Can You Deal Zero Damage in D&D? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer is yes, you can deal zero damage in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). While the goal of combat is often to inflict harm upon your enemies, certain situations can arise where an attack connects but results in no actual damage being dealt. Let’s delve into the intricacies of how this happens and explore the nuances surrounding zero damage in the world of D&D.

Understanding Damage Mechanics in D&D

Before we dive deeper, it’s important to grasp the basics of how damage is calculated in D&D. Typically, an attack roll is made against a target’s Armor Class (AC). If the attack succeeds, you then roll dice (as specified by your weapon or spell) and add any relevant modifiers (such as your Strength modifier for melee weapons) to determine the total damage.

Factors Leading to Zero Damage

Several factors can contribute to an attack dealing zero damage. These include:

• Resistance: Many creatures possess resistance to certain damage types (e.g., fire, bludgeoning, piercing). Resistance halves the damage of that specific type. If an attack deals a small amount of damage (say, 1 point) and the target is resistant to that damage type, the damage is halved to 0.5. This is then rounded down to 0.
• Immunities: Some creatures are immune to specific damage types, meaning they take no damage from that source whatsoever.
• Negative Modifiers: While it’s impossible to deal negative damage, negative modifiers to damage rolls can reduce the total damage to zero. For example, an extremely weak character attacking with a weapon might have a significant negative Strength modifier, potentially negating any dice roll result.
• Temporary Hit Points: If a creature has temporary hit points, any damage it takes is subtracted from those temporary hit points first. If the damage is less than or equal to the remaining temporary hit points, the creature’s regular hit points are unaffected, effectively resulting in zero damage to their actual health.
• Specific Abilities or Spells: Certain abilities or spells can grant temporary immunity to damage or reduce incoming damage to zero.
• Game Master (GM) Discretion: The GM has the final say on any ruling in the game. They can choose to narratively reduce damage to zero based on specific circumstances, especially in less formal combat encounters. The Games Learning Society supports the idea that the DM has creative reign.

The Impact of Zero Damage

While an attack that deals zero damage might seem insignificant, it’s important to remember that the attack still hits. This has several implications:

• Attack Rolls Trigger Effects: Some abilities trigger on a successful attack roll, regardless of the damage dealt. For instance, certain class features or feats might activate upon hitting a target, even if the attack doesn’t cause any actual harm.
• Concentration Checks: Even a zero-damage hit can force a spellcaster to make a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell. The DC for this check is typically 10 or half the damage taken, whichever is higher. A zero-damage hit still requires a DC 10 check.
• Narrative Consequences: Even if no hit points are lost, a successful attack can still have narrative consequences. The blow might stagger the target, break their concentration, or disrupt their plans.
• Maintaining Rage: As the old article states, your rage lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven’t attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then.

Zero Damage and the Rules

The Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide don’t explicitly state that zero damage is impossible. In fact, the rules imply its possibility through the mechanics of resistance, negative modifiers, and temporary hit points. The core principle is that while negative damage is not allowed, zero damage is a perfectly valid outcome within the rules.

FAQs: Zero Damage in D&D

Here are some frequently asked questions related to zero damage in D&D:

1. Can an unarmed strike deal zero damage?

Yes, if your Strength modifier is negative and it cancels out the 1 point of bludgeoning damage that an unarmed strike normally deals.

2. Does dealing zero damage count as an attack for the purpose of abilities?

Generally, yes. If an ability triggers on a successful attack roll, dealing zero damage still counts as a successful attack.

3. Can a creature with temporary hit points be reduced to zero hit points by an attack that deals less damage than their temporary hit points?

No. The damage is absorbed by the temporary hit points first. Only damage exceeding the remaining temporary hit points affects the creature’s actual hit points.

4. If a creature is immune to a damage type, does that mean they automatically succeed on saving throws against effects that deal that damage type?

Not necessarily. Immunity to damage means they take no damage if the effect is successful, but they might still be affected by other aspects of the effect (e.g., being restrained).

5. Can I intentionally deal zero damage to avoid killing an enemy?

The rules don’t explicitly cover intentionally dealing less damage. However, a GM might allow a player to describe their attack in a way that implies restraint, reducing the damage dealt. In some cases, it might be better to disarm the target.

6. Does dealing zero damage count as “harming” a creature for the purpose of spells like Sanctuary?

That is up to the DM. Some might consider it as harmful.

7. Can a critical hit result in zero damage?

Yes, if all the factors reducing damage (resistance, negative modifiers) combine to cancel out the doubled damage dice.

8. Does dealing zero damage interrupt a short rest?

Generally, yes. Any interruption that would prevent the rest from being continuous will interrupt the short rest. The DM is the final say on what constitues an interruption.

9. How does zero damage interact with the Sentinel feat?

The Sentinel feat states, “When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature’s speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn.” A successful hit that deals zero damage would still trigger this effect.

10. Can a spell that deals ongoing damage (like Poison Spray) deal zero damage on a particular turn?

Yes. If the target gains resistance or immunity to poison damage after the spell is cast, they might take zero damage from it on subsequent turns.

11. Does dealing zero damage count as a “hit” for the purpose of Divine Smite (Paladin)?

Yes, since Divine Smite triggers “When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack,” regardless of the damage dealt.

12. Can I choose to deal non-lethal damage?

In the fifth edition of D&D, there’s no specific mechanic for declaring non-lethal damage beforehand. However, the Player’s Handbook does state, “When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out instead of killing it.”

13. What are the common reasons for negative modifiers to damage?

Having a very low Strength score (for melee weapons) or a very low spellcasting ability score can result in negative modifiers. These are most common at low levels or with characters who are severely debilitated.

14. If I have advantage on an attack roll, but still deal zero damage, does that negate the advantage?

No. Advantage on the attack roll only affects the chance to hit, not the damage calculation itself.

15. How can I use the concept of zero damage creatively in my game?

Talk with your DM about your character’s intentions. Maybe you’re roleplaying a character who is hesitant to kill, or perhaps you want to capture someone alive. Discuss with the DM how you can incorporate those roleplaying intentions into the mechanics of the game. D&D is a collaborative storytelling experience after all! The resources from GamesLearningSociety.org are invaluable for understanding the educational benefits of collaborative storytelling.