Do undead take extra radiant damage?

Do Undead Take Extra Radiant Damage?

Radiant damage is a type of damage in the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition game that is often associated with good, holy, or positive effects. But do undead creatures, which are often depicted as evil, decaying, and malevolent, take extra radiant damage? In this article, we’ll explore the rules surrounding radiant damage and its effects on undead creatures.

Direct Answer

In most cases, undead creatures do not take extra radiant damage. Many undead do have resistances and immunities, and radiant is almost never among them. This means that, unless a specific effect or spell specifies that it affects undead creatures, they will not take additional damage from radiant attacks.

Resistance and Immunity

Undead creatures often have resistances or immunities to certain types of damage, including necrotic, poison, and bludgeoning. Radiant damage, however, is not a type of damage that undead creatures are typically resistant to. This means that, unless a specific effect or spell specifies that it affects undead creatures, they will not have any natural resistance to radiant damage.

Examples of Undead Creatures

Some examples of undead creatures in the 5th edition Monster Manual include:

• Skeleton
• Zombie
• Wraith
• Mummy
• Ghoul

These creatures, and others like them, do not have any natural resistance to radiant damage. This means that, unless a specific effect or spell specifies that it affects undead creatures, they will take full damage from radiant attacks.

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to this rule. Some specific effects or spells may explicitly state that they affect undead creatures. For example, the Divine Smite spell specifically states that it deals an additional 2d8 radiant damage to undead creatures. Similarly, the Bless spell grants a bonus to attack and damage rolls against undead creatures.

Table: Effects of Radiant Damage on Undead Creatures

Conclusion

In conclusion, undead creatures do not typically take extra radiant damage. Many undead have resistances and immunities, and radiant is almost never among them. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as specific effects or spells that explicitly state that they affect undead creatures. Remember to always check the rules and specific effects or spells before assuming that an undead creature will take extra damage from radiant attacks.