Questions tagged [hit-points]
For questions about hit points, an abstraction of a character's health, used in many role-playing games. (See also: the [temporary-hit-points] and [hit-dice] tags.)
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Does damage that "can't be reduced" bypass temporary hit points?
As per title. The temporary hit points description says:
Some spells and special abilities confer temporary hit points to a creature. Temporary hit points aren't actual hit points; they are a buffer ...
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Does an Amulet of Health increase your HP while using Wild Shape? [duplicate]
An Amulet of Health sets your Constitution score to 19 while you are wearing it, and druids can use it while Wild Shaped, as established in this question. However, this question states that an ...
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Interaction clarification with 'Invoke curse' and temporary hitpoints
I have recently gotten to the end of a Tomb of Annihilation campaign as a player (potential spoilers ahead) and during our final fight, a magic item was used to apply the following effect to our party:...
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D&D 5e maximum hit points temporarily reduced then character levels up
If a PC’s max HP is temporarily reduced as a secondary effect when hit by a creature that deals necrotic damage, but then gains a level before a long rest, does their maximum HP increase in the normal ...
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What happens when a level 14 bard uses Nimbus of Pathos on a wild shape Druid currently in wild shape?
Nimbus of Pathos states:
When this effect ends, the creature immediately drops to 0 hit points and is dying. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
By ...
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Which Level are a Familiar's Hit Points calculated from?
Page 52 of the PHB say that a familiar has half the HD and HP of their master. Is this the character's total level, or just of their relevant Arcane class level?
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Where can I find the hit points of armors?
I see an ability like this in monster manual:
Rend Armor (Ex): If a bebilith hits with both claw attacks, it pulls apart any armor worn by its
foe. This attack deals 4d6+18 points of damage to the ...
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How is a familiar's HP calculated when getting bonus on constitution?
In the description of familiars, it says:
For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master’s character level or the familiar’s normal HD total, whichever is higher.
The ...
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When a gnoll vampire assumes its hyena form, do its HP change?
I'm rather confused by the statblock for the Gnoll Vampire. The statblock states that:
Its statistics, other than its size and speed, are unchanged.
If this is the case, why is it specified later on ...
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Is it possible to restore HP to an object that has HP? [duplicate]
I asked a question a month ago, specifically about the Apparatus of Kwalich. I also asked whether or not this Apparatus could regain HP. This has been largely unaswered. So, can an object with HP ...
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How does the following hit points formula change the balance?
Our DM is usually harsh, and to compensate, he offers to change the hp formula that we gain each level. He suggests that for each level we get the maximum between a roll and the usual average HP, plus ...
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How does Constitution drain/damage interact with minimum hit points?
Related to, but not the same as this: Polymorph, HP, and Constitution damage/drain
In his answer to the question Loss of bear form and hp of a bear warrior, @KRyan mentions a rule about constitution ...
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Loss of bear form and hp of a bear warrior
We had a discussion at the table, where the player of a level 30 bear warrior claimed she would not lose any hp at the end of her bear form. She had a maximum 570 hp and was with 30 hp before her bear ...
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Is armor invulnerable?
Since armor can't be the target of the special attack sunder, when would it ever take damage?
Weapons and shields have listed hardness and hit points that may be adjusted by its material composition, ...
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Why record number of Hit Dice?
Brand new to D&D 5e and trying to wrap my head around the accumulation and spending of Hit Die. My understanding is that:
Hit Die are used to determine your character's Max HP
Hit Die are gained ...
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When do monsters not have average hp?
The Monster Manual (7) says:
A monster's hit points are presented both as a die expression and as an average number. For example, a monster with 2d8 hit points has 9 hit points on average (2 x 4 1/2)....
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Does Gift of the Ever-Living Ones maximize the damage and/or healing from Gloves of Soul Catching?
I have been theory-crafting a character for an lv20 one-shot that I'll be playing in. We have been allowed 1 magic item of each type. I plan on making a Monk / Fighter Multiclass. Basic so far I know. ...
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How to calculate HP if an item increases constitution
I am sorry if this question seems obvious, I just cannot find the answer anywhere.
HP increase every level with the hit dice roll and the constitution bonus is added every level. What happens when the ...
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What effect does reducing a Spelljamming Vessel to 0 hp have?
For sea-going vessels, Ghosts of Saltmarsh says that (186):
A ship component is destroyed and becomes unusable when it drops to 0 hit points.
So, for example, if the 'movement component' was reduced ...
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How does Protective Bond interact with Armor of Agathys?
Armor of Agathys
A protective magical force surrounds you, manifesting as a spectral frost that covers you and your gear. You gain 5 temporary hit points for the duration. If a creature hits you with ...
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Do you have hit points while dead?
There are a few effects in D&D 5e that cause a creature to die without regard to its hit points.
One of them is the exhaustion condition, which has the effect of "Death" on a character ...
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How to handle a psychic damage roll
I’m playing a D&D solo adventure called "To Hell and Back Again", I've just had to roll a d10 for psychic damage, due to a 'trait' called 'fear of bony things'. I entered a vehicle which ...
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Do Constitution Changes affect Current hit points in D&D 5e?
I know that changes to Constitution retroactively affect Maximum Hit Points, but I'm not sure what to do about current hit points.
Say a level 3 character has 12/20 hit points and their Con modifier ...
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If a mythic monster is reduced to 0 HP by a Mace of Disruption, what happens?
(My question was inspired by this answer to "Is it possible to kill a mythic monster without activating its mythic trait?".)
Mythic Monsters (introduced in Mythic Odysseys of Theros) have a ...
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In E6, what happens about Hit Points after level 6? Do characters stop gaining HP?
Apologies if this is the incorrect way to ask a question or if it was already answered.
In E6, what happens about Hit Points after level 6? Do characters stop gaining HP?
I'm keen to try E6, and see ...
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How can I increase a Shield's HP?
What ways are there to increase the HP of a shield?
I found Shield Boss', and I know enhancement bonuses will help as well.
Are there any other options like making the shield thicker?
It needs to be ...
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If a lizardfolk shaman is killed while in crocodile form, what is its HP after it reverts to its true form?
The lizardfolk shaman is a CR2 monster with druid spells. It has this ability:
Change Shape (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The lizardfolk magically polymorphs into a crocodile, remaining in ...
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If a PC uses the Magic Jar spell to possess another PC, what happens to their HP?
My Necromancer is a level 13 player character, and he will use the magic jar spell on fellow 13th-level PCs. The issue is that HP for PCs is calculated and based on a class feature (monsters without ...
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What happens to a creature with maximum 1 hit point that gains level 4 Exhaustion?
The fourth level of exhaustion imparts this effect on a creature:
Hit point maximum halved
The Basic Rules make it clear that whenever you divide a number for any purpose, you round down:
There’s ...
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What is the correct way to calculate Position in Dark Souls?
In the Dark Souls tabletop RPG, 5e’s Hit Points are replaced with “Position”, a more flexible resource. I found the rules for determining the Base Position of a character to be slightly confusing.
For ...
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Does a synthesist eidolon actually take damage?
I'm asking myself if the eidolon of a synthesist actually takes damage.
While fused with his eidolon, the synthesist uses the eidolon’s physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution),...
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Can a Wall of Stone be made with 7200 hit points?
I was recently looking at the spell Wall of Stone and I was thinking about whether or not it would be possible to create an almost impenetrable cube using this spell.
Here is my math:
In the spell ...
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What trigger would I specify for the Contingency spell to use a contingent False Life spell to avoid being knocked unconscious by damage?
So, in our current game, the PCs are getting pwned by a couple of bad guys. We ended last session in the middle of combat and will pick up next session.
My wizard is already pretty seriously hurt and ...
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How many hit points can a druid generate per day from Aid with Wild Shape?
Alice is a 2nd level druid with 10 hit points. She receives the benefit of an Aid spell, bumping her to 15 max and current hit points.
She then has a run-in with a couple of goblins, who hurt her for ...
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What happens when a creature drops to 0 hit points without taking damage?
The rules on dropping to 0 hit points (PHB p. 197) almost entirely depend on taking damage. The section begins as follows:
When you drop to 0 hit points, you either die outright or fall unconscious, ...
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Are there any rules preventing a creature's hit point maximum from being negative?
To illustrate the question, take the following example: a creature is under the effects of an aid spell, increasing its hit point maximum: (PHB p. 211)
Each target's hit point maximum and current hit ...
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What happens when the Aid spell ends on a creature while its hit point maximum has been changed to another value?
A number of effects in D&D 5e can change a creature's hit point maximum. Some issues in the specifics of how some features are written can arise when these effects coexist or otherwise interact.
...
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How can healers track all PCs' health without slowing combat?
I'm a GM and a couple of the players who have healing abilities are tracking others' HP on spreadsheets during combat. On the one hand, I love that they're looking out for each other. On the other ...
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Are hit points non-fungible?
There are many effects in D&D 5e which reduce a target's maximum hit points. Take for example, the Vampire's bite which contains the following rider:
The target's hit point maximum is reduced by ...
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Can a simulacrum from the Simulacrum spell use hit dice to recover hit points during short rests?
The simulacrum from the simulacrum spell is a partially-real "illusory duplicate of one beast or humanoid" – which, if damaged, can be repaired in an alchemical laboratory.
In our game, my ...
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How does the first level ability of the Fiend warlock work? [duplicate]
What exactly do the words mean in the 1st level Fiend warlock subclass feature?
Dark One’s Blessing
Starting at 1st level, when you reduce a hostile creature to 0 hit points, you gain temporary hit ...
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Does a demilich's energy drain ability affect current hit points? [duplicate]
A demilich's Energy Drain ability says:
Each creature within 30 feet of the demilich must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature’s hit point maximum is magically ...
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What ways are there to damage or reduce the hit points of a creature who is under the effect of the Invulnerability spell?
The spell 'Invulnerability (XGtE)' states:
You are immune to all damage until the spell ends.
Are there any items/abilities/spells/etc. that can be used to bypass this immunity while the spell is ...
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Does the Synthesist Summoner keep Hit Points from his Constitution score?
While fused with his eidolon, the Synthesist uses the eidolon's physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution), but retains his own mental ability scores (Intelligence, Wisdom, and ...
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Should players know other creatures' HP? How do you deal with players not knowing the opponent's HP if not?
I recently started playing D&D, and I was wondering about this.
I know it is up to the DM to choose whether or not players know enemies' remaining HP in combat: is it recommended to do so?
...
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If the Life Transference spell's damage is greater than the caster's current HP (i.e. reducing them below 0 HP), how much HP does the target regain? [duplicate]
In D&D 5e, the Life Transference spell (XGtE, p. 160) heals an ally for twice the amount of damage it deals you (the caster). How much HP does the ally regain if the damage you roll is greater ...
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How can hit points lost as a result of casting the Life Transference spell be recovered?
When you "sacrifice" hit points as a result of casting the life transference spell, how can you recover them? A long or short rest?
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How much HP does a Pact of the Chain Imp familiar recover on a Short Rest? [duplicate]
I believe a Pact of the Chain Imp familiar uses the normal Imp stat block. So it has:
Hit Points 10 (3d4 + 3)
CON 13 (+1)
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
For purposes of recovering HP during a Short Rest, how ...
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What is the most hp you can have at level 20 with no wildshape? [duplicate]
I'm curious as to what the most HP you can have at level 20 is with no wildshape. All official sources allowed (no UA). My main question is max HP but I'm also curious about effective HP (so ...
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How can one reduce the hit points lost from a Stirge's Blood Drain?
The Stirge is a monster, and it has the Blood Drain action which states (emphasis mine):
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the stirge ...
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