So, I've searched the Rules forums and scoured the PRD glossary on both Critical hits and damage reduction, and cannot find any information to clarify how the two interact. So I'm posting these questions here to see if anyone knows for sure.
Does a critical hit negate damage reduction?
If not, when is the DR applied? Before the multiplier is resolved or afterward?
Let's assume for sake of argument that a critical hit confirms but fails to overcome DR anyway (for one reason or another). Could critical feats still be applied?
My group has never really had an idea on how this works, so any advice would be great! Thanks much! :)
Confirming a critical is all about overcoming the AC.
If you do score a critical then you roll the damage and apply it.
DR reduces the total damage done.
If your critical hit does not overcome the damage reduction then the DR is doing it's job. It's damn hard to kill that Imp without silver or good aligned weapons.
Ok cool, this clears up quite a bit. Thanks a lot!
If for some reason you would do only 2 damage on a normal hit, and score a critical hit with a weapon that deals x2 damage on a critical you would deal 4 damage. If for some reason the creature you're fighting has DR 5 of a type your weapon does not bypass you would deal no damage. If you instead normally dealt 4 damage on a hit and get a critical you would deal 3 damage (8-5=3). If you do not deal damage on the hit, you do get the riders attached to critical hit abilities.
Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack, such as injury poison, a monk's stunning, and injury-based disease. Damage reduction does not negate touch attacks, energy damage dealt along with an attack, or energy drains. Nor does it affect poisons or diseases delivered by inhalation, ingestion, or contact.
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Let's assume for sake of argument that a critical hit confirms but fails to overcome DR anyway (for one reason or another). Could critical feats still be applied?
From the wording of the Critical feats I checked the answer is yes. Regardless of whether or not the damage scored by the critical hit caused hit point loss, the feat's effect is still applied. You'll want to check individual feats to see if they specify whether or not damage must be dealt for the effect to occur.
Note that creatures which are immune to critical hits are immune to these effects because it is not possible to score a critical hit on a crit immune creature.
Let's assume for sake of argument that a critical hit confirms but fails to overcome DR anyway (for one reason or another). Could critical feats still be applied?From the wording of the Critical feats I checked the answer is yes. Regardless of whether or not the damage scored by the critical hit caused hit point loss, the feat's effect is still applied. You'll want to check individual feats to see if they specify whether or not damage must be dealt for the effect to occur.
Note that creatures which are immune to critical hits are immune to these effects because it is not possible to score a critical hit on a crit immune creature.
My quote form the PRD about Damage Reduction disagrees with you.
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Well, technically it says 'most' not 'all'. That does leave wiggle room. Honestly, though, I think you are correct. I also don't even remember seeing your post before I replied. Though, I should have looked up Damage Reduction before I posted as well as the critical feats. Just not a brilliant moment for me.
Well, technically it says 'most' not 'all'. That does leave wiggle room. Honestly, though, I think you are correct. I also don't even remember seeing your post before I replied. Though, I should have looked up Damage Reduction before I posted as well as the critical feats. Just not a brilliant moment for me.
We all make mistakes, no big deal. I think they say most to leave some wiggle room on purpose, but that wiggle room I tihnk applies to things like those they mentioned such as rider effects from touch attacks, energy damage, energy drains, and poisons not delivered by injury. I think the idea of critical feats is you cause so much damage X happens. But if all the damage is negated the person shouldn't bleed (Bleeding Critical) or be stunned (Stunning Critical) or etc.
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It's going to be a pretty rare situation when a character high enough level to have critical feats has his/her entire critical damage negated by DR. Most 1st level martials will routinely clear 15 damage on a crit. By 10th level you're probably looking at 40-50 point crits; DR generally doesn't go that high. (heck we just started Kingmaker last night and our barbarian's opening shot for the AP did 22 points of damage without a crit)
But yeah, OP, generate the entire damage from the crit and apply DR once.
It's going to be a pretty rare situation when a character high enough level to have critical feats has his/her entire critical damage negated by DR. Most 1st level martials will routinely clear 15 damage on a crit. By 10th level you're probably looking at 40-50 point crits; DR generally doesn't go that high. (heck we just started Kingmaker last night and our barbarian's opening shot for the AP did 22 points of damage without a crit)
But yeah, OP, generate the entire damage from the crit and apply DR once.
Agreed, it's almost a moot point. But if someone did have the critical feats that apply conditions and somehow managed to have all their damage negated on that single attack then they would not experience the effects of the critical feat either.