Overlapping Damage Resistances

Hello everyone, this is my first post on D&D Beyond, and I thought this would be a good place to discuss a topic that I've been internally debating for years. If you obtain permanent resistance to the same damage type from two different sources, such as your species and your subclass, there is no additional benefit. This has always bothered me because it means otherwise thematically logical combinations have a feature go to waste. For example, a recent idea of mine is an Infernal Tiefling Draconic Sorcerer, with Fire as her Elemental Affinity, so that I can add my charisma modifier to the damage of Hellish Rebuke. However, Elemental Affinity would also give me Fire Resistance, which I already have because I'm an Infernal Tiefling, meaning that part of Elemental Affinity is effectively wasted. As a DM my house rule is in cases like this I allow the player to choose an alternative damage resistance I deem appropriate, but I can't expect any hypothetical DM to do the same. So, my question is, is the redundant damage resistance enough of an issue to make Infernal Tiefling a poor choice for a fire-resistant subclass? And, in this case, how good is Hellish Rebuke with Elemental Affinity/Adept?

Resistance to fire isn't a particularly big feature, so losing out because of doubling also isn't that big a deal. However, it's reasonably likely you have better uses for your reaction than hellish rebuke, and adding your charisma modifier to its damage won't meaningfully change that decision.

I disagree with Pantagruel, IMO Hellish Rebuke is an underrated spell. It is solid damage, and scales so at high levels you have a use for 2nd and 3rd level slots, especially now that Counterspell has been nerfed. Plus Hellish Rebuke isn't limited to attack rolls, any damage including AoE damage can trigger it so even Sorcerers playing into their archetype and avoiding melee can get use out of it.

As for doubling up on damage resistance, well that's the price you pay for optimizing your character for DPR. 

Helpful comments, thank you! I think the appeal of Hellish Rebuke is that it's damage you can deal outside your own turn, even if it's not a huge amount of damage for the spell slot. Elemental Affinity in theory augments this and makes it better, but I haven't gotten a chance to test it yet, and I'm not mathematically minded enough to know how frequently the extra damage is meaningful. I think you're both right though, the doubled up resistance isn't a big enough problem to discount Infernal Tiefling entirely. I realized sometime after I posted this that redundant damage resistances aren't a big deal for Draconic Sorcerers anyway, because from level 9 onward, Summon Dragon is a staple spell for us and we can use that to get whatever resistance we need while also improving DPR. I'll take this idea more seriously now!

Generally speaking a single instance of adding your ability mod to damage per turn falls off pretty hard by the time you're level 5- enemy HP will be enough that while an extra 3-5 per round certainly doesn't hurt, it's not accounting for more than the random variance of your rolls. Having a reaction that can utilize it will help your DPR spike a little more while you've got the slots to spare, but also burn through those slots faster. If you think it sounds good, go for it, but this isn't really something that does enough work to qualify the cornerstone of a build concept; it's just a few bonus points.

An option I have considered as a DM - but have yet to have come up - if a player ends up gaining the same Resistance from two separate sources is to then give them a benefit equivalent to Heavy Armor Master, meaning they reduce damage of that type by an amount equal to their proficiency bonus. Since modifiers are applied before Resistance, this wouldn't be that potent, but at least would be a fun benefit and not a total waste. 

Quote from The_Ace_of_Rogues >>

Generally speaking a single instance of adding your ability mod to damage per turn falls off pretty hard by the time you're level 5- enemy HP will be enough that while an extra 3-5 per round certainly doesn't hurt, it's not accounting for more than the random variance of your rolls. Having a reaction that can utilize it will help your DPR spike a little more while you've got the slots to spare, but also burn through those slots faster. If you think it sounds good, go for it, but this isn't really something that does enough work to qualify the cornerstone of a build concept; it's just a few bonus points.

 I find this hard to believe TBH, so you're saying that taking PAM for an extra attack each round is not a build concept just a few bonus points? Cause Hellish Rebuke does a lot more damage than the PAM bonus action attack. 

The main issue with building around Hellish Rebuke is (1) can your character absorb the damage required to trigger HR, and (2) running out of spellslots for HR. Both of which largely depend on how the DM designs encounters / adventuring days. 

PAM allows for weapon riders/triggers to carry through as well- Rage, Hunter’s Mark, Masteries, +X, etc.- and also provides a reaction attack. That’s different from a single flat increase, especially given that casters typically get much sharper burst damage than martials.

Quote from Agilemind >>

 I find this hard to believe TBH, so you're saying that taking PAM for an extra attack each round is not a build concept just a few bonus points? Cause Hellish Rebuke does a lot more damage than the PAM bonus action attack. 

He's saying that the difference between "add charisma modifier to damage" and not isn't going to be that big a deal.

In general the issue with HR is that it triggers on taking damage, and finding a way to avoid or reduce that damage tends to be higher value.

This is a Draconic Sorcerer so I'd take Elemental Adept anyway, since I'm already building around fire damage. Personally I think Fireball is essential for all Sorcerers, and Scorching Ray comes close with its synergy with Innate Sorcery.

Quote from DraconicSorceress >>

This is a Draconic Sorcerer so I'd take Elemental Adept anyway, since I'm already building around fire damage. Personally I think Fireball is essential for all Sorcerers, and Scorching Ray comes close with its synergy with Innate Sorcery.

 Spells that deal fire damage that can be useful of levels cantrip-4Burning Hands Fire bolt Scorching Ray Aganazzar's Scorcher Chromatic Orb Elemental Bane Dragon's Breath Fireball Flaming Sphere Heat Metal Melf's Minute Meteors Sorcerous Burst

Just thought that this might be helpful for you.

Did you forget Fire Shield? That has the option to do fire damage.

Quote from LinkArcher >>

Did you forget Fire Shield? That has the option to do fire damage.

Tbf, if you search the spells section or don't have access to Tasha's/don't have the Tasha's features enabled, that doesn't show up as an option for 2014 Sorcerers.

I thought Fire Shield was in the PHB.

Quote from LinkArcher >>

Did you forget Fire Shield? That has the option to do fire damage.

 I mostly said offensive fire spells. and it has the option to do fire damage, and it doesn't always

Quote from LinkArcher >>

I thought Fire Shield was in the PHB.

It is, but it's not on the 2014 Sorcerer spell list without the Tasha's Cauldron of Everything expanded spell list feature, which doesn't tag the spell as a class spell in Beyond, so depending where/how someone looks they might not see it as an option.

Quote from Tana___ >>

Quote from LinkArcher >>

Did you forget Fire Shield? That has the option to do fire damage.

 I mostly said offensive fire spells. and it has the option to do fire damage, and it doesn't always

 That’s true too. I mean, if you want to run in and pretend to be a tank…

Quote from The_Ace_of_Rogues >>

Quote from LinkArcher >>

I thought Fire Shield was in the PHB.

 

It is, but it's not on the 2014 Sorcerer spell list without the Tasha's Cauldron of Everything expanded spell list feature, which doesn't tag the spell as a class spell in Beyond, so depending where/how someone looks they might not see it as an option.

 Ugh. That’s annoying.

Quote from LinkArcher >>

Quote from Tana___ >>

Quote from LinkArcher >>

Did you forget Fire Shield? That has the option to do fire damage.

 I mostly said offensive fire spells. and it has the option to do fire damage, and it doesn't always

 That’s true too. I mean, if you want to run in and pretend to be a tank…

 That would end with a dead sorcerer