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The description of the 3rd-level Wizard ritual spell Phantom Steed reads:

The creature uses the statistics for a riding horse, except it has a speed of 100 feet and can travel 10 miles in an hour, or 13 miles at a fast pace. When the spell ends, the steed gradually fades, giving the rider 1 minute to dismount. The spell ends if you use an action to dismiss it or if the steed takes any damage.

I'm unclear on how Phantom Steed behaves, especially in combat:

  1. If the steed takes enough damage to be killed, does it die immediately or does it continue existing for 1 minute?
  2. For the 1 minute while it is fading, can the steed be ridden as normal?
  3. Can the steed perform the Dodge, Disengage, or Dash actions as a regular mount can?
  4. Can the steed pull a wagon or other vehicles?
  5. If not ridden, does the steed block the space it is on? If not, is the space it occupies considered difficult terrain?
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  • \$\begingroup\$ In general, you should avoid editing your question to change it or ask new sub-questions after it's already been answered. In addition, you should generally ask one question per post (or one closely connected group of questions). Currently, questions #1 and #2 are closely related to one another, but #3 is a totally different question, as is #4, and so is #5. \$\endgroup\$
    – V2Blast
    Dec 6, 2019 at 10:22

1 Answer 1

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  1. It will fade over 1 minute. The spell says "The spell ends if you use an action to dismiss it or if the steed takes any damage." and "When the spell ends, the steed gradually fades, giving the rider 1 minute to dismount."
  2. No, once the spell ends its effects end to. The fading is an extra effect that lasts 1 minute, this does not extend any other effects.
  3. Yes, it behaves as per the Mounted Combat rules.
  4. Yes, it "uses the statistics for a riding horse".
  5. It blocks the space. The Phantom Steed is a "Large quasi-real, horselike creature" and "uses the statistics for a riding horse".
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  • \$\begingroup\$ @jgn Thank for your answer! I added a new question (#2), could you answer it too? \$\endgroup\$
    – Guillaume F.
    Dec 6, 2019 at 7:49
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    \$\begingroup\$ @GuillaumeF. I added a point about that one for you! \$\endgroup\$
    – user-024673
    Dec 6, 2019 at 7:52
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Pleasestopbeingevil "giving the rider 1 minute to dismount" suggests that the horse does not drop dead / fall prone. Also, it was never alive, so it cannot die, it just fades out of existence. \$\endgroup\$
    – Szega
    Dec 6, 2019 at 10:08
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Szega Correct, regardless as to whether the steed remains alive, becomes unconscious, or dies, the spell will end and the body will fade over 1 minute. \$\endgroup\$
    – user-024673
    Dec 6, 2019 at 15:12
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    \$\begingroup\$ @GuillaumeF. There are 2 cases to consider: Case 1: If the mount takes damage, but not enough to reduce it to 0hp, then the rider remains mounted as the steed fades out over 1 minute. Case 2: If the steed takes enough damage to kill it, then it will fall prone, then as per the mounted rules "you can use your reaction to dismount it as it falls and land on your feet. Otherwise, you are dismounted and fall prone in a space within 5 feet it." You cannot remain mounted on the dead/dying fading steed. \$\endgroup\$
    – user-024673
    Dec 7, 2019 at 0:43

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