[RPG] Does the Spores Druid’s “Fungal Body” feature grant immunity to poison damage in addition to the poisoned condition

class-featurednd-5edruidimmunitiespoison

So at level 14, the Circle of Spores druid from the Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica gets the Fungal Body feature, which gives them immunity to the blinded, deafened, stunned and poisoned conditions and ignores the extra damage on a crit.

A player I have thinks that "the poisoned condition = poison damage" and that the Circle of Spores should be immune to poison damage. I disagree. Is there an official ruling? It seems cut and dry to me, but he continues to disagree.

Best Answer

From Circle of Spores:

Fungal Body

At 14th level, the fungal spores in your body alter you: you can’t be blinded, deafened, frightened, or poisoned, and if an attack is a critical hit against you, it doesn’t deal its extra damage to you.

From Poisoned:

A poisoned creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

The druid cannot be poisoned: check.

From Damage Types:

Different attacks, damaging spells, and other harmful effects deal different types of damage. Damage types have no rules of their own, but other rules, such as damage resistance, rely on the types.

Does the ability give damage resistance or immunity to poison damage: no.

Contrast this with Dwarven Resilience:

You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.

This is nice and clear compared to the UA stuff - but UA is often poorly drafted: maybe deliberately, maybe not.

The poisoned condition and poison damage are not the same thing. It may make thematic sense that someone who cannot be poisoned should not take damage from poison but if it doesn't say it it doesn't happen.