[RPG] Remorhaz Heated Body Mechanics Explanation

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The Remorhaz (page 258 MM) has an ability called Heated Body:

Heated Body. A creature that touches the remorhaz or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.

How often does this damage occur, and what exactly is the scope of qualifying scenarios where this would trigger?

If another creature A is grappling the remorhaz, does damage only occur on creature A's turn, only on the remorhaz's turn, once per round, multiple times in a round?

Also, if a creature touches the remorhaz, damage occurs, but what happens if the remorhaz touches the creature? The damage from Heated Body is included in the remorhaz's Bite attack, but not in its Swallow ability. Will the creature swallowed by the remorhaz take 6d6 acid damage + 3d6 fire damage (since the creature is touching the remorhaz inside of it), or only the acid damage?

Best Answer

Rhemorhaz Trait: Heated Body MM Pg.258

Heated Body: A creature that touches the remorhaz or hits it with a melee Attack while within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.

Special Traits MM pg.11

Special traits (which appear after a monster’s challenge rating but before any actions or reactions) are characteristics that are likely to be relevant in a Combat encounter and that require some explanation.

If you notice, the MM states that a special trait is listed before actions and reactions, seperating it from the two - it is neither considered an action nor a reaction. This means that every melee attack connected with the creature would trigger this effect. So, a fighter with multiattack would trigger the counter damage upon each attack, so long as it is a melee attack.

As far as the second part of your question, every time something touches the creature, it would also trigger the effect. So, a grappler who unknowingly grabs hold of this creature would suffer the damage of its ability, however, the grappler would take the damage once, as it has only touched the creature once.

Whether or not the Rhemorhaz Heated Body trait would affect creatures it touches or attacks would probably come down to RAI (Rules As Intended). The developers more than likely intended for this to only act as a counter ability, meaning that any attacks it makes on another creature would not trigger the Heated Body trait, as its attacks have several additional effects of their own. So, the unfortunate victims of the Rhemoraz's swallow attack would merely suffer the 6d6 acid damage, while still painful, it would not be so harsh as another 3d6 fire damage.

Hopefully this clears up your question.

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