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One of my players wants to play a Protector Aasimar (VGtM, p. 105) but wondered if he'd be able to use his racial ability, Radiant Soul, in an antimagic field.

Would an antimagic field block the protector aasimar's Radiant Soul feature, or would he be unaffected?

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    \$\begingroup\$ Related: How do I know if an ability is magical? \$\endgroup\$
    – Sdjz
    Oct 30, 2018 at 13:17
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    \$\begingroup\$ You may want to give it a day or two before accepting the answer. While I think the accepted answer is wholly correct, having such a quickly accepted answer may dissuade others from contributing. \$\endgroup\$
    – Pyrotechnical
    Oct 30, 2018 at 14:33
  • \$\begingroup\$ I've unaccepted it, you're right. I got a bit too excited about getting the answer that made a lot of sense. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jinzuku
    Oct 30, 2018 at 14:37
  • \$\begingroup\$ I believe this is also related: does the shapechanger trait work in an antimagic field \$\endgroup\$
    – Reginald Blue
    Oct 30, 2018 at 19:48

1 Answer 1

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Yes, Aasimar can use this ability in an antimagic field

Only magic and magical effects are affected by an anti-magic field as indicated in the description of the spell:

Spells and other magical effects, except those created by an artifact or deity, are suppressed in the sphere and can't protrude into it.

Sage Advice gives us tests for determining if something is considered magical. I will go through and apply these tests to the Radiant Soul ability.

  • Is it a magic item?

Nope.

  • Is it a spell? Or does it let you create the effects of a spell that’s mentioned in its description?

It is not a spell and no spell is mentioned in its description. See this Q&A for a description of how to tell if something is a spell.

  • Is it a spell attack?

It isn't a spell or an attack so no.

  • Is it fueled by the use of spell slots?

It uses no spell slots.

  • Does its description say it’s magical?

Nowhere in the description does it say it is magical.

The Aasimar ability Radiant Soul passes none of these tests and is thus not magical. Since it is not magical it is not affected by antimagic field.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ It also makes sense lore wise as an antimagic field blocks access to the magical forces in the universe, not the innate magic of an Aasimar. \$\endgroup\$
    – qazwsx
    Oct 30, 2018 at 15:10
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    \$\begingroup\$ @qazwsx AMF will block even innate magic if it is described as magic. However this is a supernatural ability that is not magic (innate or otherwise). But yeah it does seem to make sense that it doesn't block instead abilities like this. \$\endgroup\$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Oct 30, 2018 at 15:57
  • \$\begingroup\$ No. And for the same reason, undead do not fall apart in an antimagic field. Apparently, the magic that animates them (failing the last test in Rubiksmoose's answer above) doesn't count as a magical effect. \$\endgroup\$
    – user47897
    Oct 30, 2018 at 22:05
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    \$\begingroup\$ @MarkTO: Depending on the undead the reason is also that oftentimes the magic that reanimated them has instantaneous and thus has no lasting trace on them and thus nothing for the AMF to suppress. \$\endgroup\$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Oct 30, 2018 at 22:11

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