Apologies if this has been addressed, but I couldn't find anything online or in the forums. When a Steel Defender hits zero, is it dead or does it get death saving throws, like a PC? Any links to official rulings would be appreciated. Thanks.
That would be up to the DM. It's covered under "Monsters and Death" in the rules for death saving throws. Normally, only PCs get them, but at the DM's discretion certain NPCs and monsters might be allowed to as well.
Technically all the rules that apply to PCs apply to every creature equally (except class levels usually). This includes death saves. The section that Sigvard mentioned says monsters instantly dying is a DM shortcut, not the rule.
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, would that mean if your Steel Defender is Unconscious, and you cast Mend on it, that it would come back to life in the manner of a Player Character being brought up to at least one HP?
So, would that mean if your Steel Defender is Unconscious, and you cast Mend on it, that it would come back to life in the manner of a Player Character being brought up to at least one HP?
Yes, but... It still has to be stabilized first since mending takes 1 minute to cast which is 10 death saves otherwise.
You can stabilize SD with healer kit or med. check still tho. I think, if your DM is against it, you can try and mention that SD can regenerate by its own (it has Hit Dices), but yeah, an arcane check to stabilize would be more appliable.
You can stabilize SD with healer kit or med. check still tho. I think, if your DM is against it, you can try and mention that SD can regenerate by its own (it has Hit Dices), but yeah, an arcane check to stabilize would be more appliable.
Yeah, Healer's Kit or a Medicine doesn't make much sense for a Steel Defender. If I was the DM, I'd probably allow either an Arcana(Int) or a Smith's Tools(Int) check to stabilize.
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Apologies if this has been addressed, but I couldn't find anything online or in the forums. When a Steel Defender hits zero, is it dead or does it get death saving throws, like a PC? Any links to official rulings would be appreciated. Thanks.
That would be up to the DM. It's covered under "Monsters and Death" in the rules for death saving throws. Normally, only PCs get them, but at the DM's discretion certain NPCs and monsters might be allowed to as well.
Technically all the rules that apply to PCs apply to every creature equally (except class levels usually). This includes death saves. The section that Sigvard mentioned says monsters instantly dying is a DM shortcut, not the rule.
(PHB p198)
From DxJxC, it's right there in the rules.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
So, would that mean if your Steel Defender is Unconscious, and you cast Mend on it, that it would come back to life in the manner of a Player Character being brought up to at least one HP?
Yes, but... It still has to be stabilized first since mending takes 1 minute to cast which is 10 death saves otherwise.
Oh, wow. Good point.
You can stabilize SD with healer kit or med. check still tho. I think, if your DM is against it, you can try and mention that SD can regenerate by its own (it has Hit Dices), but yeah, an arcane check to stabilize would be more appliable.
Yeah, Healer's Kit or a Medicine doesn't make much sense for a Steel Defender. If I was the DM, I'd probably allow either an Arcana(Int) or a Smith's Tools(Int) check to stabilize.