What exactly does Death Ward protect you from?

[Braininthejar]

The description of death ward is "The subject is immune to energy drain and any negative energy effects, including channeled negative energy."

Does it protect you from having your stats sucked out by undead creatures?
A shadow's strength damage attack is explicitly listed as "negative energy effect"
But a wraith's constitution drain is not, despite a very similar flavor.

[TxSam88]

exactly what it says it does, so in this case, it would protect you from a Shadow, but not a wraith.

[Azothath]

Death Ward

[Matthew Downie]

The specific case of the Wraith's attack

Quote:

Melee incorporeal touch +6 (1d6 negative energy plus 1d6 Con drain)

has been debated before

My opinion:
The Ultimate Magic FAQs says:

Quote:

The general assumption for effects is if the creature negates the damage from the effect, the creature isn’t subject to additional effects from that attack (such as DR negating the damage from a poisoned weapon, which means the creature isn’t subject to the poison).

Since Death Ward negates the damage, it should also negate the drain.

[Braininthejar]

Thank you.

[Azothath]

Matthew Downie wrote:

...

Since Death Ward negates the damage, it should also negate the drain.

IMO this is correct and what I do in practice.