgeoning damage. DR applies to the bludgeoning damage, and energy resistance applies to the cold damage. Thus both skeletons (immune to cold) and zombies (DR/slashing) are resistance to that spell.
There are few spells that actually do this type of damage - most deal other types or typeless. For instance, both spiritual weapon and mage's sword deal force damage.
Ninja'd by KainPen, although I would point out that Damage Reduction applies to "attacks" - there is physical damage, such as falling damage, to which it does not apply. Also spell damage that is not energy based.
There are several ways to bypass DR/-. A paladin can do so when smiting evil creatures. A lot of the 1st-tier mythic attack abilities bypass all damage reduction. Not sure what else.
DR doesn't apply to spells at all, so I don't count that as 'overcoming' the DR. I know fully well that DR and Energy Resistance aren't the same thing.
I tend to call DR Damage Resistance (instead of Reduction) due to that being a more common term in other games I've played, which I freely acknowledge is my error.
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Ugh, I'm trying to read through all of these to actually understand DR better myself. I'm finding I still am not seeing the answer. So, adamantine weapons ALWAYS ignore DR? No matter what is after the slash? Or, now I'm seeing like the DR5/vorpal, or whatever. So....does this mean that even adamantine would not bypass DR, and ONLY vorpal would? And same for the rest, I guess. Does DR5/magic mean that ONLY magic weapons will bypass, and not adamantine? And, how about DR5/-...does that mean ONLY energy damage will bypass the DR, and not adamantine? Very confused, I have read what it says in the core rulebook, but just doesn't seem clear still. Thanks
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Zhayne Majuba has it correct. Dr/- is by passed my magic spells. you are confusing Damage reduction with energy resistance. there is no such thing as damage resistance. A lot of people treat the two as the same thing because they think Dr stands for damage resistance. Thus combining the two effects into one effect that just does not exist. they are very different. on page 562 it says of the core rule books says " Spells, Spell like abilities and energy attacks even non magic fire ignore damage reduction." so Dr/- is by passed by spells.
Your not the only one I seen do this, I known at least 8 experince dms that have been doing this since 3.0 edtion D&D. A lot of them keep doing even after game of play and be corrected by thier players.
Hoped this would get your attention, I still have confusion on the whole DR thing. Posted earlier, but figured since this was a two year old post, noone would see my question
Ugh, I'm trying to read through all of these to actually understand DR better myself. I'm finding I still am not seeing the answer. So, adamantine weapons ALWAYS ignore DR? No matter what is after the slash? Or, now I'm seeing like the DR5/vorpal, or whatever. So....does this mean that even adamantine would not bypass DR, and ONLY vorpal would? And same for the rest, I guess. Does DR5/magic mean that ONLY magic weapons will bypass, and not adamantine? And, how about DR5/-...does that mean ONLY energy damage will bypass the DR, and not adamantine? Very confused, I have read what it says in the core rulebook, but just doesn't seem clear still. Thanks
Adamantine weapons only overcome DR/Adamantine.
As far as physical damage (bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage) is concerned, only the things after the slash overcome that damage reduction. DR/Adamantine requires an adamantine weapon to overcome. DR/Magic requires a magical weapon to overcome. DR/Silver requires a silver weapon to overcome. DR/Vorpal would require a vorpal weapon to overcome. DR/- is not overcome by any physical weapon (Though certain things do give the attacker the ability to ignore damage reduction, such as a paladins smite attack).
Energy damage (fire, acid, etc.) is never affected by damage reduction.
There is an exception, however. +3 weapons cound as cold-iron and silver for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. +4 weapons count as adamantine and +5 weapons count as the appropriate alignment to overcome damage reduction as well.