5E stat blocks do not say whether or not a creature is naturally deaf. Blindsight obviously indicates that the creature is blind, but able to perceive surroundings within a certain area (Ala Daredevil senses). But, there is no deaf sense. So, here's my question, would it be safe to say that most creatures that have the Condition Immunities: "Blindness and Deafness" are actually already blind and deaf, and therefore the effects will not work on them?
I'm specifically asking this because of the spell Vicious Mockery, which can only work on creatures that are able to hear the spell caster. A Gray Ooze is immune to deafness, so I would think, then, that using vicious mockery on an ooze would be ineffective, because it is deaf and unable to hear the spell.
I think it'll still need to be case by case rulings. I can't recall an example but there could easily be creatures out there with magical hearing that have the immunity.
Never-the-less it's certainly a good indicator (IMHO) of a monster likely to be ruled as deaf and therefore immune.
Short of explicitly deafened characters/NPCs though, I could easily imagine a DM keeping things simple and noting that if RAW don't explicitly call them deaf then they can hear it.
Careful, creatures with blindsight are not automatically blind. Blindsight only says, that you do not need to rely on normal sight. I think in most monster stat blocks it says something like "blind outside this range" behind the blindsight entry, if they really are blind.
As deaf is also a condition, if there is nothing written, I assume, there are no deaf creatures.
Careful, creatures with blindsight are not automatically blind. Blindsight only says, that you do not need to rely on normal sight. I think in most monster stat blocks it says something like "blind outside this range" behind the blindsight entry, if they really are blind.
Agreed dragons have both blindsight and darkvision.
There’s tremorsense which I always thought of as being on deaf creatures.
A purple worm, for example, which the description says is attracted by loud noises, has both blindsight and tremorsense. But if an ooze can hear or not, that’s a good question. I’d default to the same as Voras, unless it says it is deaf, it is not deaf.
Unless a description says that the creature can't hear, it's best to assume that it can, even if it doesn't have anything you'd recognise as ears.
Specifically in terms of vicious mockery, for many bards this is their only damaging cantrip, so I wouldn't go looking for ways to neutralise it as it's one of the weakest damaging cantrips in the game with an okay rider effect. The need for a target to hear is really more for unusual cases where silence has been cast or something.
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Not looking for ways to neutralize it that can’t rip by any means. I recently heard of a player who was kinda bummed because she assumed, when fighting an Ooze that it was deaf and therefore her biscuits mockery wouldn’t work on it, but The DM ruled RAW. Thie bummed her out, because she felt like her deductive skills in Game were pointless.
Now, that situation could have been ruled different by the DM for sure, but it made me wonder … are there any deaf creatures. Personally, I think there should be at least a few. It only makes sense.
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5E stat blocks do not say whether or not a creature is naturally deaf. Blindsight obviously indicates that the creature is blind, but able to perceive surroundings within a certain area (Ala Daredevil senses). But, there is no deaf sense.
So, here's my question, would it be safe to say that most creatures that have the Condition Immunities: "Blindness and Deafness" are actually already blind and deaf, and therefore the effects will not work on them?
I'm specifically asking this because of the spell Vicious Mockery, which can only work on creatures that are able to hear the spell caster. A Gray Ooze is immune to deafness, so I would think, then, that using vicious mockery on an ooze would be ineffective, because it is deaf and unable to hear the spell.
I think it'll still need to be case by case rulings. I can't recall an example but there could easily be creatures out there with magical hearing that have the immunity.
Never-the-less it's certainly a good indicator (IMHO) of a monster likely to be ruled as deaf and therefore immune.
Short of explicitly deafened characters/NPCs though, I could easily imagine a DM keeping things simple and noting that if RAW don't explicitly call them deaf then they can hear it.
Careful, creatures with blindsight are not automatically blind. Blindsight only says, that you do not need to rely on normal sight. I think in most monster stat blocks it says something like "blind outside this range" behind the blindsight entry, if they really are blind.
As deaf is also a condition, if there is nothing written, I assume, there are no deaf creatures.
Agreed dragons have both blindsight and darkvision.
There’s tremorsense which I always thought of as being on deaf creatures.
A purple worm, for example, which the description says is attracted by loud noises, has both blindsight and tremorsense.
But if an ooze can hear or not, that’s a good question. I’d default to the same as Voras, unless it says it is deaf, it is not deaf.
Unless a description says that the creature can't hear, it's best to assume that it can, even if it doesn't have anything you'd recognise as ears.
Specifically in terms of vicious mockery, for many bards this is their only damaging cantrip, so I wouldn't go looking for ways to neutralise it as it's one of the weakest damaging cantrips in the game with an okay rider effect. The need for a target to hear is really more for unusual cases where silence has been cast or something.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Not looking for ways to neutralize it that can’t rip by any means. I recently heard of a player who was kinda bummed because she assumed, when fighting an Ooze that it was deaf and therefore her biscuits mockery wouldn’t work on it, but The DM ruled RAW. Thie bummed her out, because she felt like her deductive skills in Game were pointless.
Now, that situation could have been ruled different by the DM for sure, but it made me wonder … are there any deaf creatures. Personally, I think there should be at least a few. It only makes sense.