What are Undead Resistant to?
Undead creatures are resistant to necrotic damage, as well as immune to poison, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, phantasms, and patterns), paralysis, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless). Additionally, undead creatures are often resistant to cold damage, although this can vary depending on the specific type of undead creature.
Understanding Undead Resistance
To better understand what undead are resistant to, it’s essential to delve into the specifics of their immunities and vulnerabilities. Undead creatures, such as zombies, vampires, and liches, have unique characteristics that set them apart from living creatures.
FAQs about Undead Resistance
The following FAQs provide more detailed information about undead resistance and their vulnerabilities:
- Q: Are all undead immune to poison? A: Most undead are immune to poison, but there may be exceptions depending on the specific creature.
- Q: Can undead take cold damage? A: Some undead are specifically stated to be immune to cold, but not all of them.
- Q: What is the best damage against undead? A: Radiant damage is probably the best damage to go for, followed by fire.
- Q: Are undead resistant to acid? A: Acid is also a fairly good fallback, since it works on non-Yugoloth fiends and all undead other than the incorporeal ones.
- Q: What conditions are undead immune to in 5e? A: Most undead appear to have immunity to necrotic damage, poison, and being charmed, frightened, paralyzed, or poisoned.
- Q: Are undead immune to fear? A: There’s no rule that states undead in general are immune to being frightened, so it depends on what specific undead creature you’re attacking.
- Q: What spells don’t affect undead? A: Undead are immune to spells like finger of death, cloudkill, and the like because they aren’t alive.
- Q: Can cure wounds hurt undead? A: A creature you touch regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier, but this spell has no effect on undead or constructs.
- Q: What creatures are immune to turn undead? A: The revenant is immune to effects that turn undead.
- Q: Can undead be intimidated? A: Per the FAQ, intimidation is a mind-affecting fear effect, so no, you can’t demoralize a vampire as undead are generally immune to mind-affecting things.
- Q: Do undead resist necrotic? A: Undead is a creature type, whilst creatures that fall under a single creature type are familiar to each other and share some traits, resistances and immunities are not always shared.
- Q: What spells are undead immune to? A: Undead are immune to all mind-affecting effects, not just charms and compulsions.
- Q: Does first aid hurt undead? A: The second thing that Undead characters tend to notice is any normal healing spells like First Aid and Regeneration deal damage to them.
- Q: Are undead immune to sleep? A: Sleep ignores undead creatures as well as creatures immune to being charmed.
- Q: Can turn undead destroy undead? A: Destroy Undead – Starting at 5th level, when an undead of CR 1/2 or lower fails its saving throw against your Turn Undead feature, the creature is instantly destroyed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding what undead are resistant to is crucial in navigating the world of fantasy and Dungeons & Dragons. By knowing their immunities and vulnerabilities, players and Dungeon Masters can create more immersive and engaging experiences. Whether it’s radiant damage, fire, or acid, choosing the right strategy can make all the difference in battles against these formidable creatures.