Can you use a Threnodic language-dependent spell on undead?


Rules Questions


Can you use a Threnodic language-dependent spell on undead?

Here's my reasoning:
Specifically, the question came up for:
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/blistering/

I think that a strict following of the rules would say no, for unintelligent undead, and yes for intelligent undead.

Considering the flavor-text:
> You can convert mind-affecting magic to necromantic power capable of controlling undead.

Since unintelligent undead are controlled by necromantic energy, I think this should work, flavor-wise.

I don't think this is game-breaking to allow.


Undead aren't immune to language-dependent spells (assuming they speak or at least understand the language; technically the skeleton and zombie templates at least don't lose their base languages, just those from int or linguistics), though they are immune to mind-affecting. Blistering invective only has the fire and language-dependent flags - you won't need threnodic spell to set a vampire spawn on fire with it. It's an evocation spell and not mind-affecting.

Edit: Intelligence as a nonability doesn't mention languages either.


Magic wrote:
A language-dependent spell uses intelligible language as a medium for communication. If the target cannot understand or cannot hear what the caster of a language-dependent spell says, the spell fails.

Mindless creatures usually cannot understand what the caster says, so blistering invective would not work on such creatures. In any case, I doubt mindless creatures can be demoralized, which is a prerequisite for the rest of the spell to work.

Besides, blistering invective does not have the mind-affecting descriptor, so it cannot be made threnodic in the first place. (It really should, though.)


Demoralize was at some point ruled to be a morale affect, IIRC correctly. Which Undead would normally be immune to. I would also say that mindless undead are immune to language dependent spells the way an animal would be.

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