Shadows are known for draining strength score on hit. The legacy description:
Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack:+4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) necrotic damage, and the target's Strength score is reduced by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.
The 2024 description:
Draining Swipe. Melee Attack Roll:+4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) Necrotic damage, and the target’s Strength score decreases by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces that score to 0. If a Humanoid is slain by this attack, a Shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.
I can't find anything in the monster description stating the duration of the strength drain or how it would be removed. Did anyone else find a rule somewhere else in the monster manual that would explain the duration? At the moment, I'm assuming its a typo and that they forgot to include that last bit from the legacy entry. I encountered a similar omission on "smoke bombs" in the 2024 DMG involving its area when compared to the 2014 DMG.
jeez. Certainly looks like they did forget to put a duration on that. I'm gonna look around to see if there's some kind of blanket rule you use if no duration is given.
Shadows are known for draining strength score on hit. The legacy description:
Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) necrotic damage, and the target's Strength score is reduced by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.
The 2024 description:
Draining Swipe. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) Necrotic damage, and the target’s Strength score decreases by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces that score to 0. If a Humanoid is slain by this attack, a Shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.
I can't find anything in the monster description stating the duration of the strength drain or how it would be removed. Did anyone else find a rule somewhere else in the monster manual that would explain the duration? At the moment, I'm assuming its a typo and that they forgot to include that last bit from the legacy entry. I encountered a similar omission on "smoke bombs" in the 2024 DMG involving its area when compared to the 2014 DMG.
It's not a typo. It's an intentional removal of redundant language. All ability score reduction effects are removed when you finish a long rest.
Shadows are known for draining strength score on hit. The legacy description:
Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) necrotic damage, and the target's Strength score is reduced by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.
The 2024 description:
Draining Swipe. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) Necrotic damage, and the target’s Strength score decreases by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces that score to 0. If a Humanoid is slain by this attack, a Shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.
I can't find anything in the monster description stating the duration of the strength drain or how it would be removed. Did anyone else find a rule somewhere else in the monster manual that would explain the duration? At the moment, I'm assuming its a typo and that they forgot to include that last bit from the legacy entry. I encountered a similar omission on "smoke bombs" in the 2024 DMG involving its area when compared to the 2014 DMG.
It's not a typo. It's an intentional removal of redundant language. All ability score reduction effects are removed when you finish a long rest.
Shadows are known for draining strength score on hit. The legacy description:
Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) necrotic damage, and the target's Strength score is reduced by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.
The 2024 description:
Draining Swipe. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) Necrotic damage, and the target’s Strength score decreases by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces that score to 0. If a Humanoid is slain by this attack, a Shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.
I can't find anything in the monster description stating the duration of the strength drain or how it would be removed. Did anyone else find a rule somewhere else in the monster manual that would explain the duration? At the moment, I'm assuming its a typo and that they forgot to include that last bit from the legacy entry. I encountered a similar omission on "smoke bombs" in the 2024 DMG involving its area when compared to the 2014 DMG.
It's not a typo. It's an intentional removal of redundant language. All ability score reduction effects are removed when you finish a long rest.
Shadows are known for draining strength score on hit. The legacy description:
Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) necrotic damage, and the target's Strength score is reduced by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.
The 2024 description:
Draining Swipe. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) Necrotic damage, and the target’s Strength score decreases by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces that score to 0. If a Humanoid is slain by this attack, a Shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.
I can't find anything in the monster description stating the duration of the strength drain or how it would be removed. Did anyone else find a rule somewhere else in the monster manual that would explain the duration? At the moment, I'm assuming its a typo and that they forgot to include that last bit from the legacy entry. I encountered a similar omission on "smoke bombs" in the 2024 DMG involving its area when compared to the 2014 DMG.
jeez. Certainly looks like they did forget to put a duration on that. I'm gonna look around to see if there's some kind of blanket rule you use if no duration is given.
It's not a typo. It's an intentional removal of redundant language. All ability score reduction effects are removed when you finish a long rest.
This is found in the Player's Handbook rules on long rests, here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/phb-2024/rules-glossary#LongRest
pronouns: he/she/they
Ah, thank you for the clarification! I didn't notice that.
No problem!
pronouns: he/she/they
Also, a Greater Restoration would do the trick, per the description in the spell.