[RPG] How does the spell Windy Escape work

pathfinder-1espells

I am playing a sorcerer in Pathfinder and using the 1st level spell Windy Escape. The DM approved it. The problem I am having is how the spell works exactly.

As I understand it, all attacks from normal non-magical weapons or natural attacks will pass through the caster causing no damage. And, the caster ignores the first 10 points of damage from a magical weapon.

My DM recently read it again and is now reading it as DR 10/magic means that for all attacks I only ignore the first 10 points but take the rest of the damage. It does not matter if the attack comes from a magical weapon or not

So, my question is: Does the spell Windy Escape provide complete immunity to nonmagical damage and 10 points resistance to attacks from magic weapons? Or, does the spell provide 10 point resistance to all attacks from magic weapons and non-magical weapons?

Best Answer

According to d20pfsrd, Windy Escape grants the following:

You gain DR 10/magic against this attack and are immune to any poison, sneak attacks, or critical hit effect from that attack.

Also according to d20pfsrd, the Damage Reduction entry,

The entry indicates the amount of damage ignored (usually 5 to 15 points) and the type of weapon that negates the ability.

It also says that:

The creature takes normal damage from energy attacks (even nonmagical ones), spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities

So, if you are attacked by:

  • an energy attack (even a nonmagical one)
  • a spell
  • a spell-like ability (Sp)
  • a supernatural ability (Su)
  • any attack with an entry matching your damage reduction entry

...then you are in trouble; your DR doesn't work. Otherwise (if not attacked by any of the aforementioned entities) it does work, and you subtract 10 from damage that would normally be applied against you.

In your case, it's Magic Weapons that bypass DR. This answer gives a more in-depth explanation of what Magic Weapons are.

Note that Windy Escape protects against one attack. If it deals only 6 points of damage, you don't save the rest 4 points of DR for future use: they are lost, and you have to cast the spell again to be protected against the attack.

Pathfinder wording may be a bit tricky sometimes, or more than a bit. When in doubt, the best option is usually rereading all of the related rules on SRD. Just read carefully a couple of times, and you will be good. I have also fallen into your trap once, so don't worry.

Be careful, and good luck on your journey.