[RPG] Does dying cause a creature explicitly to drop to zero hit points

character-deathdnd-5ehit-points

The typical way to die involves dropping to zero hit points first.

But if something such as Power Word Kill, kills a creature instantly, is it specified in the rules that the creature “drops to zero hit points” ?

To clarify, I understand that dead means dead, and dead creatures do not get to make death saving throws. The question is, does the act of a creature dying make its hit point total zero?

Or can a creature simply “die” (and then, perhaps, have no hit point total?) thus skipping any effects triggered "when [this creature] drops to zero hit points."

The recent question about Paladin’s Steed is the inspiration for this question. I know I would rule that getting dead means going to zero hit points — I just haven’t seen that said as much in official material.

Best Answer

Power Word: Kill does not.

Power Word: Kill just checks to see if you have less than 100 hit points. (If you're familiar with the rules of Magic: the Gathering, it's sort of like a state-based action.) If you do, you just die, making your hit point total irrelevant, as you don't get any death saving throws. You're not unconscious, you're just dead.

If the creature you chose has 100 hit points or fewer, it dies. Otherwise, the spell has no effect.