Are Undead Immune to Poison? A Comprehensive Guide

The short and direct answer is: Yes, in many popular fantasy settings, including Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), undead are generally considered immune to poison. This immunity stems from their nature as beings animated by necromantic energy rather than living, biological processes. They lack the organic systems that poison typically targets, making them resistant to its effects. However, the specifics can vary depending on the game or fictional universe you’re exploring. This article will delve into the reasons for this immunity, its nuances, and address some common questions about poison and undead.

Why Are Undead Immune to Poison?

The Nature of Undead

Undead are often defined by their lack of life functions. They don’t breathe, eat, or have a functioning circulatory system in the traditional sense. Instead, they are animated by necromantic energy or other dark forces. Poisons primarily target biological processes, disrupting nerve signals, organ function, or blood chemistry. Because undead lack these biological functions, the mechanisms by which poison harms living beings are rendered ineffective against them.

Fortitude Saves and Undead

In game systems like D&D, undead are often immune to effects that require a Fortitude save, which represents the body’s resilience to physical threats. This save is primarily used to resist things like poison, disease, and other ailments that target a living creature’s physiology. The undead’s resistance to Fortitude saves further underscores their unnatural nature and their immunity to many typical forms of harm, including poison.

Exceptions to the Rule

While a general immunity exists, there might be exceptions. For example:

• Certain Magic or Abilities: Some supernatural poisons or spells specifically designed to target undead or creatures of unlife may exist. These exceptions are often created for plot reasons or to introduce unique challenges in gameplay.
• Harmless Effects: Effects that require a Fortitude save will generally still affect undead if they are considered “harmless” or affect objects, as undead are technically objects in some regards as well.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Undead and Poison

Here’s a comprehensive list of FAQs related to undead and poison immunity, providing even more clarity on this topic:

1. What are the typical immunities of undead?

Undead often possess immunities to a range of effects besides poison. Common immunities include: death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, phantasms, and patterns), paralysis, sleep, stun, and as mentioned, any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless it affects objects.

2. Does poison damage apply to undead in 5e D&D?

No, undead are explicitly immune to poison damage in 5th Edition D&D (5e). This immunity is a core characteristic of the undead creature type.

3. Are there any exceptions to poison immunity for undead in D&D 5e?

While most undead are immune to poison damage, there aren’t many common exceptions. However, as mentioned, magic and supernatural weapons that are specifically designed to work against undead might bypass this immunity, and the general exception of effects that work on objects applies.

4. Are all undead immune to poison in all fantasy settings?

**Not necessarily.** The specific immunities of undead can vary depending on the particular fantasy setting or game system. While the immunity to poison is very common, you should always check specific rules for each individual universe.

5. If an undead creature is targeted by a poisonous attack, what happens?

In most instances, **nothing happens.** The poison simply fails to affect the undead creature, since it does not use the biological systems it relies on to cause harm.

6. Does the “poisoned” condition affect undead?

**No, the poisoned condition does not affect undead.** Since they're immune to poison, they can’t suffer from the effects of being poisoned, such as disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

7. Are there any races in D&D that have poison immunity similar to undead?

While there aren't races that have *immunity* to poison like undead, there are several races with **poison resistance**. These include: **Dwarves, Reborn, Warforged, Green Dragonborn, Yuan-Ti, and Stout Halflings.**

8. At what level do Monks gain poison immunity in 5e D&D?

 **Monks gain immunity to poison at 10th level** as part of their "Purity of Body" class feature.

9. Can Paladins remove the poisoned condition with Lay on Hands?

**Yes, Paladins can use their Lay on Hands feature to instantly remove the poisoned condition.** This is true for themselves or any other creature.

10. What other creatures are immune to poison besides undead?

Many creatures in fantasy settings have poison immunity. In D&D 5e, this includes certain dragons like the **Green Dragon Wyrmling**, and creatures like **Mimics and various elementals**. The Monster Manual contains dozens of creatures with poison immunity.

11. Are there spells in 5e D&D that grant poison immunity?

 **Yes, the spell "Heroes' Feast" grants immunity to poison damage and the poisoned condition.**

12. Are objects immune to poison?

 **Yes, objects in 5e D&D are immune to poison and psychic damage.** This reinforces the idea that poison targets biological systems and doesn't affect inanimate materials.

13. How many creatures in D&D 5e are immune to poison?

According to some sources, there are an **astounding number of creatures with poison immunity,** with estimates ranging upwards of 96 creatures in the Monster Manual, making it the most common damage type immunity.

14. What can hurt undead if not poison?

Undead are vulnerable to various types of damage, especially those that target their undead nature. This includes **radiant damage**, **holy weapons**, and sometimes even **fire**, depending on the type of undead.

15. Is it possible for a living creature to gain poison immunity through repeated exposure?

While not always possible, **it's true that a living creature can develop a tolerance or resistance to certain types of poison through repeated exposure to small doses** (a process known as Mithridatism, named after King Mithridates of Pontus, who supposedly practiced this). However, this is not a guaranteed immunity and can sometimes have harmful consequences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the specifics might vary from universe to universe, in many cases, the concept that undead are immune to poison is a fundamental feature of their supernatural nature. This immunity is born out of their lack of living biology, rendering the biological targeting of poison ineffective. It is important to refer to the specific rules of the setting or game system you are using for definitive answers. However, the general concept of undead immunity to poison is well-established in fantasy lore and provides another facet to their terrifying and resilient existence.