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Can the Shape Water Cantrip be used to manipulate blood?

Is there a rule for how to handle creative use of spells?How can one use the Shape Water cantrip offensively?Can large characters sqeeze through 5' spaces between 2 enemies, or do they do something else?What happens when Wild Shape/Polymorph runs out in a space that's too small?How should the Gelatinous Cube's Engulf action be resolved for multiple rows of targets?What the heck is “freestanding water”?At what point do you leave a creature's reach when moving vertically?Can you fly over a Medium enemy creature in a 10ft tall corridor?Some of my paper printed 2 dimensional minis don't fit the 5th edition D&D grid. How can I correct this?Can you use shape water to fly?How can one use the Shape Water cantrip offensively?What are the limitations to using the Shape Water cantrip for cheating and forgery?

2

$begingroup$

As you can manipulate water within a 5 ft cube and most medium sized creatures can fit in that size space, can I manipulate their blood? I'd figured you could move the blood just the same as water and move the blood out of a creatures wounds, effectively making them die from blood loss. As well as being able to freeze the blood.

Shape water states,

You freeze the water, provided that there are no creatures in it.

As the blood is in the creature not the other way around, I figured it would work. But I wanted some other opinions to make sure my idea was plausible.

Can you could use Shape Water in such a way?

dnd-5e spells

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edited 8 hours ago

Blake Steel

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  Related: How can one use the Shape Water cantrip offensively?
  $endgroup$
  – goodguy5
  8 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


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  Welcome to rpg.se! Be sure to take the tour. Good first question!
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  – Blake Steel
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

$begingroup$

As you can manipulate water within a 5 ft cube and most medium sized creatures can fit in that size space, can I manipulate their blood? I'd figured you could move the blood just the same as water and move the blood out of a creatures wounds, effectively making them die from blood loss. As well as being able to freeze the blood.

Shape water states,

You freeze the water, provided that there are no creatures in it.

As the blood is in the creature not the other way around, I figured it would work. But I wanted some other opinions to make sure my idea was plausible.

Can you could use Shape Water in such a way?

dnd-5e spells

share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

Blake Steel

3,2531741

asked 9 hours ago

SarcasmSarcasm

192

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Sarcasm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Related: How can one use the Shape Water cantrip offensively?
  $endgroup$
  – goodguy5
  8 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Welcome to rpg.se! Be sure to take the tour. Good first question!
  $endgroup$
  – Blake Steel
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

As you can manipulate water within a 5 ft cube and most medium sized creatures can fit in that size space, can I manipulate their blood? I'd figured you could move the blood just the same as water and move the blood out of a creatures wounds, effectively making them die from blood loss. As well as being able to freeze the blood.

Shape water states,

You freeze the water, provided that there are no creatures in it.

As the blood is in the creature not the other way around, I figured it would work. But I wanted some other opinions to make sure my idea was plausible.

Can you could use Shape Water in such a way?

dnd-5e spells

share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

Blake Steel

3,2531741

asked 9 hours ago

SarcasmSarcasm

192

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Sarcasm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

Blake Steel

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asked 9 hours ago

SarcasmSarcasm

192

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share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

Blake Steel

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asked 9 hours ago

SarcasmSarcasm

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edited 8 hours ago

Blake Steel

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edited 8 hours ago

Blake Steel

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asked 9 hours ago

SarcasmSarcasm

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2 Answers
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13

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No, this will not work RAW*

It's not water

Shape Water specifically states it only works with water (emphasis mine):

You choose an area of water that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube.

Had they wanted it to work with any other liquid, it wouldn't have used the term "water". Things that contain water are not the same thing, this is just about shaping water.

And you can't see it

In addition, there is the sight requirement. Blood in the body is not generally visible. Blood outside the body, but even if you allowed shaping that, it won't generally cause much harm (the harm's already been done). But that's also up to the DM as to what injuries are visible.

Either way, blood isn't water (isn't it thicker?) and you can't see it so shape water won't be able to be used with blood.

*There also aren't any rules regarding Creative Use of Spells, but it's very much going to be up to your DM if they do want to allow this. But I doubt a DM would be willing to give a cantrip the power level this might be.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

58.5k8210391

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  To add on, WotC have stated that spells involving water, such as create and destroy water, don't work on people
  $endgroup$
  – Peregrine Lennert
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @PeregrineLennert Do you have a source for that? I'm generally trying to avoid tweets to support my answers, but if they've done an errata or a printed sage advice, I'd be more amenable :)
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Wouldn't that mean that the spell works on the water in the blood, leaving behind the non-water bits of blood?
  $endgroup$
  – vicky_molokh
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @vicky_molokh: You're overthinking it. Or, rather, thinking too scientifically. A laudable talent in the real world, but not for a game with specific set of rules. As far as spells go (and all the rules, really), they need to be taken "as is", otherwise you risk rather a lot of rules-abuse! So here: water=water, blood=blood, water≠blood.
  $endgroup$
  – PJRZ
  8 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @NautArch Nice revision, +1 already in the box. (chortle)
  $endgroup$
  – KorvinStarmast
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

5

$begingroup$

The spell specifically refers to water and does not mention any other liquid. Blood is mostly water, yes, but blood is not water. With that sort of leeway (particularly on a cantrip) you could end up with some truly terrifying power. This would enable you to manipulate most living things in the environment. I do not think that this is what is intended with this spell.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

IvarLivesIvarLives

513

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13

$begingroup$

No, this will not work RAW*

It's not water

Shape Water specifically states it only works with water (emphasis mine):

You choose an area of water that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube.

Had they wanted it to work with any other liquid, it wouldn't have used the term "water". Things that contain water are not the same thing, this is just about shaping water.

And you can't see it

In addition, there is the sight requirement. Blood in the body is not generally visible. Blood outside the body, but even if you allowed shaping that, it won't generally cause much harm (the harm's already been done). But that's also up to the DM as to what injuries are visible.

Either way, blood isn't water (isn't it thicker?) and you can't see it so shape water won't be able to be used with blood.

*There also aren't any rules regarding Creative Use of Spells, but it's very much going to be up to your DM if they do want to allow this. But I doubt a DM would be willing to give a cantrip the power level this might be.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

58.5k8210391

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  To add on, WotC have stated that spells involving water, such as create and destroy water, don't work on people
  $endgroup$
  – Peregrine Lennert
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @PeregrineLennert Do you have a source for that? I'm generally trying to avoid tweets to support my answers, but if they've done an errata or a printed sage advice, I'd be more amenable :)
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Wouldn't that mean that the spell works on the water in the blood, leaving behind the non-water bits of blood?
  $endgroup$
  – vicky_molokh
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @vicky_molokh: You're overthinking it. Or, rather, thinking too scientifically. A laudable talent in the real world, but not for a game with specific set of rules. As far as spells go (and all the rules, really), they need to be taken "as is", otherwise you risk rather a lot of rules-abuse! So here: water=water, blood=blood, water≠blood.
  $endgroup$
  – PJRZ
  8 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @NautArch Nice revision, +1 already in the box. (chortle)
  $endgroup$
  – KorvinStarmast
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

13

$begingroup$

No, this will not work RAW*

It's not water

Shape Water specifically states it only works with water (emphasis mine):

You choose an area of water that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube.

Had they wanted it to work with any other liquid, it wouldn't have used the term "water". Things that contain water are not the same thing, this is just about shaping water.

And you can't see it

In addition, there is the sight requirement. Blood in the body is not generally visible. Blood outside the body, but even if you allowed shaping that, it won't generally cause much harm (the harm's already been done). But that's also up to the DM as to what injuries are visible.

Either way, blood isn't water (isn't it thicker?) and you can't see it so shape water won't be able to be used with blood.

*There also aren't any rules regarding Creative Use of Spells, but it's very much going to be up to your DM if they do want to allow this. But I doubt a DM would be willing to give a cantrip the power level this might be.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

58.5k8210391

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  To add on, WotC have stated that spells involving water, such as create and destroy water, don't work on people
  $endgroup$
  – Peregrine Lennert
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @PeregrineLennert Do you have a source for that? I'm generally trying to avoid tweets to support my answers, but if they've done an errata or a printed sage advice, I'd be more amenable :)
  $endgroup$
  – NautArch
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Wouldn't that mean that the spell works on the water in the blood, leaving behind the non-water bits of blood?
  $endgroup$
  – vicky_molokh
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @vicky_molokh: You're overthinking it. Or, rather, thinking too scientifically. A laudable talent in the real world, but not for a game with specific set of rules. As far as spells go (and all the rules, really), they need to be taken "as is", otherwise you risk rather a lot of rules-abuse! So here: water=water, blood=blood, water≠blood.
  $endgroup$
  – PJRZ
  8 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @NautArch Nice revision, +1 already in the box. (chortle)
  $endgroup$
  – KorvinStarmast
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

$begingroup$

No, this will not work RAW*

It's not water

Shape Water specifically states it only works with water (emphasis mine):

You choose an area of water that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube.

Had they wanted it to work with any other liquid, it wouldn't have used the term "water". Things that contain water are not the same thing, this is just about shaping water.

And you can't see it

In addition, there is the sight requirement. Blood in the body is not generally visible. Blood outside the body, but even if you allowed shaping that, it won't generally cause much harm (the harm's already been done). But that's also up to the DM as to what injuries are visible.

Either way, blood isn't water (isn't it thicker?) and you can't see it so shape water won't be able to be used with blood.

*There also aren't any rules regarding Creative Use of Spells, but it's very much going to be up to your DM if they do want to allow this. But I doubt a DM would be willing to give a cantrip the power level this might be.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

58.5k8210391

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

58.5k8210391

answered 8 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

58.5k8210391

answered 8 hours ago

NautArchNautArch

58.5k8210391

5

$begingroup$

The spell specifically refers to water and does not mention any other liquid. Blood is mostly water, yes, but blood is not water. With that sort of leeway (particularly on a cantrip) you could end up with some truly terrifying power. This would enable you to manipulate most living things in the environment. I do not think that this is what is intended with this spell.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

IvarLivesIvarLives

513

New contributor

IvarLives is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

5

$begingroup$

The spell specifically refers to water and does not mention any other liquid. Blood is mostly water, yes, but blood is not water. With that sort of leeway (particularly on a cantrip) you could end up with some truly terrifying power. This would enable you to manipulate most living things in the environment. I do not think that this is what is intended with this spell.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

IvarLivesIvarLives

513

New contributor

IvarLives is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

The spell specifically refers to water and does not mention any other liquid. Blood is mostly water, yes, but blood is not water. With that sort of leeway (particularly on a cantrip) you could end up with some truly terrifying power. This would enable you to manipulate most living things in the environment. I do not think that this is what is intended with this spell.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

IvarLivesIvarLives

513

New contributor

IvarLives is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

IvarLivesIvarLives

513

New contributor

IvarLives is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 7 hours ago

IvarLivesIvarLives

513

New contributor

IvarLives is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 7 hours ago

IvarLivesIvarLives

513