Does polymorph damage carry over?

Does Polymorph Damage Carry Over?

Polymorph is a powerful spell in Dungeons and Dragons that allows a character to transform into a creature of their choice. This spell has been a favorite among players and DMs alike for its versatility and potential for creative problem-solving. However, one important question remains: does polymorph damage carry over when the spell is cast? In this article, we’ll explore the answer to this question and provide examples to help illustrate the mechanics.

What Does Polymorph Do?

Before we dive into whether polymorph damage carries over, let’s take a look at what the spell actually does. According to the 5th edition Player’s Handbook, Polymorph has the following effects:

• The target can take on the form of a different creature for the duration.
• The target gains the physical and sensory characteristics of the creature, including its speed and abilities.
• The target retains its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores.
• The target cannot cast spells, except for spells that have a material component.

Does Damage Carry Over?

So, does the damage from the target’s original form carry over to its new form? According to the Player’s Handbook, no, polymorph damage does not carry over. If the target is polymorphed, any damage taken before the transformation is forgotten, and the target takes no damage from its new form.

Here’s a breakdown of how this works:

In the above table, the target starts in human form with 5/10 damage. They are then polymorphed into a wolf, losing the original damage. As a wolf, they take no damage. Finally, they are polymorphed into a dragon, with no damage carrying over from their wolf form.

Exceptions to the Rule

While polymorph damage generally does not carry over, there are a few exceptions to consider:

• Exhaustion: If the target is exhausted before being polymorphed, they will still be exhausted in their new form. This means that if the target is exhausted from damage taken before polymorphing, they will still have to make exhaustion checks and suffer the penalties.
• Poison: Some poisons have a duration effect, which means they will continue to affect the target even after they are polymorphed. In this case, the target will still suffer the effects of the poison in their new form.

Conclusion

In conclusion, polymorph damage generally does not carry over from the target’s original form to its new form. However, there are some exceptions to consider, such as exhaustion and poison with a duration effect. As a DM, it’s important to keep these mechanics in mind when creating scenarios and adjudicating damage. By understanding how polymorph damage works, you can create more engaging and challenging encounters for your players.