Combining DR


Rules Questions

Liberty's Edge

Angelic Aspect provides DR 5/evil. Stoneskin provides DR 10/adamantine. What happens if both are active?


DR overlaps, not stacks. So in this case you would stop 10 dmg from a generic weapon, 10 from a devil's attack, 5 from an adamantine weapon, and nothing from a devil with an adamantine weapon.

Liberty's Edge

Makes sense.


Not 100% true. DR Normally doesn't stack, there ARE exceptions, but they specifically call out when it does. In this case, whichever of the DR is greater, is the one that functions. If you want to stack DR, there are a few exceptions like the vouchsafing enchantment which states

"Vouchsafing armor grants its wearer DR 5/— while she is unconscious, nauseated, stunned, or pinned. This DR stacks with any other DR the wearer already has. If the wearer is somehow able to take standard actions while unconscious, nauseated, or stunned, or is able to make attacks while pinned, the armor does not grant its DR."

Thats an example of it calling out when/if it stacks. Without some sort of line to that effect however, it does not.


What about a Barbarian with the Invulnerable archetype, and wearing a adamantine breastplate, and taking the Improved DR at 8th level?


Those don't stack, your improved DR adds to class given DR, and since these are the same type you just use the better value. Bottom line, adamantine armor is not useful for barbs. (Barring some AT that trades out DR.)


I am not sure all of this is entirely accurate. In the initial response we have some numbers transposed, but that is small potatoes and I think everyone will pick up on that, but his view seems to be accurate as far as the overlapping goes.

Damage Reduction extract wrote:
If a creature has damage reduction from more than one source, the two forms of damage reduction do not stack. Instead, the creature gets the benefit of the best damage reduction in a given situation.

In the OP example, there are two different forms of DR. If the situation is you are fighting someone with adamantium weapons, then the best damage reduction for your situation is DR/evil. If fighting an evil creature then DR/adamantium is your best benefit (this is regardless of the numerical values as the situation dictates one of the DR types is useless, therefore not a benefit). If the opponent had neither evil alignment or adamantium, then the highest value of DR is your best benefit. Finally in the case of the Evil aligned adamantium weapon, your screwed because none of your DR types benefit you. None of this changes even if the number were the same.

Only one works at a time and that type is the one that benefits the character with the DR the most in each situation (i.e. they do not need to choose, it is automatic).


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Thedmstrikes wrote:

I am not sure all of this is entirely accurate. In the initial response we have some numbers transposed, but that is small potatoes and I think everyone will pick up on that, but his view seems to be accurate as far as the overlapping goes.

Damage Reduction extract wrote:
If a creature has damage reduction from more than one source, the two forms of damage reduction do not stack. Instead, the creature gets the benefit of the best damage reduction in a given situation.

In the OP example, there are two different forms of DR. If the situation is you are fighting someone with adamantium weapons, then the best damage reduction for your situation is DR/evil. If fighting an evil creature then DR/adamantium is your best benefit (this is regardless of the numerical values as the situation dictates one of the DR types is useless, therefore not a benefit). If the opponent had neither evil alignment or adamantium, then the highest value of DR is your best benefit. Finally in the case of the Evil aligned adamantium weapon, your screwed because none of your DR types benefit you. None of this changes even if the number were the same.

Only one works at a time and that type is the one that benefits the character with the DR the most in each situation (i.e. they do not need to choose, it is automatic).

I'm a bit confused. Java Man's answer was completely correct as far as I can tell, and your disagreement appears to be complete agreement. Would you mind pointing out which part is in error?


I would also appreciate some help in finding my mistake, heck if I can spot it.

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