Last updated on January 22, 2023
I don't know if there's any D&D campaign that managed to avoid combat entirely. That would be pretty crazy, right?
Combat is one of the three pillars of gameplay and as such comes up often.
I'm pretty sure most of us would like to get out of battle alive. concepttypes of damageAnd the many ways creatures and characters can relate to them is key to making sure you don't force your allies to cast Revive after every fight.
In this article, we'll give you an overview of resistances, immunities, and vulnerabilities, as well as a discussion of their frequency and how you can plan for them as a player or as a DM.
Table of contents
What is damage resistance in DnD 5e?
If you resist a damage type, you take half the damage when you are hit by that damage type. You can gain resistance to a type of damage, a source of damage, or a specific case of damage. As always in 5e, dividing the damage by 2 rounds up.
Damage Resistance is calculated after all other modifiers have been applied. That is, any additional damage bonus beyond dice rolls. Also, resistances against a specific damage case do not stack.
Perhaps as a dwarf you have resistance to poison damage. Drinking a poison resistance potion does not give you any additional benefits. This damage isn't halved and then halved again, and you certainly don't gain immunity.
Damage resistances are one of the most common damage relationships we see in 5e. Many creatures, especially higher CRs, have at least one damage resistance in their stat block. Of course, there are also plenty of ways to pick up opponents as a player character.
Some races, such as dwarfs and tieflings, exhibit resistance due to their racial traits. However, most resistances arise from a class function.
One of the best out there is the third tier Totem ability of the Totem Warrior Barbarian path. Incredibly early, this feature gives you resistancebeeDamage other than psychological. Disturbed? Perhaps. Astonishing? Surely.
What is damage immunity in 5e??
Damage immunity means you don't take damage of a specific type. Although this is not defined anywhere in the 5e source books, for clarity we use the dictionary definition by default. I also follow the wise advice of Jeremy Crawfordher.
Immunity is very interesting as there is no official 5e definition. It's shocking we don't get one as it's everywhere. Immunity, like the other damage modifiers, isn't just limited to creatures and players.
You can find immunity to magic strongholds, ships, items, and pretty much anything you can damage. What ever.
Immunity to damage is an extremely absolute mechanism. Fire damage immunity means you don't take damage from fire, end of story. Magic Fire, Flaming Sword, Lava; No matter what burning damage comes your way, you'll be fine. If you can get your hands on it, even temporarily, it will change the game.
Conditional immunities are also reported. While this is soandersan injury is worth talking about when we discuss this topic. Conditional immunities hypothetically work the same way. Again, there is no standardized definition in our sourcebooks, so it's really at the discretion of the DM.
In any case, immunity to a disease prevents the side effects you might normally get. As such, there will be times when immunity to a poison condition will save you from associated damage, even if it's not a damage type you're immune to.
I mention this because the line between condition and injury can sometimes blur. As part of a strangling vinelockedCondition means you would take 2d6 bat damage and you have immunity to bat damage, you take no damage.
This does not mean that you will not continue to be detained unless you also have a disease that is immune to detention.
The above section may seem complicated.
Basically, immunity to a disease confers immunity to harm from a disease, while immunity to one type of harm does not always imply immunity to the harmful disease.
Such a situation often leads to poison, since poison is both a damage type and a disease. If you are immune to one, you usually have immunity to the other as well. If not, watch what happens to you.
Note that the vocabulary is usually different: "You take x points of poison damage" sounds different than "You are now poisoned".
What is damage vulnerability in 5e?
If you are vulnerable to a certain type of damage, you will take double damage when hit. If there's ever a situation where you have resistance and vulnerability to one type of damage, calculate resistance before vulnerability. This can sometimes save you a point of damage.
As the opposite of damage resistance, weak points are great or terrible. It all depends if it's you or your enemy. One thing that needs to be made very clear is that the doubling effect grabs after all other modifiers.
Vanfaildouble the number of dice rolled. The confusion makes sense, we double the number of dice we roll when we get a critical hit.
Exactly why we're doubling critical hit dice and weak point damage probably has a lot to do with game theory, which isn't clear to me. But the point I made about resistance-calculated vulnerabilities is reason enough for me.
Now you might be wondering how someone can be vulnerable and resilient to the same source of damage. Well, you can gain a resistance or vulnerability through a potion or magical effect that effectively negates both if you already had the opposite of a racial or class trait.
However, there is an alternative. The damage can be of two kinds at the same time. More on that in the next section.
Immunity to Poison
If you come across a trait that grants "Immunity to Poison" without specifying the condition or damage, it grants immunity to both. This is usually addressed with the Monk's Purity of Body ability at the 10th level.
Magic/non-magic damage
While magic damage is not a "type" of damage per se, it is an ability that can take damage. It's also something that both player characters and creatures can have resistances, weaknesses, or immunities to. The same goes for nonmagical damage.
This type of additional damage quality is the culprit in most cases when a target has conflicting resistances and vulnerabilities. Let's say my barbarian is resistant to damage while enraged, but suffers from a disease that makes him vulnerable to magic damage.
If they get hit with a magic hammer and deal 2d6+3 magic burst damage, we've solved the puzzle.
Fortunately, the problem is quite easy to fix. We calculate the raw damage first, let's say it averages out to 11. Then we calculate the node resistance first, halve it and round it up to 5. Then we take into account the susceptibility to magic damage and conclude with A total of 10 damage cases came our way.
As you can see, we lost a point of damage there. But what about immunity? It's actually quite simple, because immunity just tells us not to take damage.
We encounter many higher level enemies, elementals and even undead that have resistance to non-magical onesButtons, piercings and cuts. The solution to this for a combat character is to pick up a magic weapon or have one of your weapons enchanted by your wizardmagic weapon.
Unique damage resistances/immunities/vulnerabilities
As with magical or nonmagical attacks, some creatures even have extremely specific relationships with damage types. One such creature is the Jabberwock from The Wild Beyond the Witchlight. It is prone to cut damage, which is specially treated by oneVorpal Sword.
Here are some other rare cases that are really just nice to know and not essential to your contest prep.
vulnerabilities
Penetrating magical weapons used by good creatures – These are found in rakshasas, tiger-headed human devils.
resistors
Piercings, buttons, and cuts aren't silver plated - A fairly large group of devils, some undead, and even hellfire machines have built up strong resistance to the physical damage but haven't figured out how to handle silver.
Stab, knot, and slash damage that's not steep - if you want to damage gargoyles and living statues,You want an unyielding weapon. Maybe call the wolverine? (I know it's adamantium in marvel, give me some rest)
immunities
The Resists Above - If something is powerful enough, it may be immune to non-silvered or undisturbed weapons. Be careful.
Punching, stabbing, and slashing with metal weapons, the Lava Children are like nightmarish versions of Heat Meiser's henchmen, and metal doesn't bother them at all. They can walk through metal doors as if they weren't there, attack metal armor with advantage, and are of course immune to metal weapons.
What are the most common resistors in 5e?
Being prepared for battle means knowing what opposition to fight against. While the more detailed answer is a bit more nuanced, cold, fire, lightning, and poison damage are the types your enemies are most likely to resist.
DISCLAIMER:Everything we discuss in this section assumes that the creatures are chosen at random and that you have an equal chance to take on any enemy.
This is to be taken with caution, since the enemies we face are not only chosen by our game master, but also by the environment in which we find ourselves.
A city campaign will have a very different set of enemies than a campaign in the Underdark. Keep that in mind as you read on.
Below is a wonderful list. It is a list of all damage types, including the "type" of nonmagical knots, slams, and stabs, with a count of all resistances, immunities, and weaknesses present in 5e creatures. Look no further, this is the master list if you want to know how often drag occurs.
| type of damage | Resistance | immunity | vulnerability |
| cucumbers | 76 | 58 | 1 |
| Called | 238 | 101 | 8 |
| Marke | 188 | 137 | 34 |
| Kraft | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Lyn | 165 | 82 | 2 |
| necrotic | 103 | 76 | 2 |
| Gift | 85 | 531 | 1 |
| mentally | 43 | 81 | 1 |
| Splendid | 21 | 10 | 13 |
| Donner | 18 | 18 | 5 |
| bang | 36 | 1 | 22 |
| Cut | 26 | 9 | 0 |
| Piercing | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-magical bludgeon, slash, pierce | 198 | 50 | 0 |
For those of you who think a little more visually, here's a nice little chart I've put together that compares all of this data. Do not forget that immunity to poison disappearsAwayabove the limits of this chart, and if the chart were to rise to 531, we would see little weakness.
All of this shows us that we are painting a really good picture of what types of damage should be avoided and which should be fixed. Thunder, Psychic, and Might are the most reliable forms of damage out there. You're also pretty good at dealing with the physical damage types as long as they're magical.
What we're seeing here actually aligns fairly well with the types of damage we're doing. Most stronger spells are resisted more often. It's therefore subclasses like the Soulknife villain that always have onemental damageReady-to-use trade knives are very popular.
Another good damage bypass class, possibly the best, is the Sorcerer Order of Scribes. Their second level Awakened Spellbook ability allows them to temporarily replace a spell's damage type with a type found in another spell in your spellbook.
This means you can cast extremely powerful spellslike fireball with a type of damage that cannot only be repelled by an adult dragon.
What are the best resistances?
The best types of damage to resist are fire, poison, etcthe type of physical damage. These are responsible for the most common types of damage dealt by creatures and spells that any opposing spell can deal to you.
While you'll get the best results by resisting these types of damage, it helps to resist any damage. As a GM, it's important to throw a good mix of enemies at player characters so they have a chance to see the value of their resilience.
There is a delicate balance to be struck between interfering with one character's resistance and avoiding all characters at the same time. Use your intuition.
How to get resistance in 5e?
You can gain resistance from racial or class traits, magic items, or even some spells. Below are some common or impressive resources for getting resistors.
Keep in mind that this isn't an all-inclusive list, but we may have one up our sleeve. So check back soon or keep an eye out for a link below.
race
- Water Genasi - Acid resistance as a racial trait.
- Dragonborn - Draconic Ancestry grants a resistance with matching spirit weapon; All types except knotting, piercing and cutting
- Tiefling – The Resistance of Hell resists fire damage
- Dwarf - Dwarven Resistance provides resistance to poison damage and condition
- Triton - Guardians of the Depths provides cold resistance
Class
- Rage – 2nd level barbaric class feature
- Avatar of Battle – Wardomain Priest ability at 17th level; Applies to nonmagical damage only
- Fel Resilience – 10th level fel caster; Choose resistance at the end of short or long breaks. magical andsilvered weaponsignore the resistance
- Elemental Affinity – 6th level draconic bloodline caster ability; Acid, Lightning, Fire, Poison, or Cold
- Stone of the Transmuter – 6th level skill of the sorcerer of the school of transmutation; acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage; is selected each time you use the skill
dug
- Screening des Todes– 3rd level necromancy; anything but psychological
- holy -5th level evocation; optional effect; a resistance of any kind other than knots, piercing, or cutting through
- protection from energy– rejection of the 3rd level; one against acid, cold, fire, lightning or thunder
- Wish- 9th level spelling; Up to ten creatures gain resistance
- Steinhaut– 4th level abjuration; Applies to nonmagical damage only
- Windwandel –6th level transmutation; all non-magical weapons
magic items
Many of these have additional implications.
- Resistance Potion (sometimes) – Provides specific resistance for 1 hour
- Armor of Invulnerability (Legendary) - Resistance to non-magical damage
- Shield Brooch (sometimes) – Resistance to violent damage
- Lifewell Tattoo (Very Rare) – Resistance to necrotic damage
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As a child, I was often told to get my head out of the clouds and stop living in a fantasy world. It never really crossed my mind, so I decided to do games, stories, and all kinds of great crafts for a living. Now, as an adult, I try to remind people that sometimes when life gets too much, a little imagination is enough.
FAQs
What is the difference between vulnerability and immunity 5e? ›
Each of the three terms modifies how much damage a creature takes from those specific damage types. Immunity means damage of that type is reduced to zero, resistance means it is halved and vulnerability means it is doubled.
What are the most common vulnerabilities in DND 5e? ›Fire is the most common vulnerability, but it's also the most common resistance and second most common immunity (after poison). You shouldn't focus on targeting vulnerabilities since they're extremely rare.
How does resistance work in 5e? ›Resistance means that the creature/character that has resistance to a specific damage type takes half damage from that specific damage type. So if a creature was resistant to cold damage, and took 20 cold damage from a spell (or any other source of cold damage) the creature would actually only take 10 cold damage.
Does resistance cancel vulnerability 5e? ›No they don't, but you do get a 1hp bonus if the incoming damage is an odd amount. "Whenever you divide a number in the game, round down if you end up with a fraction, even if the fraction is one-half or greater.
What is the difference between disease resistance and immunity? ›The terms "disease resistance" and "immunity" can be used to denote different degrees of the same thing. Various degrees of disease resistance are possible. Immunity means com- plete resistance to disease; immune means not subject to attack by a path- ogenic organism or virus.
Is being vulnerable the same as being weak? ›Vulnerability is often inaccurately equated with weakness. Many individuals, not wanting to appear "weak," spend their lives avoiding and protecting themselves from feeling vulnerable or being perceived as too emotional. That fear and discomfort become judgment and criticism. However, vulnerability is not weakness.
What are the three common categories of vulnerabilities? ›Understanding Network Security Vulnerabilities
At the broadest level, network vulnerabilities fall into three categories: hardware-based, software-based, and human-based.
1 Magical Bludgeoning, Slashing, and Piercing
In all of the monster manual, there is but one creature who is resistant to magical weapons. None are immune or vulnerable. Magic weapons provide the most reliable damage type in the game, bar none.
As I mentioned earlier, resistance means that you take less damage from a damage type than you would if you would not have resistance to that damage type. The Player's Handbook explains it well (page 197): “If a creature or an object has resistance to a damage type, damage of that type is halved against it.”
What is the most damage resistance in 5e? ›Morganstein Force and radiant are definitely the most reliable, followed very closely by psychic and necrotic; poison is definitely the worst. But there's many factors to consider; force, radiant and psychic damage is much harder to come by, and not always as damaging.
How do you move through resistance? ›
- Find The Strength Within Your Resistance. ...
- Ask Yourself What It Is You're Resisting. ...
- Realize You Don't Fear Change, You Fear Loss. ...
- Adopt A Learning Mindset. ...
- Look For What You Can Learn Now To Welcome Change In The Future. ...
- Consider The Upsides Of Change. ...
- Consult A Mentor Or Coach.
Resistance is a Status Effect which causes a Player to temporarily receive less damage from attacks and other sources of physical damage than normal (except for void damage); specifically, 20% per level (e.g. at level 5, no damage can be taken). Like all status effects, it can be removed by drinking Milk.
Is showing vulnerability a strength? ›Benefits of Vulnerability
The truth about vulnerability is that is not a weakness; it is a strength. Here are just a few of many benefits of embracing vulnerability: Vulnerability allows us to be our authentic selves, instead of trying to please others. With vulnerability, we build empathy.
Mathematically, vulnerability wouldn't matter for immunities, but would effectively cancel resistance.
Can vulnerability be eliminated? ›You can often repair or mitigate a vulnerability. When you decide to resolve a vulnerability, do one of the following things: Repair the vulnerability. Mitigate the risk of the vulnerability.
What are two examples of immune response disorder? ›Asthma, familial Mediterranean fever and Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease) all result from an over-reaction of the immune system, while autoimmune polyglandular syndrome and some facets of diabetes are due to the immune system attacking 'self' cells and molecules.
What is the difference between a disease and a disorder? ›A disorder is also a collection of signs and symptoms, but it has known associated features that are presumed to be related. A disease is an involuntary physiological or biological illness that typically has some underlying cause.
What are disorders of immunity? ›- Immune Deficiencies. Immune deficiencies may be temporary or permanent. ...
- Allergy. Allergies are a form of hypersensitivity reaction, typically in response to harmless environmental allergens like pollen or food. ...
- Autoimmune Diseases. ...
- Sepsis. ...
- Cancer.
A vulnerability is a weakness in an IT system that can be exploited by an attacker to deliver a successful attack. They can occur through flaws, features or user error, and attackers will look to exploit any of them, often combining one or more, to achieve their end goal.
Does vulnerability mean being fragile or easily broken? ›Vulnerability is the quality of being easily hurt or attacked. Some seniors think it's funny to pick on the ninth graders because of their vulnerability. Vulnerability comes from the Latin word for "wound," vulnus. Vulnerability is the state of being open to injury, or appearing as if you are.
Is vulnerable a feeling or emotion? ›
Vulnerability is a state of emotional exposure that comes with a certain degree of uncertainty. It involves a person's willingness to accept the emotional risk that comes from being open and willing to love and be loved. The fear of vulnerability is a very common fear.
What are the 4 levels of vulnerability? ›The four continuous stages of identification, prioritization, remediation, and reporting are essential for an effective vulnerability management process.
What are the 4 types of vulnerable? ›The different types of vulnerability
According to the different types of losses, the vulnerability can be defined as physical vulnerability, economic vulnerability, social vulnerability and environmental vulnerability.
The four main types of vulnerabilities in information security are network vulnerabilities, operating system vulnerabilities, process (or procedural) vulnerabilities, and human vulnerabilities.
What is the weakest DnD class? ›Monks are generally considered the 'weakest' class in DnD 5e, with low AC until the late game (when monsters have huge attack bonuses anyway), low damage dice (levels 1-4 being the apex in terms of damage compared to other martial classes) and being far too resource intensive.
What is the most badass class in DnD? ›The paladin is perhaps the most powerful combatant of all of D&D 5e's classes. It combines the best aspects of the fighter and cleric into a single character.
What is the hardest class in D&D? ›- Druid.
- Monk. ...
- Sorcerer. ...
- Cleric. ...
- Warlock. ...
- Rogue. ...
- Ranger. ...
- Paladin. The easiest class for beginners on this list is the paladin, however, it is harder to play than the fighter and the barbarian. ...
Magic Resistance is an ability of characters (and creatures or so on) to remain unaffected by magic. This is very important to magi, who would otherwise be vulnerable to one another's spells and to creatures of the Supernatural Realms.
Is a higher resistance better? ›Resistance measurements are normally taken to indicate the condition of a component or a circuit. The higher the resistance, the lower the current flow. If abnormally high, one possible cause (among many) could be damaged conductors due to burning or corrosion.
Are Tieflings immune to fire? ›Powers, abilities and subraces. Tieflings are generally quite charismatic, and due to their devilish ancestry, they are resistant to fire and can see in dim light and darkness.
What is vulnerability 5e? ›
Vulnerable means a creature takes double damage when subjected to damage of a certain type and resistant means they take half damage. Any resistances, vulnerabilities and immunities will be listed in the stat block of each creature.
What creatures are immune to acid 5e? ›Ancient Black Dragon (Gargantuan, Dragon, Immune to Acid damage.) Ancient Copper Dragon (Gargantuan, Dragon, Immune to Acid damage.) Lich (Medium, Undead, Immune to Poison damage, and Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage from nonmagical attacks.)
Is anything immune to necrotic damage? ›There are some undead creatures that are immune or resistant to necrotic damage, but not all of them. Always be sure to check a creatures stat block for the resistances, immunities and vulnerabilities.
What 4 things does resistance depend on? ›There are four factors that influence the resistance in a conductor. Thickness (cross sectional area of thewire), length, and temperature. The fourth factor is the conductivity of the material that is used.
What are 3 things resistance relies on? ›Length of wire: Resistance is directly proportional to the length of a wire. Area of a cross-section of wire: Resistance is inversely proportional to the area of cross-section the wire. The temperature of the wire: Resistance of a wire is directly proportional to the temperature of the wire.
What affects resistance the most? ›Factors That Affect Resistance
How much resistance a material has depends on several factors: the type of material, its width, its length, and its temperature.
If the resistance is low, the current flow will be higher. This could be caused by damaged insulators that are wet or overheated.
Does resistance affect energy? ›Resistance is similar to friction for electrical energy; resistance causes the electrical energy to be lost as heat (thermal energy), just like friction causes mechanical energy to be lost as heat. Resistance is a measure of how much voltage an electrical element needs in order to increase the electric current.
What are men's emotional vulnerabilities? ›Men experience difficulty being vulnerable due to societal pressures of masculinity. You may feel the need to “man-up” or uphold a callous, tough self-image. You might hold yourself back from displaying emotions other than anger or happiness. Feelings of sadness, grief, and loneliness might be pushed deep down for men.
How do you turn vulnerability into strength? ›- Get good at recognizing and embracing your vulnerabilities. ...
- Tell your stories of hardship. ...
- Stop your quest for power and practice ways to say you messed up.
Why is vulnerability so attractive? ›
They found that when we think about our own vulnerability, it's more concrete and real, because we are so close to it. Under that magnified perspective, our imperfections are clearer, and it's easier to identify everything that might go wrong.
What is the difference between vulnerable and resistant 5e? ›If a creature or an object has resistance to a damage type, damage of that type is halved against it. If a creature or an object has vulnerability to a damage type, damage of that type is doubled against it.
What increases vulnerability? ›Vulnerability changes over time because many of the processes that influence vulnerability are dynamic, including rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, market conditions and demographic change.
How do you heal vulnerability? ›- Challenge yourself. ...
- Chat with a therapist. ...
- Keep a journal. ...
- Lead with love and generosity. ...
- Try out something new. ...
- Write down what you love about yourself.
Why do we fear vulnerability? We are afraid that if someone finds out who we really are, they will reject us. While we may try to appear perfect, strong, or intelligent in order to connect with others, in reality, pretense often has the opposite effect.
What can vulnerable be replaced by? ›synonyms for vulnerable
On this page you'll find 63 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to vulnerable, such as: accessible, defenseless, exposed, liable, ready, and sensitive.
Vulnerable means a creature takes double damage when subjected to damage of a certain type and resistant means they take half damage. Any resistances, vulnerabilities and immunities will be listed in the stat block of each creature.
Is vulnerability actually a strength? ›Being vulnerable can help us to better know ourselves, while cultivating and strengthening our relationships with others. It can also help us better understand our opportunities for growth, enhance our self-awareness, and flex our emotional intelligence muscles.
What is the difference between vulnerability and resilience? ›Vulnerability is the tendency for an entity to be damaged. Resilience is the opposite of vulnerability and refers to the ability of an entity to resist or re- cover from damage.
Does vulnerability make you stronger? ›Vulnerability fosters good emotional and mental health. Vulnerability also is a sign of courage. We become more resilient and brave when we embrace who we truly are and what we are feeling.
What weakens the immune response? ›
Also, infections, such as the flu virus, mono (mononucleosis), and measles, can weaken the immune system for a short time. Your immune system can also be weakened by smoking, alcohol, and poor nutrition.
What is vulnerability with God? ›Christians believe, that being vulnerable means you are honest with who you are, how you feel and acknowledging the parts of yourself that you would rather keep hidden. It's not hiding behind an 'Instagram life', its about being real with God and people you meet.
Are emotions a vulnerability? ›Emotional vulnerability is the willingness and ability to address and articulate emotions. To develop emotional vulnerability, you must acknowledge and deal with your emotions with yourself and others healthily. Vulnerability requires emotional exposure and self-awareness.
Is vulnerability a feeling or emotion? ›Vulnerability is a state of emotional exposure that comes with a certain degree of uncertainty. It involves a person's willingness to accept the emotional risk that comes from being open and willing to love and be loved. The fear of vulnerability is a very common fear.
Is fear a vulnerability? ›Fear of vulnerability occurs on a broad scale, meaning it can range anywhere from mild social anxiety to the complete inability to relate to others. At its core, the fear of vulnerability means that a person is afraid of opening up to or getting close to other people.
What are 4 attributes of resilience? ›Characteristics of Resilience. Some of the main characteristics of a person who has resilience are awareness, self-control, problem-solving skills, and social support.
What are the following four 4 types of vulnerability? ›The different types of vulnerability
According to the different types of losses, the vulnerability can be defined as physical vulnerability, economic vulnerability, social vulnerability and environmental vulnerability.