How does Agitate affect a Sleeping creature?

[Utar, Vicar of Pebbles]

Situation:
1) Magic user casts heightened sleep
2) Creature fails saving throw
3) Then the magic user casts a quickened Agitate on the sleeping creature

What happens to the creature sleeping if they fail the saving throw?

According unconscious status agitate wouldn't wake up the sleeping creature.

But Agitate states the target becomes restless and hyperactive sending the body into overdrive.

So, does the creature wake or does the creature remain sleeping automatically taking the 2d8 (or more) damage on its turn because it cannot move?

[Eoran]

It could be argued that the creature could avoid the damage by moving around in their dreams since Agitate is a mental effect. But that is probably too good to be true.

The heightened version of Sleep only removes the option of waking up due to making a perception check. The other options for removing the Unconscious condition caused by simply being asleep still apply - including taking damage, but also including getting healed, or shaken by an ally of theirs.

[Utar, Vicar of Pebbles]

Good point on the mental effect; but I don't think that's a valid outcome since Agitate states the creature must take "stride" action.

The real question is does the casting of agitate cause the creature to wake up? I don't see anything in the rules that would say "yes"; from a strict rules perspective the creature would remain asleep and then (if still asleep on its turn) take damage because it cannot move (which would cause the creature to wake up).

[Farien]

No, being targeted and affected by a hostile spell wouldn't wake someone up unless and until it causes damage.

Obligatory relevant gif

[BloodandDust]

That's an interesting point about dream-movement satisfying the spell requirement. Seems it would probably work - a dreaming creature doesn't usually *know* that it's dreaming; if it felt some strong mental pressure to Stride, that could easily just translate into running around in the dream (or maybe it's a nightmare at that point).

Would not be RAW, but maybe add a perception check to wake up first (due to the mental pressure) - if the target wakes up they have to Stride IRL, if not then they have to Stride in dreamland?

[Eoran]

Well, combining these two spells together is a bit of an anti-synergy in the first place. Are you wanting the target to stay asleep, or to take damage?

If you want them to stay asleep, why are you casting Agitate on them? The damage would wake them up.

And if you want them to take damage, why cast Sleep? Just have someone in your party grapple them if you want them forced to not move.

[BloodandDust]

Yeah, really the better move, if the Wizard wants some damage credit, is to use Kinetic Ram to Shove his buddy the fighter adjacent to the Creature, then cast Agitate. That way the Wizard gets to watch the Creature's panicked decision process as it considers the risk of AoO vs mental damage.

[Utar, Vicar of Pebbles]

I thank you all for the quick responses!

Eoran, you are correct about the anti-synergy, why even cast Agitate if they are already asleep!? I guess I was trying a little too hard to make Agitate work with this combo.

And thanks BloodandDust for the Kinetic Ram idea, I hadn't considered that spell. Appreciated!