Damage mechanics: Difference between revisions

}}[[File:1d4 + 1d6 Poison.png|right]]A single attack, spell, trap, or other harmful effect can often result in multiple [[Damage Rolls]]. Determining the resulting damage from these various rolls can be difficult due to hidden mechanics which are commonly referred to by the community as '''damage "sources"''' and '''damage "riders".''' The term damage "instances" is sometimes used in place of damage "sources," but for the purpose of this page the only terms to be used are damage source(s) and damage rider(s). The game does not inform players what is a damage source vs. what is a damage rider, or how these two interact with each other. This page describes the mechanical differences between damage sources and damage riders, how they interact, and lists which effects and abilities fall into each category.

A '''damage source''' could be described as what initializes the damage. Examples include striking a target with your [[Weapons|weapon]], a [[Spells|spell]], or thrown items such as an {{SmItemIcon|Alchemist's Fire}}. Damage sources often require the use of an action (e.g. throwing an object such as a [[Grenades|grenade]]), bonus action (e.g. making an attack with your offhand weapon while dual wielding), or reaction (e.g. the {{SAI|Hellish Rebuke}} spell).

A '''damage rider''' is something which adds additional damage onto the damage source. It can only be present in the event there is an applicable damage source for it to "ride along" with, hence the name of a damage rider. Examples of damage riders include the {{SAI|Hex}} spell adding damage to the damage from a Warlock's {{SAI|Eldritch Blast}} or weapon attacks, [[coatings]] applied to weapons providing additional damage to a weapon attack, a 6th level {{Class|Draconic Bloodline}} applying their [[Elemental Affinity: Damage|elemental affinity]] to a spell of the appropriate [[Damage Types|damage type]], or a raging{{Class|Barbarian|25}} adding rage damage to their weapon attacks. Many damage riders are gained from passives or other forms of buffs. Any eligible damage riders from a damaging effect will be applied to a damage source which is a part of that damaging effect.

==Damage Riders treated as Damage Sources (DRS)==

===Example Calculation===

A character with 18 Strength, the [[Tavern Brawler]] Feat, {{SAI|Lightning Charges (Condition)}}, and the {{SmItemIcon|Ring of Flinging}} uses the {{SmItemIcon|Returning Pike}} to make a thrown weapon attack against a target which is affected by {{SAI|Hex}}.

*Thrown weapon attack using the {{SmItemIcon|Returning Pike}} applies 1d10 (damage die) + 1 (weapon enchantment) + 4 (Strength modifier) piercing damage

*The [[Tavern Brawler]] feat allows characters to add their Strength modifier an additional time to damage rolls when using unarmed strikes, improvised weapons, or thrown weapons. When applied to melee attacks this damage bonus is treated as a damage rider. But as of [[Patch Notes|Patch 3]] with thrown weapons, this +4 piercing damage from the character's strength score being applied a second time due to the tavern brawler feat being treated as a damage source.

 

To determine the total damage applied take each DS and DRS. Then apply the damage riders onto each of these. In this example that means one should evaluate the pike damage source plus all damage riders, followed by the Tavern Brawler damage source and all damage riders applied again.  

[[Tavern Brawler]] on thrown weapon attacks is a '''DRS''', meaning the damage roll in the above scenario would on average yield 28.5 total damage (ignoring resistances) calculated as follows:

*{{InfoBlob|{{DieIcon|d10|Piercing}} 1d10 (5.5 avg) (weapon damage die) + 1 (weapon enchantment) + 4 (Strength modifier) {{DamageType|Piercing}}}} from the {{SmItemIcon|Returning Pike}} thrown weapon attack, [DS]

*{{InfoBlob|+4 {{DamageType|Piercing}} damage}} from [[Tavern Brawler]], [DRS]

**{{InfoBlob|+1d4 (2.5 avg) {{DamageType|Piercing}} damage}} from the {{SmItemIcon|Ring of Flinging}} being applied to Tavern Brawler damage source, [DR]

**{{InfoBlob|+1 {{DamageType|Lightning}} damage}} from {{SAI|Lightning Charges (Condition)}} being applied to Tavern Brawler damage source, [DR]

**{{InfoBlob|{{DieIcon|d6|Necrotic}} +1d6 (3.5 avg) {{DamageType|Necrotic}}}} damage from {{SAI|Hex}} being applied to Tavern Brawler damage source [DR]

As a ''hypothetical'' scenario to show the impact that this minor detail can have, instead imagine [[Tavern Brawler]] were to be treated as a DR in the above scenairo. In this ''hypothetical'' scenario the above damage roll would yield 21.5 total damage on average (ignoring resistances) calculated as follows:

*{{InfoBlob|{{DieIcon|d10|Piercing}} 1d10 (5.5 avg) (weapon damage die) + 1 (weapon enchantment) + 4 (Strength modifier) {{DamageType|Piercing}}}} from the {{SmItemIcon|Returning Pike}} thrown weapon attack, [DS]

**{{InfoBlob|+4 {{DamageType|Piercing}} damage}} from [[Tavern Brawler]], [If Tavern Brawler were to ''hypothetically'' be treated as a DR with thrown weapon attacks]

==DRS Effects==

The following are a list of items and abilities which have DRS effects, and what the relevant DRS effect is.

|Deals Weapon Damage + {{DamageText|2d4|Acid}} ([[Saving Throw|Dexterity Save]] to negate). Creates a permanent [[Acid Surface]].

|Deals weapon damage + {{DamageText|2d4|Fire}} ([[Saving Throw|Dexterity Save]] to negate). Creates a [[Fire Surface]] for 2 turns.

|Deals weapon damage + {{DamageText|2d4|Cold}} ([[Saving Throw|Dexterity Save]] to negate). Creates an [[Ice Surface]] for 2 turns.

|The target must be at full health.

|N/a

|N/a

|Throw a shard of ice that deals {{DamageText|1d10|Piercing}} damage. It explodes and deals {{DamageText|2d6|Cold}} damage to anyone nearby. It leaves an [[Ice Surface]]. On miss, the shard of ice still explodes.

|Evoke a heavenly flare and possibly {{Cond|Blind}} your target.  In addition, your weapon deals an additional {{DamageText|3d8|Radiant}} damage.

|Impel a storm of hail and ice to crash from the sky, covering the ground and striking all objects and creatures within range, dealing {{DamageType|Bludgeoning}} and {{DamageType|Cold}} damage. It also creates an [[Ice Surface]] that lasts 2 turns.  

*[[Tavern Brawler]] is treated as a Damage Rider with unarmed attacks and improvised weapon attacks, but as a "Damage Rider treated as a Damage Source" when it comes to thrown weapon attacks.