The recent errata for the 2024 Monster Manual made this change to the Pseudodragon stat block:
Pseudodragon (p. 249). Sting: The final sentence is now “While Poisoned, the target also has the Unconscious condition, which ends early if the target takes damage or a creature within 5 feet of it takes an action to wake it.”
The original phrasing of 'Sting' in the printed Monster Manual was:
Sting. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 12, one creature the pseudodragon can see within 5 feet. Failure: 5 (2d4) Poison damage, and the target has the Poisoned condition for 1 hour. Failure by 5 or More: The Poisoned target also has the Unconscious condition until it takes damage or a creature within 5 feet of it takes an action to shake it awake.
As of the recent errata, Sting on DnD Beyond has been amended to:
Sting. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 12, one creature the pseudodragon can see within 5 feet. Failure: 5 (2d4) Poison damage, and the target has the Poisoned condition for 1 hour. While Poisoned, the target also has the Unconscious condition, which ends early if the target takes damage or a creature within 5 feet of it takes an action to wake it.
Now I could be wrong here, but I don't think "Failure by 5 or More:" was supposed to be deleted as part of the final sentence. It's formatted more like a sub-heading - written in title case and followed by a capital 'T' on 'The.' Deleting that subheading means the pseudodragon now KOs targets every time they fail their CON save, provided they're not immune to poison damage. That's a huge power upgrade. That means Warlocks with Pact of the Chain and Investment of the Chain Master will be able to insta-KO creatures at the same hit rate as if they were casting Word of Radiance.
Given that it's a Constitution save (which a lot of things are good at) and the DC is always a fixed 12 regardless of the Warlock's level/stats, it doesn't seem like a particularly egregious issue anyway.
Given that it's a Constitution save (which a lot of things are good at) and the DC is always a fixed 12 regardless of the Warlock's level/stats, it doesn't seem like a particularly egregious issue anyway.
For the first four levels yes, but a Warlock that takes Investment of the Chain Master gets this feature:
Your Save DC. If the familiar forces a creature to make a saving throw, it uses your spell save DC.
That lifts the DC to ~15, and it will keep rising as your spell save DC does.
Poison and poisoned immunity are some of the most common immunities, so I don’t think it’s OP. I do think it’s weird that it doesn’t require an attack roll though.
Hi everyone, sorry basic question: but can the Pseudodragon during the same turn: - make 2 bite attacks and use its sting - make 1 bite attack and use its sting - make 2 bite attacks or use its sting?
My guess is the first option "make 2 bite attacks and use its sting" as if I look in other monster stat blocks, it uses the word "OR" and/or "IN ANY COMBINATION"... but I could be wrong, could someone shed some light on this? thanks in advance
Hi everyone, sorry basic question: but can the Pseudodragon during the same turn: - make 2 bite attacks and use its sting - make 1 bite attack and use its sting - make 2 bite attacks or use its sting?
My guess is the first option "make 2 bite attacks and use its sting" as if I look in other monster stat blocks, it uses the word "OR" and/or "IN ANY COMBINATION"... but I could be wrong, could someone shed some light on this? thanks in advance
It can make two Bite attacks or use Sting.
The Multiattack action option in its stat block says “makes two Bite attacks” without mentioning Sting, so Sting can’t be used as part of a Multiattack.
The recent errata for the 2024 Monster Manual made this change to the Pseudodragon stat block:
Pseudodragon (p. 249). Sting: The final sentence is now “While Poisoned, the target also has the Unconscious condition, which ends early if the target takes damage or a creature within 5 feet of it takes an action to wake it.”
The original phrasing of 'Sting' in the printed Monster Manual was:
Sting. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 12, one creature the pseudodragon can see within 5 feet. Failure: 5 (2d4) Poison damage, and the target has the Poisoned condition for 1 hour. Failure by 5 or More: The Poisoned target also has the Unconscious condition until it takes damage or a creature within 5 feet of it takes an action to shake it awake.
As of the recent errata, Sting on DnD Beyond has been amended to:
Sting. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 12, one creature the pseudodragon can see within 5 feet. Failure: 5 (2d4) Poison damage, and the target has the Poisoned condition for 1 hour. While Poisoned, the target also has the Unconscious condition, which ends early if the target takes damage or a creature within 5 feet of it takes an action to wake it.
Now I could be wrong here, but I don't think "Failure by 5 or More:" was supposed to be deleted as part of the final sentence. It's formatted more like a sub-heading - written in title case and followed by a capital 'T' on 'The.' Deleting that subheading means the pseudodragon now KOs targets every time they fail their CON save, provided they're not immune to poison damage. That's a huge power upgrade. That means Warlocks with Pact of the Chain and Investment of the Chain Master will be able to insta-KO creatures at the same hit rate as if they were casting Word of Radiance.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
ModeratorI’ve sent that to the devs for review. Thanks!
Need help with D&D Beyond? Come ask in the official D&D server on Discord: https://discord.gg/qWzGhwBjYr
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
ModeratorI've been told the updated text is correct.
Need help with D&D Beyond? Come ask in the official D&D server on Discord: https://discord.gg/qWzGhwBjYr
Given that it's a Constitution save (which a lot of things are good at) and the DC is always a fixed 12 regardless of the Warlock's level/stats, it doesn't seem like a particularly egregious issue anyway.
pronouns: he/she/they
Wow! I stand corrected then. Thank you for checking!
For the first four levels yes, but a Warlock that takes Investment of the Chain Master gets this feature:
Your Save DC. If the familiar forces a creature to make a saving throw, it uses your spell save DC.
That lifts the DC to ~15, and it will keep rising as your spell save DC does.
Poison and poisoned immunity are some of the most common immunities, so I don’t think it’s OP. I do think it’s weird that it doesn’t require an attack roll though.
Hi everyone, sorry basic question: but can the Pseudodragon during the same turn:
- make 2 bite attacks and use its sting
- make 1 bite attack and use its sting
- make 2 bite attacks or use its sting?
My guess is the first option "make 2 bite attacks and use its sting" as if I look in other monster stat blocks, it uses the word "OR" and/or "IN ANY COMBINATION"... but I could be wrong, could someone shed some light on this? thanks in advance
It can make two Bite attacks or use Sting.
The Multiattack action option in its stat block says “makes two Bite attacks” without mentioning Sting, so Sting can’t be used as part of a Multiattack.
pronouns: he/she/they