It's a bit unclear to me how the whole situation works with Life Drain effects (such as the Wraith can do.
So here's the situation: The Cleric, with a max HP pool of 48 gets hit by the Life Drain effect caused by the Wraith, and fails the Constitution save. He is dealt 22 points of damage.
Basically the question is, what happens first? Does the Cleric's HP pool drop to 26, then he gets 22 damage, leaving his current HP at a meager 4 points of health, with room to be healed for 22 points of damage OR does the Cleric gets 22 damage, leaving his current HP at 26, and then his max HP also drops to 26, but the damage can not be cured since his Max HP is dropped to 26.
I hope what I'm asking is clear, I could not find it one the forum.
Whenever a creature takes damage, that damage is subtracted from its hit points.
Here's the text for Life Drain:
Life Drain.Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 21 (4d8 + 3) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken.
The target of Life Drain takes damage and reduces their HP accordingly. Then they make a saving throw and reduce their max HP if they fail. The result will be 26/26 HP in your scenario.
The only time a creature would be double-penalized is if they have temporary HP, since the temp HP will absorb part of the damage but then their max HP will be reduced below their current HP. On the flip side, you can always get new temporary hit points.
It's a bit unclear to me how the whole situation works with Life Drain effects (such as the Wraith can do.
So here's the situation: The Cleric, with a max HP pool of 48 gets hit by the Life Drain effect caused by the Wraith, and fails the Constitution save. He is dealt 22 points of damage.
Basically the question is, what happens first? Does the Cleric's HP pool drop to 26, then he gets 22 damage, leaving his current HP at a meager 4 points of health, with room to be healed for 22 points of damage OR does the Cleric gets 22 damage, leaving his current HP at 26, and then his max HP also drops to 26, but the damage can not be cured since his Max HP is dropped to 26.
I hope what I'm asking is clear, I could not find it one the forum.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
I think the second instance because the damage dealt and Max HP reduction happen at the same time.
Basic Rules, Combat, Damage And Healing, Hit Points:
Here's the text for Life Drain:
The target of Life Drain takes damage and reduces their HP accordingly. Then they make a saving throw and reduce their max HP if they fail. The result will be 26/26 HP in your scenario.
The only time a creature would be double-penalized is if they have temporary HP, since the temp HP will absorb part of the damage but then their max HP will be reduced below their current HP. On the flip side, you can always get new temporary hit points.
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