[RPG] What type of damage is Sneak Attack

damage-typesdnd-5esneak-attack

I have a Barbarian in my party who will be fighting versus Sneak Attack damage. The Spy from page 349 of the MM to be precise. When he rages he takes half damage from piercing, slashing and bludgeoning damage. What type of damage is Sneak Attack?

One might assume its just the same type as the weapon used to create it. Nothing in the Rogue entry (where I assumed more detail about Sneak Attack would be given) says anything about the type of damage.

Best Answer

While it doesn't seem to be explicitly spelled out anywhere, the Sneak Attack entry says:

Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon.

This is extra damage dealt by the weapon attack; therefore, it should deal damage of the same type as the weapon. As backup for this, the section on critical hits says that:

For example, if you score a critical hit with a dagger, roll 2d4 for the damage, rather than 1d4, and then add your relevant ability modifier. If the attack involves other damage dice, such as from the rogue’s Sneak Attack feature, you roll those dice twice as well.

It seems clear that Sneak Attack is extra damage added to the weapon attack, and therefore has the same damage type as the weapon.

Specifically, the Spy uses a shortsword, which deals piercing damage, so his Sneak Attack damage will be piercing also.

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