[RPG] Does the Zealot barbarian’s Rage beyond Death feature let you survive if you receive healing regardless of your death saves

barbariancharacter-deathclass-featurednd-5ehealing

In Xanathar's Guide to Everything (p. 11), the Path of the Zealot gives a barbarian the "Rage Beyond Death" feature at level 14 (emphasis mine):

Beginning at 14th level, the divine power that fuels your rage allows
you to shrug off fatal blows.

While you’re raging, having 0 hit points doesn’t knock you
unconscious. You still must make death saving throws, and you suffer
the normal effects of taking damage while at 0 hit points. However, if
you would die due to failing death saving throws, you don’t die until
your rage ends, and you die then only if you still have 0 hit
points.

RAW, this says that regardless of your death saves, if you receive healing before the end of your rage and have 1 HP, you remain alive regardless of the outcomes of your death saves.

Is that the case? And is that RAI?

Best Answer

Yes, it is the case.

Your reading is correct - the PC stays alive even if they fail their death saving throws (or, more generally, get 3 failures on death saving throws any way - including damage from enemies, which is most likely), if they are healed before their rage ends.

Yes, it seems to be Rules as Intended.

The wording is very clear and explicitly states the situation:

However, if you would die due to failing death saving throws, you don’t die until your rage ends, and you die then only if you still have 0 hit points.

If it was not intended, that last clause would not exist. The phrase could just end before that statement, something on the lines of:

However, if you would die due to failing death saving throws, you don’t die until your rage ends.

Note that, RAW, you can still die by other means.

The feature prevents death from failed death saving throws, but not any other kinds of death - for example, death from massive damage is still possible.