Can the 2024 Imp see in darkness created by the darkness spell as they longer have devil sight in their stat block? According to SA
Does all magical Darkness block Darkvision?
Magical Darkness blocks Darkvision only if the rules text for a particular instance of Darkness says it does. For example, the Darkness spell specifies that Darkvision can’t see through it. That obstruction is a feature of the spell, not a feature of magical Darkness in general.
The SA creates confusion as it says that all darkvision can see through magical darkness unless otherwise stated such as in the darkness spell
Imps only have darkvision now, under senses it does say it is "not impeded by magical darkness", is that redundant as all darkvision sees through magical darkness unless otherwise stated or does it apply to spells such as darkness
It is RAW redundant, and effectively does nothing, only something like the devils sight invocation which technically isn't Darkvision, or blindsight etc can see through the darkness spell. The imp will be unable to see through the darkness spell as they made the poor choice in deciding magical darkness is just darkness that can be dispelled, and normal lights wont illuminate it.
Note I do not think this is the RAI, I think creatures with the addition that they can see in magical darkness are supposed to be able to see through darkness from the darkness spell or other darkness sources that block darkvision. But the sage advice made that call that magical darkness is just darkness and all Darkvision can see through it so by the technical reading of the rules, imps and other devils with a devils sight are screwed if you want to RAW for some reason.
Personal opinion they should have just put magical darkness in the glossary as a type of darkness that can't be seen through with Darkvision with a couple other rules attached for how it works and interacts with light sources etc. Its cleaner and then has a easy counter of improved darkvisions.
RAW the Imp sees through the Darkness spell, imo. Darkness literally says "Magical darkness spreads from..." and the Imp's darkvision says "unimpeded by magical darkness". Imp statblock sets the terms and the first sentence of Darkness says it qualifies.
RAW the Imp sees through the Darkness spell, imo. Darkness literally says "Magical darkness spreads from..." and the Imp's darkvision says "unimpeded by magical darkness". Imp statblock sets the terms and the first sentence of Darkness says it qualifies.
I agree with this interpretation.
The additional note "(unimpeded by magical Darkness)" suggests to me that the Senses override any magical Darkness that would otherwise affect the Imp's vision.
Specific beats general but it is not clear which is which here.
General: Darkvision allow you to see in the dark
Specific: Darkness spell creates a form of (magical) darkness that makes darkvision ineffective
Specific: Imps darkvision is not impared by (any?) magical darkness.
I would rule that the imp can see through it as there would be no point saying they can see through magical darkness if it only appled to mag8cal darkness that does not affect darkvision anyway but a strict RAW could be taken either way.
Specific beats general but it is not clear which is which here.
General: Darkvision allow you to see in the dark
Specific: Darkness spell creates a form of (magical) darkness that makes darkvision ineffective
Specific: Imps darkvision is not impared by (any?) magical darkness.
I would rule that the imp can see through it as there would be no point saying they can see through magical darkness if it only appled to mag8cal darkness that does not affect darkvision anyway but a strict RAW could be taken either way.
I believe it should be any magical Darkness, since the text isn't referring to the Darkness spell, but to Darkness as an area.
Can the 2024 Imp see in darkness created by the darkness spell as they longer have devil sight in their stat block? According to SA
Does all magical Darkness block Darkvision?
Magical Darkness blocks Darkvision only if the rules text for a particular instance of Darkness says it does. For example, the Darkness spell specifies that Darkvision can’t see through it. That obstruction is a feature of the spell, not a feature of magical Darkness in general.
The SA creates confusion as it says that all darkvision can see through magical darkness unless otherwise stated such as in the darkness spell
Imps only have darkvision now, under senses it does say it is "not impeded by magical darkness", is that redundant as all darkvision sees through magical darkness unless otherwise stated or does it apply to spells such as darkness
It is RAW redundant, and effectively does nothing, only something like the devils sight invocation which technically isn't Darkvision, or blindsight etc can see through the darkness spell. The imp will be unable to see through the darkness spell as they made the poor choice in deciding magical darkness is just darkness that can be dispelled, and normal lights wont illuminate it.
Note I do not think this is the RAI, I think creatures with the addition that they can see in magical darkness are supposed to be able to see through darkness from the darkness spell or other darkness sources that block darkvision. But the sage advice made that call that magical darkness is just darkness and all Darkvision can see through it so by the technical reading of the rules, imps and other devils with a devils sight are screwed if you want to RAW for some reason.
Personal opinion they should have just put magical darkness in the glossary as a type of darkness that can't be seen through with Darkvision with a couple other rules attached for how it works and interacts with light sources etc. Its cleaner and then has a easy counter of improved darkvisions.
RAW the Imp sees through the Darkness spell, imo. Darkness literally says "Magical darkness spreads from..." and the Imp's darkvision says "unimpeded by magical darkness". Imp statblock sets the terms and the first sentence of Darkness says it qualifies.
I agree with this interpretation.
The additional note "(unimpeded by magical Darkness)" suggests to me that the Senses override any magical Darkness that would otherwise affect the Imp's vision.
Specific beats general but it is not clear which is which here.
I would rule that the imp can see through it as there would be no point saying they can see through magical darkness if it only appled to mag8cal darkness that does not affect darkvision anyway but a strict RAW could be taken either way.
I believe it should be any magical Darkness, since the text isn't referring to the Darkness spell, but to Darkness as an area.
The Sage Advice essentially confirms Magical Darkness doesn't blocks Darkvision unless noted otherwise, like Darkness for example.
The Imp s' Darkvision is unimpeded by magical Darkness of any kind, including but not limited to Darkness.