D&D 5E Primeval Awareness vs. Nondetection or Mind Blank

[Mort]

Primeval Awareness detects the presence of aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.

Nondetection and Mind Blank block divination magic.

RAW seems pretty obvious - Primeval Awareness is not listed as divination and is never even described as such - so should work even if say a lich (for example) has Mind Blank or Nondetection up.

I can't see any reason that Primeval awareness fails to detect the lich.

Would you rule it that way?

 

[billd91]

Yeah, I don't see any reason to block primeval awareness either. An important way to look at it isn't just that it isn't listed as divination magic but because it's also indirect. You could argue the ranger using primeval awareness is focusing their awareness on the surrounding region and reading it/listening to what it has to say rather than directly seeking out the creatures.

 

[Dragonsbane]

I would rule it is in fact divination magic. Just because its not a spell does not mean it isn't covered by the abjurations. Especially such a high level spell as Mind Blank. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Given that Primeval Awareness "doesn't reveal the creatures' location or number" I'd rule that it works even on a creature that has Mind Blank or Nondetection going. Now the Ranger has identified that there is at least one of a certain type of creature within a mile (or within 6 miles) but doesn't know exactly where. Not that big a deal.

PHB p 89
Beginning at 3rd level, you can use your action and expend one ranger spell slot to focus your awareness on the region around you. For 1 minute per level of the spell slot you expend, you can sense whether the following types of creatures are present within 1 mile of you (or within up to 6 miles if you are in your favored terrain): aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead. This feature doesn't reveal the creatures' location or number.

 

[Zubatcarteira]

They mention divination magic and spells, and Primeval Awareness is neither. It's a pretty bad ability already, no reason to nerf it even further.

 

[Stalker0]

I would go with nondetection doesn't block it, but mind blank does.

To me the spirit of mind blank....you just can't find me, that is what I am getting with my 8th level spell, no caveats, just pure unstoppable detection block.

 

[Mort]

I would go with nondetection doesn't block it, but mind blank does.

To me the spirit of mind blank....you just can't find me, that is what I am getting with my 8th level spell, no caveats, just pure unstoppable detection block.

This is the conflict -

Mind blank is an 8th level spell and in its niche deserves to be unchallenged.

But Primeval awareness is a pretty niche ability that also deserves to work as advertised - and provides fairly limited information. And as mentioned, it's indirect - though there is no guidance/direction how it works. Could be the land telling the ranger directly (or not). I mean if the ranger asks an animal or plant if the lich has walked by it recently (and the lich had) - mind blank wouldn't block that right? Though I guess the DM might have some fun having the plant/animal say "lich what's a lich? is it lichen? is that edible?"

So I can see the disagreements, but still leaning toward - yes it would detect the lich.