Critical hit when doing ability damage.

[RigaMortus]

If you are attacked by a creature that does ability damage (let's say a shade) and it makes a successful crit on you, do you take double damage from the crit?

If the answer is YES (which I think it is) I really need an official rule from the Core Books that says ability damage (or drain) is susceptible to critical hits.

And while we are on the subject, what about a rule for level drain being susceptible to critical hits?

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

I think as well that the answer is "yes". Can't give you a quote at work, tho.

IIRC, in the description of a monster with the energy drain ability, there was a mention that went something like this: "drains 1 level (2 on a critical hit)..."

Again, IIRC, any attack that requires a "to hit" roll is subject to inflicting double damage on a critical hit...

maitre D

 

[dcollins]

Yes to both, according to MM p. 8.

"If an attack that causes permanent ability drain scores a critical hit, it drains twice the listed amount... If an attack that causes ability damage scores a critical hit, it deals twice the listed amount... If an attack that includes an energy drain scores a critical hit, it drains twice the given amount..."

 

[Madfox]

In one of the Sage Advices though the Sage slightly downgrades this. When the attack includes normal damage, a critical will only double the normal damage and not the draining damage. If on the other hand the damage only deals draining damage then the draining damage will be doubled on critical. Personally I follow that advice and it works quite well.

 

[Vysirez]

So could a caster get improved crit with ranged touch spells? So you can crit on a 19-20 with your enervation? I doubt it but it's ammusing.

 

[Madfox]

I would say that a caster can take improved critical with it, just as they can take weapon focus on it or that point blank shot helps. Of course, a pure wizard will have some difficulties gaining the +8 BAB that is required for the feat.

 

[AuraSeer]

That gives me an idea for a new magic item: the Rod of Focusing. While held in the hand, it doubles the threat range of all ray spells cast by the user. (Spells from magic items, including scrolls and wands, are not modified.) Building one requires Craft Rod, and Improved Critical. I'd peg the market price at around 25k, since it's more widely useful than a keen weapon (18k).

Maybe I'll write up a new item creation feat too. Call it "Craft Focused Wand", which has a prereq of Improved Critical, and lets you build wands that shoot rays with increased threat range.

I can't wait to spring this stuff on some unsuspecting players. "His disintegrate beam hits me WHERE??"