D&D General Multiple Sources of Resistance?

[GreatestHonor]

What happens when a creature is resistant to a damage source more than once. For example, if a creature had resistance to lightning damage AND resistance to spells, would lightning bolt only deal 1/4 the normal damage or would only one source of resistacne be considered?

To be clear, I am not wondering about resistance and “take half damage”, only when specifically two different sources of damage resistance apply to the same situation. I’m hoping for an official ruling.

 

[occam]

What happens when a creature is resistant to a damage source more than once. For example, if a creature had resistance to lightning damage AND resistance to spells, would lightning bolt only deal 1/4 the normal damage or would only one source of resistacne be considered?

To be clear, I am not wondering about resistance and “take half damage”, only when specifically two different sources of damage resistance apply to a situation. I’m hoping for an official ruling.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no creature that has Resistance (i.e. that takes half damage) from spells or magic in general, so this wouldn't come up. There are creatures that gain Advantage on saving throws against spells and magic, but that's a different thing.

 

[AlViking]

In 5e, you cut in half and half again. In 5.24 you only get to halve once.

 

[occam]

In 5e, you cut in half and half again. In 5.24 you only get to halve once.

That's incorrect. Resistance has never stacked in 5e. You have Resistance to an instance of damage or you don't.

 

[AlViking]

That's incorrect. Resistance has never stacked in 5e. You have Resistance to an instance of damage or you don't.

We may have always run it wrong, it came up last week in a game as a new rule.

 

[GreatestHonor]

To the best of my knowledge, there is no creature that has Resistance (i.e. that takes half damage) from spells or magic in general, so this wouldn't come up. There are creatures that gain Advantage on saving throws against spells and magic, but that's a different thing.

The archmage (MM pg. 342) has such a resistance. It’s the only official example i could think of, but also if a player uses an item, spell, feat, etc. such a situation could come up

 

[jasper]

Resistance and Vulnerability​

Some creatures and objects have Resistance or Vulnerability to certain damage types. If you have Resistance to a damage type, damage of that type is halved against you (round down). If you have Vulnerability to a damage type, damage of that type is doubled against you. For example, if you have Resistance to Cold damage, such damage is halved against you, and if you have Vulnerability to Fire damage, such damage is doubled against you.

No Stacking​

Multiple instances of Resistance or Vulnerability that affect the same damage type count as only one instance. For example, if you have Resistance to Necrotic damage as well as Resistance to all damage, Necrotic damage is reduced by half against you.

 

[jasper]

Order of Application​

Modifiers to damage are applied in the following order: adjustments such as bonuses, penalties, or multipliers are applied first; Resistance is applied second; and Vulnerability is applied third.

For example, a creature has Resistance to all damage and Vulnerability to Fire damage, and it’s within a magical aura that reduces all damage by 5. If it takes 28 Fire damage, the damage is first reduced by 5 (to 23), then halved for the creature’s Resistance (and rounded down to 11), then doubled for its Vulnerability (to 22).

 

[GMMichael]

Order of Application​

Modifiers to damage are applied in the following order: adjustments such as bonuses, penalties, or multipliers are applied first; Resistance is applied second; and Vulnerability is applied third.

Citation, please.

In 5e, you cut in half and half again. In 5.24 you only get to halve once.

This can't be true. WotC said both rule sets are compatible.

 

[gnarlygninja]

I can't speak for the 2024 PHB, but the 2014 says on page 197 that it would only count as one instance. "For example, if a creature has resistance to fire damage as well as resistance to all nonmagical damage, the damage of a nonmagical fire is reduced by half against the creature, not reduced by three quarters."