I want to post this for a reminder that, by RAW, unless a rule specifically says otherwise or the DM says so, all creatures make death saving throws.
Beast master beast companions, beast master primal companions, battle smith steel defenders, all of these make death saving throws when they get to zero hit points by RAW.
Found familiars, found steeds, conjured creatures, summoned creatures, all of these specifically say in the spell description they disappear when they get to zero hit points.
Well, you know how it is. Everyone is talking about how a fireball will kill your animal buddy. But that is just not mathematically likely an actual play.
Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws.
Mighty villains and special nonplayer characters are common exceptions; the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters."
So YMMV actually...its not required nor expected for the DM to have you roll death saves for anything other than players.
Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws.
Mighty villains and special nonplayer characters are common exceptions; the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters."
So YMMV actually...its not required nor expected for the DM to have you roll death saves for anything other than players.
I disagree. Everyone rolls death saving throws as per the rules that state that specifically right before this little snippet you’ve referenced. If you are making some kind of RAW point, even that does not stand up as what is a “monster” in the game? Are humanoids monsters? Are beasts monsters? And what is a “special NPC”? A companion of any kind isn’t a NPC, it would supersede a NPC in my opinion.
The rules for damage, dropping to zero hit points, and making death saving throws are clear, and apply to all creatures. Then there is a side bar that says “most DMs” have “monsters” die right away.
Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws.
Mighty villains and special nonplayer characters are common exceptions; the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters."
So YMMV actually...its not required nor expected for the DM to have you roll death saves for anything other than players.
I disagree. Everyone rolls death saving throws as per the rules that state that specifically right before this little snippet you’ve referenced. If you are making some kind of RAW point, even that does not stand up as what is a “monster” in the game? Are humanoids monsters? Are beasts monsters? And what is a “special NPC”? A companion of any kind isn’t a NPC, it would supersede a NPC in my opinion.
The rules for damage, dropping to zero hit points, and making death saving throws are clear, and apply to all creatures. Then there is a side bar that says “most DMs” have “monsters” die right away.
The rules as they stand are there....nothing demands anything its completely a DM decision.
Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws.
Mighty villains and special nonplayer characters are common exceptions; the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters."
So YMMV actually...its not required nor expected for the DM to have you roll death saves for anything other than players.
I disagree. Everyone rolls death saving throws as per the rules that state that specifically right before this little snippet you’ve referenced. If you are making some kind of RAW point, even that does not stand up as what is a “monster” in the game? Are humanoids monsters? Are beasts monsters? And what is a “special NPC”? A companion of any kind isn’t a NPC, it would supersede a NPC in my opinion.
The rules for damage, dropping to zero hit points, and making death saving throws are clear, and apply to all creatures. Then there is a side bar that says “most DMs” have “monsters” die right away.
The rules as they stand are there....nothing demands anything its completely a DM decision.
You’re taking something that is a suggestion and trying to present it as the default by RAW.
Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws.
Mighty villains and special nonplayer characters are common exceptions; the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters."
So YMMV actually...its not required nor expected for the DM to have you roll death saves for anything other than players.
I disagree. Everyone rolls death saving throws as per the rules that state that specifically right before this little snippet you’ve referenced. If you are making some kind of RAW point, even that does not stand up as what is a “monster” in the game? Are humanoids monsters? Are beasts monsters? And what is a “special NPC”? A companion of any kind isn’t a NPC, it would supersede a NPC in my opinion.
The rules for damage, dropping to zero hit points, and making death saving throws are clear, and apply to all creatures. Then there is a side bar that says “most DMs” have “monsters” die right away.
The rules as they stand are there....nothing demands anything its completely a DM decision.
You’re taking something that is a suggestion and trying to present it as the default by RAW.
Overall its heavily suggested you do....but there is no hard set rule for non-PCs:
Thr combat rules are not just for PCs. They give us the rules for all creatures.
"Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points"
Don’t be silly. You know what I mean. We are establishing what a monster is in the context of the game.
Well the companion is a creature/monster... They are not a PC as you have to spend resources telling them what to do and generally follow your commands but are independent thinkers that you have to convince to join you. They use a literal monster statblock
They would fall under the "special npc" category and by that cutie virtue the DM may decide to let them have death saves.
Thr combat rules are not just for PCs. They give us the rules for all creatures.
"Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points"
Don’t be silly. You know what I mean. We are establishing what a monster is in the context of the game.
Well the companion is a creature/monster... They are not a PC as you have to spend resources telling them what to do and generally follow your commands but are independent thinkers that you have to convince to join you. They use a literal monster statblock
They would fall under the "special npc" category and by that cutie virtue the DM may decide to let them have death saves.
But they could just add easily say no
Ok. I'm going to bow out of this silly conversation. I'm getting frustrated by your intentionally punishing and incorrect interpretation of the words in the rules.
Thr combat rules are not just for PCs. They give us the rules for all creatures.
"Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points"
Don’t be silly. You know what I mean. We are establishing what a monster is in the context of the game.
Well the companion is a creature/monster... They are not a PC as you have to spend resources telling them what to do and generally follow your commands but are independent thinkers that you have to convince to join you. They use a literal monster statblock
They would fall under the "special npc" category and by that cutie virtue the DM may decide to let them have death saves.
But they could just add easily say no
Ok. I'm going to bow out of this silly conversation. I'm getting frustrated by your intentionally punishing and incorrect interpretation of the words in the rules.
Except there's nothing silly about it. This part "the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters." heavily implies that monsters/non-PC creatures follow different rules than the PC. As for what counts as a monster? As the Monster Manual shows us, pretty much anything.
I think Frank is correct that by RAW, not making death saves is an exception.
However Optimus is also right in that most tables don't play that. rule, and use the side bar option.
Both are legit, as long as the DM plays the same rule throughout for the bad guys. However, it is a harsh ruling to not give death saves to a Ranger companion
Thr combat rules are not just for PCs. They give us the rules for all creatures.
"Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points"
Don’t be silly. You know what I mean. We are establishing what a monster is in the context of the game.
Well the companion is a creature/monster... They are not a PC as you have to spend resources telling them what to do and generally follow your commands but are independent thinkers that you have to convince to join you. They use a literal monster statblock
They would fall under the "special npc" category and by that cutie virtue the DM may decide to let them have death saves.
But they could just add easily say no
Ok. I'm going to bow out of this silly conversation. I'm getting frustrated by your intentionally punishing and incorrect interpretation of the words in the rules.
Except there's nothing silly about it. This part "the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters." heavily implies that monsters/non-PC creatures follow different rules than the PC. As for what counts as a monster? As the Monster Manual shows us, pretty much anything.
Incorrect.
The fact that it says "Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws." more than implies that having monsters die at zero is counter to the RAW that the preceding rules states, and that is a bookkeeping choice DMs can make. So a DM is making an effort to punish a PC with a companion.
Thr combat rules are not just for PCs. They give us the rules for all creatures.
"Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points"
Don’t be silly. You know what I mean. We are establishing what a monster is in the context of the game.
Well the companion is a creature/monster... They are not a PC as you have to spend resources telling them what to do and generally follow your commands but are independent thinkers that you have to convince to join you. They use a literal monster statblock
They would fall under the "special npc" category and by that cutie virtue the DM may decide to let them have death saves.
But they could just add easily say no
Ok. I'm going to bow out of this silly conversation. I'm getting frustrated by your intentionally punishing and incorrect interpretation of the words in the rules.
Except there's nothing silly about it. This part "the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters." heavily implies that monsters/non-PC creatures follow different rules than the PC. As for what counts as a monster? As the Monster Manual shows us, pretty much anything.
Incorrect.
The fact that it says "Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws." more than implies that having monsters die at zero is counter to the RAW that the preceding rules states, and that is a bookkeeping choice DMs can make. So a DM is making an effort to punish a PC with a companion.
The fact we all read it different is pretty good evidence it's not clear cut.
Thr combat rules are not just for PCs. They give us the rules for all creatures.
"Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points"
Don’t be silly. You know what I mean. We are establishing what a monster is in the context of the game.
Well the companion is a creature/monster... They are not a PC as you have to spend resources telling them what to do and generally follow your commands but are independent thinkers that you have to convince to join you. They use a literal monster statblock
They would fall under the "special npc" category and by that cutie virtue the DM may decide to let them have death saves.
But they could just add easily say no
Ok. I'm going to bow out of this silly conversation. I'm getting frustrated by your intentionally punishing and incorrect interpretation of the words in the rules.
Except there's nothing silly about it. This part "the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters." heavily implies that monsters/non-PC creatures follow different rules than the PC. As for what counts as a monster? As the Monster Manual shows us, pretty much anything.
Incorrect.
I would agree with you but then we'd both be wrong.
The fact that it says "Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws." more than implies that having monsters die at zero is counter to the RAW that the preceding rules states, and that is a bookkeeping choice DMs can make. So a DM is making an effort to punish a PC with a companion.
It's not punishing the PC. You might interpret it that way but that's just that, your interpretation of the rules.
Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws.
Mighty villains and special nonplayer characters are common exceptions; the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters."
So YMMV actually...its not required nor expected for the DM to have you roll death saves for anything other than players.
This is it. Both the Death Saving Throw and Monster & Death are written in the rulebook. A DM can do either methods just fine. Even in Organized Play, most DMs have monsters die at 0 HP.
For beast companion and other special NPC, it's up to DM to follow the same rules as player characters or not.
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I want to post this for a reminder that, by RAW, unless a rule specifically says otherwise or the DM says so, all creatures make death saving throws.
Beast master beast companions, beast master primal companions, battle smith steel defenders, all of these make death saving throws when they get to zero hit points by RAW.
Found familiars, found steeds, conjured creatures, summoned creatures, all of these specifically say in the spell description they disappear when they get to zero hit points.
Thanks for the reminder
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Well, you know how it is. Everyone is talking about how a fireball will kill your animal buddy. But that is just not mathematically likely an actual play.
"Monsters and Death
Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws.
Mighty villains and special nonplayer characters are common exceptions; the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters."
So YMMV actually...its not required nor expected for the DM to have you roll death saves for anything other than players.
I disagree. Everyone rolls death saving throws as per the rules that state that specifically right before this little snippet you’ve referenced. If you are making some kind of RAW point, even that does not stand up as what is a “monster” in the game? Are humanoids monsters? Are beasts monsters? And what is a “special NPC”? A companion of any kind isn’t a NPC, it would supersede a NPC in my opinion.
The rules for damage, dropping to zero hit points, and making death saving throws are clear, and apply to all creatures. Then there is a side bar that says “most DMs” have “monsters” die right away.
The rules as they stand are there....nothing demands anything its completely a DM decision.
You’re taking something that is a suggestion and trying to present it as the default by RAW.
Overall its heavily suggested you do....but there is no hard set rule for non-PCs:
dnd 5e - Does the ranger's companion get to make death saving throws? - Role-playing Games Stack Exchange
Its for sure not clear cut that is RAW to include as the beast is NOT a PC but is in fact a monster as you use the statblock from one.
Overall I would allow it myself but its not a given by any stretch.
Where is the term “monster” used in the rules?
Thr combat rules are not just for PCs. They give us the rules for all creatures.
"Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points"
Don’t be silly. You know what I mean. We are establishing what a monster is in the context of the game.
Well the companion is a creature/monster... They are not a PC as you have to spend resources telling them what to do and generally follow your commands but are independent thinkers that you have to convince to join you. They use a literal monster statblock
They would fall under the "special npc" category and by that cutie virtue the DM may decide to let them have death saves.
But they could just add easily say no
Ok. I'm going to bow out of this silly conversation. I'm getting frustrated by your intentionally punishing and incorrect interpretation of the words in the rules.
Except there's nothing silly about it. This part "the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters." heavily implies that monsters/non-PC creatures follow different rules than the PC. As for what counts as a monster? As the Monster Manual shows us, pretty much anything.
I think Frank is correct that by RAW, not making death saves is an exception.
However Optimus is also right in that most tables don't play that. rule, and use the side bar option.
Both are legit, as long as the DM plays the same rule throughout for the bad guys. However, it is a harsh ruling to not give death saves to a Ranger companion
Incorrect.
The fact that it says "Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws." more than implies that having monsters die at zero is counter to the RAW that the preceding rules states, and that is a bookkeeping choice DMs can make. So a DM is making an effort to punish a PC with a companion.
The fact we all read it different is pretty good evidence it's not clear cut.
Another point to table and send to sage advice requesting a definitive answer from the folks that actually wrote the rules.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
I would agree with you but then we'd both be wrong.
It's not punishing the PC. You might interpret it that way but that's just that, your interpretation of the rules.
This is it. Both the Death Saving Throw and Monster & Death are written in the rulebook. A DM can do either methods just fine. Even in Organized Play, most DMs have monsters die at 0 HP.
For beast companion and other special NPC, it's up to DM to follow the same rules as player characters or not.