Necrotic damage is a type of damage in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition that represents decay, entropy, and the draining of life force. It withers matter and twists the soul, often leaving behind a lingering sense of despair or physical degradation.
Understanding Necrotic Damage
As a damage type, necrotic damage primarily reduces a creature's hit points, similar to other forms of damage like fire or bludgeoning. However, its thematic nature sets it apart, often associating it with the powers of undeath, dark magic, and energies that consume and corrupt.
Core Mechanics and Unique Effects
While necrotic damage, by itself, simply reduces current hit points, many abilities and spells that deal this type of damage come with additional, debilitating effects.
- Hit Point Reduction: The most common effect is the direct reduction of a creature's current hit points.
- Not Per Default HP Maximum Reduction: It's important to note that necrotic damage does not per default reduce HP maximum. This means the basic act of taking necrotic damage doesn't automatically lower your total hit point capacity.
- Secondary Effects: However, many spells and monster abilities that deal necrotic damage are designed to generate other potent effects. These often include:
- Reducing Maximum Hit Points: Specific abilities, such as a vampire's Life Drain or the Harm spell, can cause a target's maximum hit points to be reduced for a period, making them more vulnerable to subsequent attacks.
- Preventing Healing: Some necrotic effects might prevent a creature from regaining hit points or reduce the effectiveness of healing.
- Applying Conditions: Necrotic attacks can inflict conditions like exhaustion, paralysis, or even decay-related conditions that weaken the target.
- Damage Type Distinction: Necrotic damage is a distinct damage type, similar to fire or cold. It's not a condition itself, but abilities that deal it can impose conditions or other negative status effects.
For a general overview of damage types in D&D 5th Edition, you can consult resources like the D&D 5e SRD.
Common Sources of Necrotic Damage
Necrotic damage is frequently wielded by creatures associated with death, decay, and negative energy, as well as by spellcasters dabbling in dark magic.
Spells
Many spells from the schools of necromancy or those that tap into negative energy deal necrotic damage.
| Spell Name | Level | School | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chill Touch | Cantrip | Necromancy | Deals necrotic damage, prevents target from regaining HP. |
| Toll the Dead | Cantrip | Necromancy | Deals necrotic damage, more if target is already wounded. |
| Blight | 4th | Necromancy | Deals substantial necrotic damage, especially to plants. |
| Spirit Shroud | 3rd | Necromancy | Bonus action spell that adds necrotic damage to weapon attacks. |
| Harm | 6th | Necromancy | Deals massive necrotic damage, can reduce target's HP maximum. |
Monster Abilities
Undead creatures are a primary source of necrotic damage.
- Vampires: Their "Life Drain" ability typically deals necrotic damage and reduces the target's maximum hit points.
- Ghouls/Ghasts: Their touch attacks often deal necrotic damage and can cause paralysis.
- Death Knights/Liches: Powerful undead frequently employ spells and abilities that deal devastating necrotic energy.
- Shadows: Their "Strength Drain" often deals necrotic damage and reduces the target's Strength score.
Interacting with Necrotic Damage
Characters and monsters can react to necrotic damage in various ways, often tied to their inherent nature or magical defenses.
Resistances, Vulnerabilities, and Immunities
- Resistance: A creature with necrotic resistance takes half damage from necrotic sources. This is common among many types of undead, such as skeletons and zombies, reflecting their lack of vital life force to drain.
- Vulnerability: A creature with necrotic vulnerability takes double damage. This is less common but might apply to creatures particularly susceptible to decay, though it's rare to see in official monster stat blocks.
- Immunity: A creature with necrotic immunity takes no damage from necrotic sources. High-level undead like Liches or certain constructs might possess this.
Saving Throws
Many spells and abilities that deal necrotic damage, especially those with secondary effects, require a saving throw (often Constitution) to resist or reduce the damage, or to avoid the additional effects.
Understanding necrotic damage is crucial for both players and Dungeon Masters to anticipate threats and devise effective strategies against foes that wield the power of decay and soul-twisting magic.
