[RPG] Can a single dose of poison applied to an edged weapon be used multiple times

dnd-5epoisonweapons

If a fighter applies a single dose of regular poison to his sword, but he can make two attacks per round, does that mean that he can make twenty attacks (2 attacks × 10 actions/minute) with poison damage before the poison dries? Or does it only mean that he must make his attack within one minute of applying the poison, and after that single attack the poison is lost?

Best Answer

The poison remains until piercing/slashing damage is done, or until it is washed off.

This appears to have been officially errata'd in 2015. Here is the relevant portion with the relevant sentence emphasized:

Poison (p. 257). [...]

The other three poison types have new descriptions:

[...]

Injury. Injury poison can be applied to weapons, ammunition, trap components, and other objects that deal piercing or slashing damage and remains potent until delivered through a wound or washed off. A creature that takes piercing or slashing damage from an object coated with the poison is exposed to its effects.

Thus, after the poison deals its effect once, it’s no longer potent.

The other poison types have new descriptions as well, for those interested.

I suspect the removal of a time limit is for speed of play/simplicity.