Questions tagged [saving-throw]
For questions about saving throws, often used in RPGs such as D&D to refer to a set of defensive traits based on a character's own ability to avoid the brunt of damage, resist control, and endure through some force.
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Does a disease trigger a saving throw vs. poison?
In What happened to disease in D&D 5e? we see that disease may not be a specific mechanic. However, it seems to be conflated quite a bit with poison, for example:
Here's an example of an ...
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1answer
192 views
When an Adult Gold Dragon changes into an Archmage, what are its saving throw and skill bonuses?
An Adult Gold Dragon has Change Shape as one of its actions (emphasis mine):
Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its ...
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1answer
256 views
Would Dwarves have advantage on saving throws against the Contagion spell?
Contagion (PHB, p. 227) has always been a powerful spell.
It used to be unclear, by RAW, what happened during the three (or more) turns a target was making saving throws. The original spell ...
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3answers
226 views
How to use “Create Undead” without any risk?
My party has recently slain a Linnorm Dragon and we would very much like to raise it as a Juju Zombie, thus having something really hard to kill as a frontline. The problem is that if the caster doesn'...
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Does a creature that is immune to all outcomes (conditions, damage, etc.) of an effect still make a saving throw?
Let's say a 5th level Lore Bard casts fear on a violet fungus not knowing that it is immune to the frightened condition.
Does the violet fungus still make a saving throw? In particular, is a saving ...
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2answers
199 views
Which saving throws are low-level enemies most likely to succeed/fail at?
Related to this question: What are the most and least-resisted damage types?
I'm wondering which saving throws low level enemies are the most likely to succeed at and/or fail in encounters.
For an ...
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2answers
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What is the DC of a Grease effect put in place by the Oil of Slipperiness?
The Oil of Slipperiness states:
Alternatively, the oil can be poured on the ground as an action, where it covers a 10-foot square, duplicating the effect of the grease spell in that area for 8 ...
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3answers
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What is the purpose of the Evocation wizard's Potent Cantrip feature?
The School of Evocation wizard's Potent Cantrip feature (PHB, p. 117) says:
Starting at 6th level, when a creature succeeds on a saving throw against your cantrip, the creature takes half the ...
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2answers
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Does the Vanguard Style bonus stack with itself?
The Vanguard Style feat states :
While using this style, when an adjacent ally is required to make a Reflex saving throw, you can expend a use of an attack of opportunity to attempt the aid another ...
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1answer
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If the DM rolls initiative once for a group of monsters, how do end-of-turn effects work?
A wizard rounds a corner to find two kobolds brandishing their weapons. Roll initiative!
The DM determines that neither side is surprised. The DM then makes a single initiative roll (10) for the two ...
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1answer
907 views
Can unconscious characters be unwilling?
Some spells like enlarge/reduce and polymorph specify that only an unwilling creature makes a saving throw:
If the target is unwilling, it can make a Constitution saving throw.
and
An ...
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2answers
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Do you continue making death saving throws while petrified?
Say you are playing a character, and they are downed (0 HP) and in that moment, they get turned into stone (petrified).
Does the character continue making death saving throws while petrified? Or do ...
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1answer
734 views
Can the Grease spell force multiple saves?
The description of the grease spell states:
A creature that enters the area or ends its turn there must also succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or fall prone.
What about a creature that enters ...
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1answer
142 views
Does the damage from the Dream spell only apply on a failed save?
The 5th-level spell Dream at first glance seemed really flavorful, but now it looks like an absolute nightmare after a second comb through.
Is the damage from the spell tied to the save? Or does it ...
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1answer
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Are there any rules or guidelines about the order of saving throws?
Let's take the example from In an area covered with Caltrops and Ball Bearings, If you're falling because of Ball Bearings, do you automatically land on the Caltrops too?
In an area covered with ...
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2answers
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If you're falling because of ball bearings, do you automatically land on caltrops in the same space?
If a creature had to make both saving throws for ball bearings and caltrops, and failed the ball bearings - Would they automatically fall prone & land on the caltrops, taking caltrop damage with ...
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What are the pros and cons of allowing a save each turn against the Levitate spell?
Consider the spell levitate (2nd level), which allows the caster to lift a hostile creature off the ground and hold it in place. It is easy to make the comparison to spells like hold person (2nd level)...
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1answer
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What are the ramifications of a caster changing the ability of a forced saving throw?
There was an Unearthed Arcana release including a Wizard subclass called Lore Mastery. The development of this subclass was largely abandoned, although some of its features inspired a later UA ...
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Casting “Seeming” on unconscious creatures [closed]
So, in a campaign I just joined, my character is secretly going to be trying to kidnap one of the other PC's much later in the game, to use as a sacrifice for a pact of demons. She's role-playing to ...
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1answer
148 views
How do multiple ghast stench fields work?
Each ghast has a stench trait that can poison someone if they start their turn within 5 feet of the ghast and fail their saving throw. What happens if a creature starts their turn with multiple ghasts ...
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0answers
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Does True Seeing automatically detect the illusions from Weird? [duplicate]
The weird spell creates illusions in the minds of those it is cast upon (unless they make their save).
The true seeing spell gives truesight, which grants the automatic detection of visual illusions ...
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1answer
298 views
Does damage vulnerability affect death saving throws?
I know that a critical hit, which deals double damage, immediately causes an unconscious creature to fail two death saving throws. Vulnerability also causes a creature to take double damage against ...
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1answer
719 views
How and when do I use my spell save DC and spell attack modifier?
I'm struggling to understand when and how I would use my spell save DC and my spell attack modifier.
Would I use my spell save DC as the DC that enemies need to beat when a spell calls for them to ...
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2answers
790 views
Can creatures with Spell Resistance voluntarily fail saving throws?
Pathfinder's magic rules say that a creature with "special resistance to magic" can voluntarily fail a saving throw against a spell.
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw
A creature can ...
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2answers
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What saving throw would you use for avoiding opportunity attacks when fleeing?
As a player new to D&D to avoid an attack of opportunity from someone when sprinting away from combat, would you use a Dexterity saving throw or a Strength saving throw? I was thinking I would ...
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3answers
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Does the undead controlled by the Oathbreaker paladin's Control Undead ability get advantage/disadvantage on the saving throw?
I have two questions about my Oathbreaker paladin's relationship to the undead.
When I use my Control Undead Channel Divinity option, I can take control of an undead. My question is "Does the turn ...
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1answer
418 views
When does the Death Saving Throw happen with respect to sources of automatic ongoing damage? [duplicate]
If a character is knocked unconscious with 0HP with a source of automatically dealt damage, for example, into a fire, and takes damage from it each turn, does the automatic Death Saving Throw failure ...
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3answers
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Does allowing death saving throws after being stable break the game?
After you roll three saves on a Death Saving Throw, you are stable and do not make other death saves. However, one of my player pointed out that if they keep rolling death saves, they might get a 20 ...
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2answers
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If two Ensnaring Strikes affect the same target, does it have to make two saves to be unrestrained?
Say two Rangers shot the same target with ensnaring strike and the target failed its saves on both.
The PHB says the effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine such as two Clerics ...
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1answer
90 views
Why do Expert monsters get Will saves instead of Reflex?
The Starjammer SRD page about building monsters has a chart for Expert creatures. That chart claims that expert creatures should have good Will saves instead of Reflex. Why would that be? Expert style ...
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1answer
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How do I make a creature with a +0 Saving Throw bonus in Genius Inc.'s DND Monster Maker?
I'm using Genius Inc.'s DND Monster Maker, and I can't seem to make the tool show a Saving Throw bonus of +0 in its generated stat block. I'm trying to make a monster that has a -2 to Wisdom but has ...
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How do you use DC when you cast a spell [duplicate]
Say I use a spell that requires target to make a DEX save or take 2d6 fire dmg. What would I compare that creatures DEX save to?
Example: I cast a spell that says, "Target creature makes a DEX ...
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1answer
266 views
Why do effects that overcome the willpower of their target use Wisdom, while resisting possession requires Charisma saves? [closed]
The PHB defines WIS as following (excerpt):
Wisdom reflects how attuned you are to the world around you and represents perceptiveness and intuition.
and CHA like this:
Charisma measures your ...
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2answers
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Is there any difference between doing the Wisdom save against the Command spell when it's cast and doing it on the target's turn?
(This question is inspired by the question: When do enemies save against the Command spell?.)
I understand that the DM is thinking that the resisting part of the spell come on the target's turn, ...
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4answers
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When do enemies save against the Command spell?
I play a Glamour bard with the Mantle of Majesty feature (XGtE, p. 14). The feature lets me cast command on a creature as a bonus action.
My DM and I currently are arguing about when the enemy gets ...
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3answers
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Does a demon with the Magic Resistance trait have advantage on saving throws against the Summon Greater Demon spell?
Assume I use summon greater demon (Xanathar's Guide to Everything, p. 166) and choose a demon with the Magic Resistance trait.
Does Magic Resistance grant the demon advantage on the Charisma saving ...
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3answers
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Would it be unbalanced for Dex-based Fighters to choose proficiency in Dex saving throws instead of Str saving throws?
Whilst building a Dex-based Fighter (an Arcane Archer), I decided to pick the Resilient feat at level 4 so that I could have proficiency in Dexterity saving throws, which makes sense given that they ...
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1answer
231 views
Does Supernatural Defense assist your saving throws to maintain concentration?
Supernatural Defense, the level 7 Monster Slayer ranger feature (XGtE, p. 43), states that, if the target of your Slayer's Prey forces you to make a saving throw, you may add 1d6 to your roll.
If you ...
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4answers
4k views
Can a paralyzed creature targeted by an Evocation Wizard's Sculpt Spells feature actually succeed a Dex save?
Say a friendly barbarian is currently paralyzed. Part of the description of the paralyzed condition says:
The creature automatically fails Strength and Dexterity saving throws.
Its friend, the ...
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3answers
183 views
When do you not save from Ghost Sound?
Ghost Sound saving throw includes "(if interacted with)". I had assumed this meant "if you hear it" in which case all folks would get a save, however, it was pointed out to me then why have this in ...
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1answer
915 views
Can Bigby's Hand attempt Strength and Dexterity saving throws?
The spell description for Bigby's hand on PHB p. 218 (listed as arcane hand in the SRD) states:
The hand is an object that has AC 20 and hit points equal to your hit point maximum. If it drops to 0 ...
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2answers
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What variant rules are there on “overstacking” base saves for multiclass characters?
I am planning a character with a lot of different character classes mixed in mostly to have a lot of useful, flavory low level feats and a broad selection of skills. What bothers me is that the base ...
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1answer
302 views
What saving throw is needed for the Cursed Treasure in the Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan?
Included in the Tales from the Yawning Portal, The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan adventure has some Cursed Treasure in area 29: "The Tomb of Pelota" (pg. 78)
What kind of saving throw is needed, by ...
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1answer
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What is the distribution of monster save proficiencies?
I'm curious which saves are the best to target (as a player). As in, if I have a spell that forces the enemy to make a dex save and another spell that forces a con save, which am I better off using? ...
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How to charm-like effects that do not affect charm immune creatures interact with Fey Ancestry? [duplicate]
In Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (pg. 189), the Duergar Mind Master has the following Mind Mastery action:
Mind Mastery. The duergar targets one creature it can see within 60 feet. The target must ...
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6answers
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Is this houserule preventing effects from dropping creatures to below 1 HP if they make their save exploitable or broken?
I'm playing with the idea of adding a new house-rule to my sandbox-style game.
The rule is as follows:
If you succeed on a saving throw against an effect, that effect cannot make you drop below 1 ...
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1answer
309 views
If you can't see it coming, how do you get a dex save? [duplicate]
So, I was thinking simply fog cloud.. to obscure vision then fireball.
Input?
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2answers
3k views
Can a PC regularly impose disadvantage on enemies' saves? If so, how?
There are many ways to get advantage/disadvantage on attacks: the Dodge and Help actions are specifically designed for this in combat, and 10 of the 14 conditions in Appendix A have at least one ...
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1answer
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How does Compelled Duel work with the saving throws?
The level 1 spell, Compelled Duel:
Compel a creature you can see to duel you. Unless they succeed on a Wisdom saving throw, the target is only able to attack someone other than you with ...
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Repeated poisonous effects and conditions
I was reading through the "Poisons" section of the DMG chapter 8, and had the following questions:
If for instance a character is hit by a creature repeated times with the same poison (for example a ...
