So I think I already know the answer to this one, but I can't find clarification anywhere (maybe because it's supposed to be obvious). If a monster uses an ability that specifies #/Day but the ability fails, do they still remove 1 from the #/Day? To clarify,the wording of a specific monster's ability brought up this question for me.
The Hydroloth (Monsters of the Multiverse) has an ability called: Steal Memory (1/Day), in which it explains that if a creature succeeds on the required saving throw, that creature is immune to this hydroloth's Steal Memory for 24 hours. It specifies this hydroloth's Steal Memory, but if the hydroloth can only use the ability once per day, then there should be no reason to specify that a creature is immune to the effect after succeeding, right? This is where I started to wonder if a failed action (or rather, a successful save on the PCs part) still took away from the #/Day it could be used.
Anyone have any references RAW or otherwise? Thanks!
Some special abilities have restrictions on the number of times they can be used. If a monster uses the ability 1/day, it cannot use it again until it finish a long rest . The reason some ability mention that on a successful save, the target becomes immune to this monster's ability for 24 hours is to indicate that even if it had more than 1/Day this particular monster could not affect it again today but the target can still be affected by a different one.
Limited Usage X/Day. The notation “X/Day” means a special ability can be used X number of times and that a monster must finish a long rest to regain expended uses. For example, “1/Day” means a special ability can be used once and that the monster must finish a long rest to use it again.
So a few things kind of run here. One how does the monster know they are immune to the ability? Two just cause your immune doesn't mean you cant be targeted. It just means your not effected by the spell/ability. Red dragons - immune to fire damage.... I can still target them with a firebolt, scorching blast, or a fire ball. But since they are immune its like warm summer breeze and they laugh.
You still need to use the ability unless something would tell that creature that they are not effected like seeing the red dragon ignore the fire damage. In the case if there was more then one Hydroloth there is reason to say they might say something quick to each other so they don't target the same person. But say the Pcs move down the cave and find a new set.... those wouldn't know that someone is immune and maybe try and waste the ability. Also its not failed as the Pc is just immune and shrugs it off. It still happens and the ability would be wasted in the end.
A monster should have no way of knowing a target is now immune by one of it's ability unless it previously witnessed the target being subject to it today.
I think the key difference here is that the character is immune for 24 hours while 1/day abilities refresh after a long rest so there are situations where the creature could long rest and try to use their ability on the same creature again but if they saved the first time they will be immune for 24 hours even if the creature could use the ability again.
YMMV but in my experience monsters very rarely live another day to use their ability again, they usually either die or flee never to be seen again. If the same monster was encounterd again the very next adventuring day the character may still be immune depending how much time passed since he saved against it.
Thank you! This is what I was looking for. Just for some clarification I wasn't saying that the monster would "know" that the PC is immune, I was just confused on whether the ability is used up or not.
Thank you! This is what I was looking for. Just for some clarification I wasn't saying that the monster would "know" that the PC is immune, I was just confused on whether the ability is used up or not.
Well, the Hydroloth has to target a creature they can see with the ability, and would probably know the full extent of their own ability, so if they try it on someone and fail, they'd know that target would be immune for 24 hours. Especially a creature like a Hydroloth with an Int score of 19.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So I think I already know the answer to this one, but I can't find clarification anywhere (maybe because it's supposed to be obvious). If a monster uses an ability that specifies #/Day but the ability fails, do they still remove 1 from the #/Day? To clarify, the wording of a specific monster's ability brought up this question for me.
The Hydroloth (Monsters of the Multiverse) has an ability called: Steal Memory (1/Day), in which it explains that if a creature succeeds on the required saving throw, that creature is immune to this hydroloth's Steal Memory for 24 hours. It specifies this hydroloth's Steal Memory, but if the hydroloth can only use the ability once per day, then there should be no reason to specify that a creature is immune to the effect after succeeding, right? This is where I started to wonder if a failed action (or rather, a successful save on the PCs part) still took away from the #/Day it could be used.
Anyone have any references RAW or otherwise? Thanks!
Some special abilities have restrictions on the number of times they can be used. If a monster uses the ability 1/day, it cannot use it again until it finish a long rest . The reason some ability mention that on a successful save, the target becomes immune to this monster's ability for 24 hours is to indicate that even if it had more than 1/Day this particular monster could not affect it again today but the target can still be affected by a different one.
So a few things kind of run here. One how does the monster know they are immune to the ability? Two just cause your immune doesn't mean you cant be targeted. It just means your not effected by the spell/ability. Red dragons - immune to fire damage.... I can still target them with a firebolt, scorching blast, or a fire ball. But since they are immune its like warm summer breeze and they laugh.
You still need to use the ability unless something would tell that creature that they are not effected like seeing the red dragon ignore the fire damage. In the case if there was more then one Hydroloth there is reason to say they might say something quick to each other so they don't target the same person. But say the Pcs move down the cave and find a new set.... those wouldn't know that someone is immune and maybe try and waste the ability. Also its not failed as the Pc is just immune and shrugs it off. It still happens and the ability would be wasted in the end.
A monster should have no way of knowing a target is now immune by one of it's ability unless it previously witnessed the target being subject to it today.
I think the key difference here is that the character is immune for 24 hours while 1/day abilities refresh after a long rest so there are situations where the creature could long rest and try to use their ability on the same creature again but if they saved the first time they will be immune for 24 hours even if the creature could use the ability again.
1/day does not mean 1/24 hours.
YMMV but in my experience monsters very rarely live another day to use their ability again, they usually either die or flee never to be seen again. If the same monster was encounterd again the very next adventuring day the character may still be immune depending how much time passed since he saved against it.
Thanks!
Thank you! This is what I was looking for. Just for some clarification I wasn't saying that the monster would "know" that the PC is immune, I was just confused on whether the ability is used up or not.
Well, the Hydroloth has to target a creature they can see with the ability, and would probably know the full extent of their own ability, so if they try it on someone and fail, they'd know that target would be immune for 24 hours. Especially a creature like a Hydroloth with an Int score of 19.