Does the Protection from Evil and Good spell give an undead disadvantage to attacking itself?
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If a zombie attempts suicide by attacking itself while under the effect of a protection from evil and good spell, would it have disadvantage on the roll to kill itself?
dnd-5e spells
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V2Blast
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Geekdude3
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If a zombie attempts suicide by attacking itself while under the effect of a protection from evil and good spell, would it have disadvantage on the roll to kill itself?
dnd-5e spells
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
asked 8 hours ago
Geekdude3
1168
5
Why is the zombie attacking themself? A zombie is mindless and thus doesn't seem to really have any reason to do so.
– Rubiksmoose
7 hours ago
I didn't have a specific reason in mind, I was just reading through spells and was curious.
– Geekdude3
7 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
If a zombie attempts suicide by attacking itself while under the effect of a protection from evil and good spell, would it have disadvantage on the roll to kill itself?
dnd-5e spells
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
asked 8 hours ago
Geekdude3
1168
If a zombie attempts suicide by attacking itself while under the effect of a protection from evil and good spell, would it have disadvantage on the roll to kill itself?
dnd-5e spells
dnd-5e spells
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
asked 8 hours ago
Geekdude3
1168
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
asked 8 hours ago
Geekdude3
1168
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
18.9k251117
asked 8 hours ago
Geekdude3
1168
asked 8 hours ago
Geekdude3
1168
asked 8 hours ago
Geekdude3
1168
1168
5
Why is the zombie attacking themself? A zombie is mindless and thus doesn't seem to really have any reason to do so.
– Rubiksmoose
7 hours ago
I didn't have a specific reason in mind, I was just reading through spells and was curious.
– Geekdude3
7 hours ago
add a comment |
5
Why is the zombie attacking themself? A zombie is mindless and thus doesn't seem to really have any reason to do so.
– Rubiksmoose
7 hours ago
I didn't have a specific reason in mind, I was just reading through spells and was curious.
– Geekdude3
7 hours ago
5
5
Why is the zombie attacking themself? A zombie is mindless and thus doesn't seem to really have any reason to do so.
– Rubiksmoose
7 hours ago
Why is the zombie attacking themself? A zombie is mindless and thus doesn't seem to really have any reason to do so.
– Rubiksmoose
7 hours ago
I didn't have a specific reason in mind, I was just reading through spells and was curious.
– Geekdude3
7 hours ago
I didn't have a specific reason in mind, I was just reading through spells and was curious.
– Geekdude3
7 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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up vote
8
down vote
Rules as Written (RAW), Yes
Protection From Evil and Good states:
Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected
against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials,
elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.
The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. (PHB, p. 270, bold added)
There is nothing in this description that indicates that the target of the spell must be different from the attacker. So yes, this spell would grant disadvantage on such an attack.
Note that this would rarely come up, especially since the target must be willing to have the spell cast upon themselves in the first place. Also note that if the target of the spell gave itself advantage somehow (such as by going prone, which would give it both advantage and disadvantage), it would just roll normally. And a DM could hypothetically decide that an honest attempt to injure oneself is automatically successful. But RAW yes, technically this spell could make it more difficult for a creature to strike itself.
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
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answered 6 hours ago
Gandalfmeansme
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Technically, yes, but would the zombie do that?
I think the rules for Protection Against Evil and Good are fairly clear in how they work and the answer is yes. The zombie is attacking itself which is undead, and therefore has disadvantage.
But I think it's worth asking why would a zombie attack itself? They're supposed to be mindless animated corpses with very simple motivations: Kill the living.
For a zombie to think to kill itself means that it has to be capable of some pretty high level though processes (sense of self, goals, cost/benefit analysis, etc) and these aren't really in keeping with the lore of zombies. Obviously, you can do whatever you want with your games, but I think ZAI (Zombies as Intended), a zombie wouldn't attack itself.
answered 5 hours ago
Rykara
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
Rules as Written (RAW), Yes
Protection From Evil and Good states:
Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected
against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials,
elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.
The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. (PHB, p. 270, bold added)
There is nothing in this description that indicates that the target of the spell must be different from the attacker. So yes, this spell would grant disadvantage on such an attack.
Note that this would rarely come up, especially since the target must be willing to have the spell cast upon themselves in the first place. Also note that if the target of the spell gave itself advantage somehow (such as by going prone, which would give it both advantage and disadvantage), it would just roll normally. And a DM could hypothetically decide that an honest attempt to injure oneself is automatically successful. But RAW yes, technically this spell could make it more difficult for a creature to strike itself.
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
answered 6 hours ago
Gandalfmeansme
17.3k364108
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Rules as Written (RAW), Yes
Protection From Evil and Good states:
Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected
against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials,
elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.
The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. (PHB, p. 270, bold added)
There is nothing in this description that indicates that the target of the spell must be different from the attacker. So yes, this spell would grant disadvantage on such an attack.
Note that this would rarely come up, especially since the target must be willing to have the spell cast upon themselves in the first place. Also note that if the target of the spell gave itself advantage somehow (such as by going prone, which would give it both advantage and disadvantage), it would just roll normally. And a DM could hypothetically decide that an honest attempt to injure oneself is automatically successful. But RAW yes, technically this spell could make it more difficult for a creature to strike itself.
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
answered 6 hours ago
Gandalfmeansme
17.3k364108
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
Rules as Written (RAW), Yes
Protection From Evil and Good states:
Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected
against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials,
elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.
The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. (PHB, p. 270, bold added)
There is nothing in this description that indicates that the target of the spell must be different from the attacker. So yes, this spell would grant disadvantage on such an attack.
Note that this would rarely come up, especially since the target must be willing to have the spell cast upon themselves in the first place. Also note that if the target of the spell gave itself advantage somehow (such as by going prone, which would give it both advantage and disadvantage), it would just roll normally. And a DM could hypothetically decide that an honest attempt to injure oneself is automatically successful. But RAW yes, technically this spell could make it more difficult for a creature to strike itself.
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
answered 6 hours ago
Gandalfmeansme
17.3k364108
Rules as Written (RAW), Yes
Protection From Evil and Good states:
Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected
against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials,
elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.
The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. (PHB, p. 270, bold added)
There is nothing in this description that indicates that the target of the spell must be different from the attacker. So yes, this spell would grant disadvantage on such an attack.
Note that this would rarely come up, especially since the target must be willing to have the spell cast upon themselves in the first place. Also note that if the target of the spell gave itself advantage somehow (such as by going prone, which would give it both advantage and disadvantage), it would just roll normally. And a DM could hypothetically decide that an honest attempt to injure oneself is automatically successful. But RAW yes, technically this spell could make it more difficult for a creature to strike itself.
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
answered 6 hours ago
Gandalfmeansme
17.3k364108
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
edited 3 hours ago
V2Blast
18.9k251117
18.9k251117
answered 6 hours ago
Gandalfmeansme
17.3k364108
answered 6 hours ago
Gandalfmeansme
17.3k364108
answered 6 hours ago
Gandalfmeansme
17.3k364108
17.3k364108
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Technically, yes, but would the zombie do that?
I think the rules for Protection Against Evil and Good are fairly clear in how they work and the answer is yes. The zombie is attacking itself which is undead, and therefore has disadvantage.
But I think it's worth asking why would a zombie attack itself? They're supposed to be mindless animated corpses with very simple motivations: Kill the living.
For a zombie to think to kill itself means that it has to be capable of some pretty high level though processes (sense of self, goals, cost/benefit analysis, etc) and these aren't really in keeping with the lore of zombies. Obviously, you can do whatever you want with your games, but I think ZAI (Zombies as Intended), a zombie wouldn't attack itself.
answered 5 hours ago
Rykara
1,814318
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Technically, yes, but would the zombie do that?
I think the rules for Protection Against Evil and Good are fairly clear in how they work and the answer is yes. The zombie is attacking itself which is undead, and therefore has disadvantage.
But I think it's worth asking why would a zombie attack itself? They're supposed to be mindless animated corpses with very simple motivations: Kill the living.
For a zombie to think to kill itself means that it has to be capable of some pretty high level though processes (sense of self, goals, cost/benefit analysis, etc) and these aren't really in keeping with the lore of zombies. Obviously, you can do whatever you want with your games, but I think ZAI (Zombies as Intended), a zombie wouldn't attack itself.
answered 5 hours ago
Rykara
1,814318
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Technically, yes, but would the zombie do that?
I think the rules for Protection Against Evil and Good are fairly clear in how they work and the answer is yes. The zombie is attacking itself which is undead, and therefore has disadvantage.
But I think it's worth asking why would a zombie attack itself? They're supposed to be mindless animated corpses with very simple motivations: Kill the living.
For a zombie to think to kill itself means that it has to be capable of some pretty high level though processes (sense of self, goals, cost/benefit analysis, etc) and these aren't really in keeping with the lore of zombies. Obviously, you can do whatever you want with your games, but I think ZAI (Zombies as Intended), a zombie wouldn't attack itself.
answered 5 hours ago
Rykara
1,814318
Technically, yes, but would the zombie do that?
I think the rules for Protection Against Evil and Good are fairly clear in how they work and the answer is yes. The zombie is attacking itself which is undead, and therefore has disadvantage.
But I think it's worth asking why would a zombie attack itself? They're supposed to be mindless animated corpses with very simple motivations: Kill the living.
For a zombie to think to kill itself means that it has to be capable of some pretty high level though processes (sense of self, goals, cost/benefit analysis, etc) and these aren't really in keeping with the lore of zombies. Obviously, you can do whatever you want with your games, but I think ZAI (Zombies as Intended), a zombie wouldn't attack itself.
answered 5 hours ago
Rykara
1,814318
answered 5 hours ago
Rykara
1,814318
answered 5 hours ago
Rykara
1,814318
answered 5 hours ago
Rykara
1,814318
1,814318
add a comment |
add a comment |
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5
Why is the zombie attacking themself? A zombie is mindless and thus doesn't seem to really have any reason to do so.
– Rubiksmoose
7 hours ago
I didn't have a specific reason in mind, I was just reading through spells and was curious.
– Geekdude3
7 hours ago