[RPG] What happens when a Polymorphed creature is reduced to 0 HP by Disintegrate?

dnd-5epolymorphspells

Disintegrate and Polymorph both have effects that happen when the subject is reduced to 0 hit points.

Disintegrate says:

If this damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, it is disintegrated.

Polymorph says:

The transformation lasts for the duration, or until the target drops to 0 hit points or dies.

Which takes precedence? Does Disintegrate reduce the a Polymorphed target to dust first or does the creature revert to its regular form first?

Best Answer

It takes exhausting both HP pools before you turn to dust.

Apparently, RAI is in opposition to my other answer per a tweet from Mr Crawford (Credit to @Airatome for this tweet):

Jeremy Crawford
@JeremyECrawford
The intent is that a druid using Wild Shape is disintegrated if the druid, not the beast form, drops to 0 hp. #DnD
3:10 PM - 17 Sep 2015

Joshua Maxman
@Orethalion
@JeremyECrawford What happens if a wild shaped druid is reduced to 0 by disintegrate? Does he revert to normal physical form?
6:20 PM - 16 Sep 2015

This means that if you are under Polymorph, Wildshape, Shapechange, or True Polymorph, you'd trigger the "revert to your original form" condition once Disintegrate reduced you to 0 HP, and take any additional damage to your original form in excess of what it took to reduce you to zero from Disintegrate.

True Polymorph and Polymorph both say ...

... target assumes the hit points of its new form, and when it reverts to its normal form, the creature returns to the number of hit points it had before it transformed. If it reverts as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to its normal form. As long as the excess damage doesn’t reduce the creature’s normal form to 0 hit points, it isn’t knocked unconscious.

Wild Shape

When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. However, if you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. For example, if you take 10 damage in animal form and have only 1 hit point left, you revert and take 9 damage. As long as the excess damage doesn’t reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren’t knocked unconscious.

Shapechange

When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. If you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. As long as the excess damage doesn’t reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren’t knocked unconscious.

Per @Airatome's comment on Mr Crawford's tweet:

I can't find a way to bring up the ENTIRE conversation, but it was noted this applies to Polymorph target's as well.

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