[RPG] How does Multiple Damage types work with Multiple Resistances

damage-resistancedamage-typesdnd-5e

Similar questions to this have been asked, but I wasn't able to find one that answers this specifically.

Say that you have resistance to slashing damage as well as resistance to fire damage (no caveats to nonmagical damage or not). You are fighting someone who has a flaming greataxe (just an enchanted item) that deals 1d12+STR slashing damage, plus 1d6 fire damage on hit and they hit you.

How do you calculate the damage?

  • (1d12+1d6+STR)/2
  • (1d12/2) + (1d6/2) + STR
  • (1d12+STR/2) + (1d6/2)
  • something else?

Best Answer

You would calculate the resistance to each damage separately. The modifier should also have a damage type, and you would include it with the dice roll for calculating resistance.

For example, with a melee weapon like a greataxe where you apply your strength to its slashing damage you would calculate \$(1{\rm d}12 + \text{Str Mod})\div2\;\$ (rounding down) slashing damage. And then calculate \$1{\rm d}6 \div 2\$ (also rounding down) fire damage.

So your final formula would be:

$$\left\lfloor \frac{1{\rm d}12 + \text{Str Mod}}{2} \right\rfloor + \left\lfloor \frac{1{\rm d}6}{2} \right\rfloor$$

(Those lines on the sides being the floor/round down symbols.)

RAW would probably be as described in this answer. They reference:

Damage Resistance: If a creature or an object has resistance to a damage type, damage of that type is halved against it.

Damage Vulnerability: If a creature or an object has vulnerability to a damage type, damage of that type is doubled against it.

Resistance and then vulnerability are applied after all other modifiers to damage. For example, a creature has resistance to bludgeoning damage and is hit by an attack that deals 25 bludgeoning damage. The creature is also within a magical aura that reduces all damage by 5. The 25 damage is first reduced by 5 and then halved, so the creature takes 10 damage.

(D&D 5e SRD, Pg 97)

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