D&D 5E Hep: Featherfall Reaction

[plisnithus8]

Could an Aarakocra wizard use featherfall on herself as a reaction to being hit, interrupting the damage that that might knock her unconscious and saving her from falling damage?

 

[Croesus]

Could an Aarakocra wizard use featherfall on herself as a reaction to being hit, interrupting the damage that that might knock her unconscious and saving her from falling damage?

Not entirely sure what you are asking here. Feather fall only affects falling speed. Feather fall has no effect on damage taken from attacks or spells. So...

1) Aarakocra is hit by an attack that would cause him to stop flying, but is still conscious. The aarakocra could use feather fall to eliminate the falling damage (assuming he's not so high that the spell wears off before he hits the ground).

2) Aarakocra is hit by an attack or spell that knocks him unconscious. Since he's unconscious, he cannot take reactions, so he plummets. The damage is rolled - if it's twice the aarakocra's hit point maximum, the aarakocra is dead. If it's less than his hit point maximum, he takes a failed death save from the damage.

Typically, attacks and damage occur simultaneously. So once the target has been hit, he takes the damage, then has a reaction. There are a few specific abilities, e.g., rogue's Uncanny Dodge, that can occur between hit and damage, but feather fall isn't one of those.

 

[plisnithus8]

I guess what I'm asking is if Feather Fall - since it's a reaction - interrupts the attack so that it can be cast before damage that might cause unconsciousness, thus saving further damage from the fall.

I think the last post was edited and now answers my question above, thanks.

 

[Kalshane]

I guess what I'm asking is if Feather Fall - since it's a reaction - interrupts the attack so that it can be cast before damage that might cause unconsciousness, thus saving further damage from the fall.

I think the last post was edited and now answers my question above, thanks.

To add on, the Feather Fall spell specifies that it can be used in reaction to you or another creature within 60' falling. Since the fall doesn't occur until after the character loses consciousness, the trigger for the spell doesn't occur until after the character is incapable of casting the spell.

Losing consciousness while flying generally has very bad results for the person involved.