Deflect Attacks in Response to Multiple Damage Type Attacks

I think I am missing something.

If the attack does 10pts of bludgeoning + 6 necrotic, and the monk gets to deflect 12pts,

Once it is determined that the monk has 16 points of damage but 12 are being deflected.  Why does the allocation of deflecting (removal) actually matter?   I understand in the beginning why it matters due to resistance/immunity/et.al.  But once that is determined, and everything that can be removed/reduced/added has occurred.  Does it matter if the remaining 4 points of damage are necrotic or bludgeoning?  

Quote from Character77006 >>

I think I am missing something.

If the attack does 10pts of bludgeoning + 6 necrotic, and the monk gets to deflect 12pts,

Once it is determined that the monk has 16 points of damage but 12 are being deflected.  Why does the allocation of deflecting (removal) actually matter?   I understand in the beginning why it matters due to resistance/immunity/et.al.  But once that is determined, and everything that can be removed/reduced/added has occurred.  Does it matter if the remaining 4 points of damage are necrotic or bludgeoning? 

 Yes it matters. As has been explained multiple times in the thread. If the monk for some reason has necrotic resistance, and the remaining 4 damage is necrotic, then they will cut the 4 in half to 2. But if the remaining 4 is bludgeoning, they will take all 4. This is because you calculate reduction before applying resistances. 

Edit:ninja’d

Thank you , I assumed that all of the reductions already occurred and what was left is what you took at full value.

So what is the order of precedence for a monk to reduce damage?  where would I find that?   

Precedence If they are a Goliath & have stone giant endurance.

Is it deflect then stone giant endurance?  (this is because it is a reaction?   if it is in this order, then one cannot trigger the deflect use of a ki point if combined you take 0?)

or 

stone giant endurance then deflect?

So did we come to any kind of conclusion on the point of which type of damage gets deflected first?  The BPS or the energy damage?

If a Monk is hit with a weapon that deals Piercing damage and Fire damage, when he uses his Deflect Attacks ability, which damage is reduced first?

Does the DM choose?

Does the Player choose?

Do you do it in reverse order from how it's listed in the attack?  Ex:  If the attack says deals 1d6 Piercing damage and 1d6 Fire damage, do you reduce the Fire damage first and then the Piercing?

To add yet another puzzle that I don't think has been answered yet...If you reduce all of the Piercing and all of the Fire damage, when you redirect the damage back how do you determine how much damage is of what type.  Since when you redirect it is has the same damage type as the attack.

Quote from 40kmisfit >>

So did we come to any kind of conclusion on the point of which type of damage gets deflected first?  The BPS or the energy damage?

If a Monk is hit with a weapon that deals Piercing damage and Fire damage, when he uses his Deflect Attacks ability, which damage is reduced first?

Does the DM choose?

Does the Player choose?

Do you do it in reverse order from how it's listed in the attack?  Ex:  If the attack says deals 1d6 Piercing damage and 1d6 Fire damage, do you reduce the Fire damage first and then the Piercing?

 

To add yet another puzzle that I don't think has been answered yet...If you reduce all of the Piercing and all of the Fire damage, when you redirect the damage back how do you determine how much damage is of what type.  Since when you redirect it is has the same damage type as the attack.

Unfortunately, the Rules As Written do not present any definitive answer to any of these questions. It's up to individual DMs to decide.

Quote from 40kmisfit >>

So did we come to any kind of conclusion on the point of which type of damage gets deflected first?  The BPS or the energy damage?

If a Monk is hit with a weapon that deals Piercing damage and Fire damage, when he uses his Deflect Attacks ability, which damage is reduced first?

Does the DM choose?

Does the Player choose?

Do you do it in reverse order from how it's listed in the attack?  Ex:  If the attack says deals 1d6 Piercing damage and 1d6 Fire damage, do you reduce the Fire damage first and then the Piercing?

 

To add yet another puzzle that I don't think has been answered yet...If you reduce all of the Piercing and all of the Fire damage, when you redirect the damage back how do you determine how much damage is of what type.  Since when you redirect it is has the same damage type as the attack.

 I personally argued when the 2024 PHB came out that the ability only deflects BPS, and the ability to deflect the other types weren't until Level 13. But it was a losing argument because they referred to the clause "it's damage includes BPS". Presuming that the word, "includes", means other damage in addition to. I don't know if all DM's prescribe to that, or if they come here to find out what the answer is.  The description also doesn't mention if it is multiple damage types, what damage is reduced first in either description. Presumably things like Conditions, immunities/resistances/vulnerabilities are something the DM has to figure out.

Perhaps the smart thing is to make sure the Monk never has to face an enemy that uses duel damage type attacks?

Quote from MPA >>

Quote from 40kmisfit >>

So did we come to any kind of conclusion on the point of which type of damage gets deflected first?  The BPS or the energy damage?

If a Monk is hit with a weapon that deals Piercing damage and Fire damage, when he uses his Deflect Attacks ability, which damage is reduced first?

Does the DM choose?

Does the Player choose?

Do you do it in reverse order from how it's listed in the attack?  Ex:  If the attack says deals 1d6 Piercing damage and 1d6 Fire damage, do you reduce the Fire damage first and then the Piercing?

 

To add yet another puzzle that I don't think has been answered yet...If you reduce all of the Piercing and all of the Fire damage, when you redirect the damage back how do you determine how much damage is of what type.  Since when you redirect it is has the same damage type as the attack.

 I personally argued when the 2024 PHB came out that the ability only deflects BPS, and the ability to deflect the other types weren't until Level 13. But it was a losing argument because they referred to the clause "it's damage includes BPS". Presuming that the word, "includes", means other damage in addition to. I don't know if all DM's prescribe to that, or if they come here to find out what the answer is.  The description also doesn't mention if it is multiple damage types, what damage is reduced first in either description. Presumably things like Conditions, immunities/resistances/vulnerabilities are something the DM has to figure out.

Perhaps the smart thing is to make sure the Monk never has to face an enemy that uses duel damage type attacks?

 You would have to either modify a lot of monsters stat blocks or outright ban Monks from some adventure modules to make sure that they never face mixed damages. That's a pretty drastic fix for a minor problem that can be solved with a simple DM ruling. Just have your DM/table talk about it and make a choice on how to handle it. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that.

Quote from Sequilonis >>

Quote from MPA >>

Quote from 40kmisfit >>

So did we come to any kind of conclusion on the point of which type of damage gets deflected first?  The BPS or the energy damage?

If a Monk is hit with a weapon that deals Piercing damage and Fire damage, when he uses his Deflect Attacks ability, which damage is reduced first?

Does the DM choose?

Does the Player choose?

Do you do it in reverse order from how it's listed in the attack?  Ex:  If the attack says deals 1d6 Piercing damage and 1d6 Fire damage, do you reduce the Fire damage first and then the Piercing?

 

To add yet another puzzle that I don't think has been answered yet...If you reduce all of the Piercing and all of the Fire damage, when you redirect the damage back how do you determine how much damage is of what type.  Since when you redirect it is has the same damage type as the attack.

 I personally argued when the 2024 PHB came out that the ability only deflects BPS, and the ability to deflect the other types weren't until Level 13. But it was a losing argument because they referred to the clause "it's damage includes BPS". Presuming that the word, "includes", means other damage in addition to. I don't know if all DM's prescribe to that, or if they come here to find out what the answer is.  The description also doesn't mention if it is multiple damage types, what damage is reduced first in either description. Presumably things like Conditions, immunities/resistances/vulnerabilities are something the DM has to figure out.

Perhaps the smart thing is to make sure the Monk never has to face an enemy that uses duel damage type attacks?

 You would have to either modify a lot of monsters stat blocks or outright ban Monks from some adventure modules to make sure that they never face mixed damages. That's a pretty drastic fix for a minor problem that can be solved with a simple DM ruling. Just have your DM/table talk about it and make a choice on how to handle it. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that.

 If everything only took a DM ruling, then there would be no need for this or any thread.  That would be the answer for everything. 

Quote from MPA >>

Quote from Sequilonis >>

Quote from MPA >>

Quote from 40kmisfit >>

So did we come to any kind of conclusion on the point of which type of damage gets deflected first?  The BPS or the energy damage?

If a Monk is hit with a weapon that deals Piercing damage and Fire damage, when he uses his Deflect Attacks ability, which damage is reduced first?

Does the DM choose?

Does the Player choose?

Do you do it in reverse order from how it's listed in the attack?  Ex:  If the attack says deals 1d6 Piercing damage and 1d6 Fire damage, do you reduce the Fire damage first and then the Piercing?

 

To add yet another puzzle that I don't think has been answered yet...If you reduce all of the Piercing and all of the Fire damage, when you redirect the damage back how do you determine how much damage is of what type.  Since when you redirect it is has the same damage type as the attack.

 I personally argued when the 2024 PHB came out that the ability only deflects BPS, and the ability to deflect the other types weren't until Level 13. But it was a losing argument because they referred to the clause "it's damage includes BPS". Presuming that the word, "includes", means other damage in addition to. I don't know if all DM's prescribe to that, or if they come here to find out what the answer is.  The description also doesn't mention if it is multiple damage types, what damage is reduced first in either description. Presumably things like Conditions, immunities/resistances/vulnerabilities are something the DM has to figure out.

Perhaps the smart thing is to make sure the Monk never has to face an enemy that uses duel damage type attacks?

 You would have to either modify a lot of monsters stat blocks or outright ban Monks from some adventure modules to make sure that they never face mixed damages. That's a pretty drastic fix for a minor problem that can be solved with a simple DM ruling. Just have your DM/table talk about it and make a choice on how to handle it. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that.

 If everything only took a DM ruling, then there would be no need for this or any thread.  That would be the answer for everything. 

 But. That is the answer for everything 🤷‍♂️ And it has been, implicitly, since the game’s inception. And explicitly since 5e’s stated design philosophy of “rulings, not rules.”

Quote from Xalthu >>

Quote from MPA >>

Quote from Sequilonis >>

Quote from MPA >>

Quote from 40kmisfit >>

So did we come to any kind of conclusion on the point of which type of damage gets deflected first?  The BPS or the energy damage?

If a Monk is hit with a weapon that deals Piercing damage and Fire damage, when he uses his Deflect Attacks ability, which damage is reduced first?

Does the DM choose?

Does the Player choose?

Do you do it in reverse order from how it's listed in the attack?  Ex:  If the attack says deals 1d6 Piercing damage and 1d6 Fire damage, do you reduce the Fire damage first and then the Piercing?

 

To add yet another puzzle that I don't think has been answered yet...If you reduce all of the Piercing and all of the Fire damage, when you redirect the damage back how do you determine how much damage is of what type.  Since when you redirect it is has the same damage type as the attack.

 I personally argued when the 2024 PHB came out that the ability only deflects BPS, and the ability to deflect the other types weren't until Level 13. But it was a losing argument because they referred to the clause "it's damage includes BPS". Presuming that the word, "includes", means other damage in addition to. I don't know if all DM's prescribe to that, or if they come here to find out what the answer is.  The description also doesn't mention if it is multiple damage types, what damage is reduced first in either description. Presumably things like Conditions, immunities/resistances/vulnerabilities are something the DM has to figure out.

Perhaps the smart thing is to make sure the Monk never has to face an enemy that uses duel damage type attacks?

 You would have to either modify a lot of monsters stat blocks or outright ban Monks from some adventure modules to make sure that they never face mixed damages. That's a pretty drastic fix for a minor problem that can be solved with a simple DM ruling. Just have your DM/table talk about it and make a choice on how to handle it. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that.

 If everything only took a DM ruling, then there would be no need for this or any thread.  That would be the answer for everything. 

 But. That is the answer for everything 🤷‍♂️ And it has been, implicitly, since the game’s inception. And explicitly since 5e’s stated design philosophy of “rulings, not rules.”

 There are rules for a reason. I invite you to read WoTC's formal response to the question:

Why even have Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling?

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/sae/sage-advice-compendium#TheRoleOfRules

For sanity, I hope it's safe to say that this secondary question of which damage is reduced first is much less impactful than the original question of whether it applies to all damage types in an attack, yes? Like mixed damage happens itself only happens some of the time, and from that only some of the time would the damage amount exceed Deflect Attacks (which can get quite potent quickly), and of course even then you'd have to actually have the requisite resistance(s). And out of that subset, the remaining damage to be reduced or not may not be that large? So this is somewhat low stakes at this point, compared to the OP, right?

Quote from DrakojaPax >>

For sanity, I hope it's safe to say that this secondary question of which damage is reduced first is much less impactful than the original question of whether it applies to all damage types in an attack, yes? Like mixed damage happens itself only happens some of the time, and from that only some of the time would the damage amount exceed Deflect Attacks (which can get quite potent quickly), and of course even then you'd have to actually have the requisite resistance(s). And out of that subset, the remaining damage to be reduced or not may not be that large? So this is somewhat low stakes at this point, compared to the OP, right?

It is safe to say situations where it matters at all which damage type gets reduced first are pretty rare, even accounting for the fact that multi-type attacks are already pretty rare. This is likely why the designers did not bother to define how it should work explicitly.