SAC is the opinion of an individual, Disintegrate plainly states in it’s description:
“A creature targeted by this spell must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 10d6 + 40 force damage. The target is disintegrated if this damage leaves it with 0 hit points.
A disintegrated creature and everything it is wearing and carrying, except magic items, are reduced to a pile of fine gray dust. The creature can be restored to life only by means of a true resurrection or a wish spell.”
so as soon as creature hits 0hp, ashes to ashes dust to dust, and how fast is that, instantaneously.
if the two spells were swapped in slot level, sure it fit better, but disintegrate has been a 6th level spell since the 1e days, and has been just as OP then as it is currently, so 50 years says otherwise.
Hell, I dare someone to run the math and give me a solid percentage of exactly the chance a person has to get a Tarrasque polymorphed given the creatures stats.
Then look close to how polymorph changes the stats of the former creature to that of the new form, and no new form doesn’t get to keep the abilities of the former form, and it’s pretty easy to see that new form is f’ed in a-hole by disintegrate.
SAC is more than the opinion of an individual they are official rulings. If Jeremy Crawford Tweets something it it is just his opinion, if it makes the SAC it is an offical ruling.
"Official rulings on how to interpret rules are made here in the Sage Advice Compendium. The public statements of the D&D team, or anyone else at Wizards of the Coast, are not official rulings; they are advice."
There is certainly ambiguity with how polymorph combines with disintegrate. An attack on a polymorphed creature that reduces it to 0 HP results in it returning to its normal form but it is not clear whether disintegrate in the example "leaves" a cow with 0 hit points of a terrasque with lots of hit points. The SAC is an official ruling to clarify that the later happens and the terrasque returns.
SAC is nothing more than a consolidation of tweets from an individual, and SAC has about as much worth as a pile of steaming dung.
There is a difference between outright killed, and Thanos snapped, that being the rule that states when a creature takes damage equal to or greater than twice it’s hp max, the creature is outright dead.
Disintegrate outright kills a creature as soon as it’s hp hit 0 by turning it to dust, so no relentless endurance does not even get a chance to be used.
Massive damage can kill you instantly. When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
For example, a cleric with a maximum of 12 hit points currently has 6 hit points. If she takes 18 damage from an attack, she is reduced to 0 hit points, but 12 damage remains. Because the remaining damage equals her hit point maximum, the cleric dies.
SAC is nothing more than a consolidation of tweets from an individual, and SAC has about as much worth as a pile of steaming dung.
There is a difference between outright killed, and Thanos snapped, that being the rule that states when a creature takes damage equal to or greater than twice it’s hp max, the creature is outright dead.
Disintegrate outright kills a creature as soon as it’s hp hit 0 by turning it to dust, so no relentless endurance does not even get a chance to be used.
Massive damage can kill you instantly. When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
For example, a cleric with a maximum of 12 hit points currently has 6 hit points. If she takes 18 damage from an attack, she is reduced to 0 hit points, but 12 damage remains. Because the remaining damage equals her hit point maximum, the cleric dies.
Not every quote by JC has made SAC and WOTC has decided the SAC is official rulings. There are some wacky things in it for example firebolt can not be twinned as it is capable of can targetting an object but then there are some wacky rules in the PHB (e.g. Lucky turning disadvantage into superadvantage) of course the DM can choose to ignore these rules but both the SAC and PHB are official rules.
The instant death rules are interesting and I think it strengthens my case. If disintegarting a terasque polymorphed into a badger results in disintegration why waste a 6th level spell as anything that deals at least 6 points of damage will instakill it anyway. It would also mean that if the enemy polymorphs party member into a frog the party will need to be very careful trying to get the party member back up by damaging them as they need to deliver exactly one damage.
SAC is nothing more than a consolidation of tweets from an individual, and SAC has about as much worth as a pile of steaming dung.
There is a difference between outright killed, and Thanos snapped, that being the rule that states when a creature takes damage equal to or greater than twice it’s hp max, the creature is outright dead.
Disintegrate outright kills a creature as soon as it’s hp hit 0 by turning it to dust, so no relentless endurance does not even get a chance to be used.
Massive damage can kill you instantly. When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
For example, a cleric with a maximum of 12 hit points currently has 6 hit points. If she takes 18 damage from an attack, she is reduced to 0 hit points, but 12 damage remains. Because the remaining damage equals her hit point maximum, the cleric dies.
Not every quote by JC has made SAC and WOTC has decided the SAC is official rulings. There are some wacky things in it for example firebolt can not be twinned as it is capable of can targetting an object but then there are some wacky rules in the PHB (e.g. Lucky turning disadvantage into superadvantage) of course the DM can choose to ignore these rules but both the SAC and PHB are official rules.
The instant death rules are interesting and I think it strengthens my case. If disintegarting a terasque polymorphed into a badger results in disintegration why waste a 6th level spell as anything that deals at least 6 points of damage will instakill it anyway. It would also mean that if the enemy polymorphs party member into a frog the party will need to be very careful trying to get the party member back up by damaging them as they need to deliver exactly one damage.
SAC is Official RULINGS not Official RULES.
The difference between Disinegrate and overkill is the mess left behind.
Okay think about it like this. Starting with the wordings for the spells. Disintegrate: “the target takes 10d6 + 40 force damage. The target is disintegrated if this damage leaves it with 0 hit points.” Power Word Kill: “You utter a word of power that can compel one creature you can see within range to die instantly.”
To use an example brought up earlier: Half-Orc’s “Relentless Endurance” says “When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead.”
If a Half-Orc were to get hit with Disintegrate, and that reduces it to 0 hit points, it doesn’t disintegrate but instead rather drops to 1 hit points instead. You can think about it like this:
Half-Orc = 20 hit points Disintegrate 20 damage(20 hp -> 0 hp) -> Relentless Endurance effect(0 hp -> 1 hp) -> Disintegrate effect(1 hp -> null) -> no disintegration
For Power Word Kill though, The Half-Orc never reaches 0 hit points, it just dies. Power Word Kill cast(20 hp <100 -> dies) -> Relentless Endurance(dead -> null) -> RE doesn’t activate and Half-Orc still dead
Now in the case of Polymorph: “The transformation lasts for the duration, or until the target drops to 0 hit points or dies / … / When it reverts to its normal form, the creature returns to the number of hit points it had before it transformed. If it reverts as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to its normal form.” Clearly stating, in the same manner, that polymorph and Relentless Endurance act the same way, activating as the target is reduced to 0 hit points. So, as example:
Target = 20 hit points, Polymorph = 20 hp Disintegrate 20 damage(P 20 hp -> P 0 hp) -> Polymorph effect(P 0 hp -> activate) -> Polymorph Revert(P 0hp -> T 20 hp) -> no disintegration
For the case of Power Word Kill and Polymorph, I was going to argue the target would just die but actually reading Polymorph rules, I changed my mind. Power Word Kill(P 20 hp <100 -> dies) -> Polymorph effect(P dead -> activate) -> Polymorph Revert(P dead -> T 20 hp) -> Power Word Kill killed polymorph AND Target still alive
Polymorph specifies “The transformation lasts for the duration, or until the target drops to 0 hit points *or dies*” meaning that when the polymorph dies, the transformation ends. And later, it states “When it reverts to its normal form, the creature *returns to the number of hit points it had before it transformed*” meaning that the polymorph dies causing the transformation to revert which brings the target back to the hit points they had before the polymorph.
Something might clarify things for those that are still confused as to why outright "dying" as opposed to being knocked unconscious from taking damage, is that the PHB specifically states that: "A creature that has died can’t regain hit points until magic such as the revivify spell has restored it to life."
So, the Wild Shape/Polymorph trigger that would restore hit points to a creature when it returns to its original form CANNOT apply in this case because the creature is DEAD. Even if you gave it its original hit points it would still be dead.
Ok so you cast polymorph if the creature dies in the polymorphed form they revert back to what they were before and take the damage they took while polymorphed. Now the cows average hit points it 15. You just do 15 damage then it reverts back to a giant Tarrasque that is probably more angry as it was turned into a cow.
So, for me, no. It's like Wild Shape rules. If the creature your changed into dies. But it had less hp then you. You just take that damage and come out alive.
SAC is nothing more than a consolidation of tweets from an individual, and SAC has about as much worth as a pile of steaming dung.
There is a difference between outright killed, and Thanos snapped, that being the rule that states when a creature takes damage equal to or greater than twice it’s hp max, the creature is outright dead.
Disintegrate outright kills a creature as soon as it’s hp hit 0 by turning it to dust, so no relentless endurance does not even get a chance to be used.
Edit: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#Droppingto0HitPoints states:
Instant Death
Massive damage can kill you instantly. When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
For example, a cleric with a maximum of 12 hit points currently has 6 hit points. If she takes 18 damage from an attack, she is reduced to 0 hit points, but 12 damage remains. Because the remaining damage equals her hit point maximum, the cleric dies.
Byte my shiny metal ass
Not every quote by JC has made SAC and WOTC has decided the SAC is official rulings. There are some wacky things in it for example firebolt can not be twinned as it is capable of can targetting an object but then there are some wacky rules in the PHB (e.g. Lucky turning disadvantage into superadvantage) of course the DM can choose to ignore these rules but both the SAC and PHB are official rules.
The instant death rules are interesting and I think it strengthens my case. If disintegarting a terasque polymorphed into a badger results in disintegration why waste a 6th level spell as anything that deals at least 6 points of damage will instakill it anyway. It would also mean that if the enemy polymorphs party member into a frog the party will need to be very careful trying to get the party member back up by damaging them as they need to deliver exactly one damage.
SAC is Official RULINGS not Official RULES.
The difference between Disinegrate and overkill is the mess left behind.
Anyone need some powdered milk?
Byte my shiny metal ass
Okay think about it like this.
Starting with the wordings for the spells.
Disintegrate: “the target takes 10d6 + 40 force damage. The target is disintegrated if this damage leaves it with 0 hit points.”
Power Word Kill: “You utter a word of power that can compel one creature you can see within range to die instantly.”
To use an example brought up earlier: Half-Orc’s “Relentless Endurance” says “When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead.”
If a Half-Orc were to get hit with Disintegrate, and that reduces it to 0 hit points, it doesn’t disintegrate but instead rather drops to 1 hit points instead. You can think about it like this:
Half-Orc = 20 hit points
Disintegrate 20 damage(20 hp -> 0 hp) -> Relentless Endurance effect(0 hp -> 1 hp) -> Disintegrate effect(1 hp -> null) -> no disintegration
For Power Word Kill though, The Half-Orc never reaches 0 hit points, it just dies.
Power Word Kill cast(20 hp <100 -> dies) -> Relentless Endurance(dead -> null) -> RE doesn’t activate and Half-Orc still dead
Now in the case of Polymorph: “The transformation lasts for the duration, or until the target drops to 0 hit points or dies / … / When it reverts to its normal form, the creature returns to the number of hit points it had before it transformed. If it reverts as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to its normal form.”
Clearly stating, in the same manner, that polymorph and Relentless Endurance act the same way, activating as the target is reduced to 0 hit points. So, as example:
Target = 20 hit points, Polymorph = 20 hp
Disintegrate 20 damage(P 20 hp -> P 0 hp) -> Polymorph effect(P 0 hp -> activate) -> Polymorph Revert(P 0hp -> T 20 hp) -> no disintegration
For the case of Power Word Kill and Polymorph, I was going to argue the target would just die but actually reading Polymorph rules, I changed my mind.
Power Word Kill(P 20 hp <100 -> dies) -> Polymorph effect(P dead -> activate) -> Polymorph Revert(P dead -> T 20 hp) -> Power Word Kill killed polymorph AND Target still alive
Polymorph specifies “The transformation lasts for the duration, or until the target drops to 0 hit points *or dies*” meaning that when the polymorph dies, the transformation ends. And later, it states “When it reverts to its normal form, the creature *returns to the number of hit points it had before it transformed*” meaning that the polymorph dies causing the transformation to revert which brings the target back to the hit points they had before the polymorph.
This channel treats published SAC as RAW.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Something might clarify things for those that are still confused as to why outright "dying" as opposed to being knocked unconscious from taking damage, is that the PHB specifically states that: "A creature that has died can’t regain hit points until magic such as the revivify spell has restored it to life."
So, the Wild Shape/Polymorph trigger that would restore hit points to a creature when it returns to its original form CANNOT apply in this case because the creature is DEAD. Even if you gave it its original hit points it would still be dead.
Ok so you cast polymorph if the creature dies in the polymorphed form they revert back to what they were before and take the damage they took while polymorphed. Now the cows average hit points it 15. You just do 15 damage then it reverts back to a giant Tarrasque that is probably more angry as it was turned into a cow.
So, for me, no. It's like Wild Shape rules. If the creature your changed into dies. But it had less hp then you. You just take that damage and come out alive.
Homebrew Monster I've made (And Shared):
Aqua Reaper and Startling Statue!
And Thats It for Now!