Can shadow monks see through all magical darkness, or only the darkness spell they cast?
They can only see through the darkness created by the spell Darkvision if they themselves cast it; they can't see through it if someone else cast it.
As for other sources of magical darkness, it depends on the particular darkness effect and whether it allows Darkvision (which all Shadow Monks have) to see through it or not. Some do, some don't.
Darkness. You can expend 1 Focus Point to cast the Darkness spell without spell components. You can see within the spell’s area when you cast it with this feature. While the spell persists, you can move its area of Darkness to a space within 60 feet of yourself at the start of each of your turns.
My emphasis underlined. The underlined condition makes it pretty clear that a shadow monk can only see through the magical darkness that they cast.
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Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
Shadow Monk not only just see in Darkness from spell but only when cast with Shadow Arts feature. So a multiclass Monk/Wizard casting the spell with a slot wouldn't see in it.
Would I be right to read this as only the casting shadow monk using shadow arts as well. A second shadow monk may recognise the darkness as being cast by shadow arts but would not be able to see into it without magical means
Would I be right to read this as only the casting shadow monk using shadow arts as well. A second shadow monk may recognise the darkness as being cast by shadow arts but would not be able to see into it without magical means
Yes, that's correct. Shadow Monks do not have any special ability to see through other Shadow Monks' magical darkness.
What if you cast your own Shadow Arts Darkness on top of another Darkness from another source?
That...is an interesting question. The general guidance on combining magical effects says that "the effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine" and "the most potent effect applies while their durations overlap". This unfortunately isn't super helpful in this example, since both instances of Darkness are equally powerful. Seems like an area for the DM to make a snap decision.
What if you cast your own Shadow Arts Darkness on top of another Darkness from another source?
IMO if two Darkness area of effects overlap the most recent one applies while their durations overlap. This mean a Shadow Monk could see in it until the effect is moved or ends.
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Can shadow monks see through all magical darkness, or only the darkness spell they cast?
They can only see through the darkness created by the spell Darkvision if they themselves cast it; they can't see through it if someone else cast it.
As for other sources of magical darkness, it depends on the particular darkness effect and whether it allows Darkvision (which all Shadow Monks have) to see through it or not. Some do, some don't.
pronouns: he/she/they
The text reads:
My emphasis underlined. The underlined condition makes it pretty clear that a shadow monk can only see through the magical darkness that they cast.
Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
Shadow Monk not only just see in Darkness from spell but only when cast with Shadow Arts feature. So a multiclass Monk/Wizard casting the spell with a slot wouldn't see in it.
Would I be right to read this as only the casting shadow monk using shadow arts as well. A second shadow monk may recognise the darkness as being cast by shadow arts but would not be able to see into it without magical means
Yes, that's correct. Shadow Monks do not have any special ability to see through other Shadow Monks' magical darkness.
pronouns: he/she/they
What if you cast your own Shadow Arts Darkness on top of another Darkness from another source?
That...is an interesting question. The general guidance on combining magical effects says that "the effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine" and "the most potent effect applies while their durations overlap". This unfortunately isn't super helpful in this example, since both instances of Darkness are equally powerful. Seems like an area for the DM to make a snap decision.
pronouns: he/she/they
IMO if two Darkness area of effects overlap the most recent one applies while their durations overlap. This mean a Shadow Monk could see in it until the effect is moved or ends.