Gsyfuy

Violin - Can double stops be played when the strings are not next to each other?

Maths symbols and unicode-math input inside siunitx commands

What favor did Moody owe Dumbledore?

Hausdorff dimension of the boundary of fibres of Lipschitz maps

Why didn't Héctor fade away after this character died in the movie Coco?

What is the term when voters “dishonestly” choose something that they do not want to choose?

Knife as defense against stray dogs

Are dual Irish/British citizens bound by the 90/180 day rule when travelling in the EU after Brexit?

What exactly term 'companion plants' means?

Turning a hard to access nut?

Is it possible to stack the damage done by the Absorb Elements spell?

Light propagating through a sound wave

What does "^L" mean in C?

How could an airship be repaired midflight?

Have the tides ever turned twice on any open problem?

Can other pieces capture a threatening piece and prevent a checkmate?

Practical application of matrices and determinants

Differential and Linear trail propagation in Noekeon

Writing in a Christian voice

If "dar" means "to give", what does "daros" mean?

How are passwords stolen from companies if they only store hashes?

Does the attack bonus from a Masterwork weapon stack with the attack bonus from Masterwork ammunition?

Is honey really a supersaturated solution? Does heating to un-crystalize redissolve it or melt it?

Help rendering a complicated sum/product formula

Is it possible to stack the damage done by the Absorb Elements spell?

Does your spell modifier add to your spell damage?Does Absorb Elements give you resistance to damage from the triggering attack?Does a Lore Master's Spell Secrets ability change only a spell's damage output, or all references to a damage type?Does the extra damage from Booming Blade stack if the spell is cast twice on the same target?Is a melee spell attack also a melee attack?Do you still make saving throws for half when benefiting from Absorb Elements?Is Heart of the Storm triggered by spells that may or may not deal lightning or thunder damage?Is it possible to add more variety to the Create A Spell table without breaking game balance?Is there a reason this homebrew spell wouldn't work with the Attack action?Does the Absorb Elements spell combine with a sorcerer's Distant Spell metamagic option?

1

$begingroup$

The absorb elements spell says

The spell captures some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect
on you and storing it for your next melee attack. You have resistance
to the triggering damage type until the start of your next turn. Also,
the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the
target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell
ends.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd
level or higher, the extra damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level
above 1st.

So if my Sorcerer is hit with a fire bolt from the enemy mage, I use my reaction to cast absorb elements at 3rd level so I now have 3d6 fire damage stored for my next melee attack, I then use my action to cast a 1st-level spell and my turn ends, resetting my reaction. Another enemy hits me with chain lightning and I use absorb elements again at 3rd level.

Do I now have 3d6 fire + 3d6 lightning or just 3d6 lightning stored for my next melee attack?

dnd-5e spells damage stacking

share|improve this question

edited 55 mins ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

161

New contributor

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

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance.
  $endgroup$
  – V2Blast
  54 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

$begingroup$

The absorb elements spell says

The spell captures some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect
on you and storing it for your next melee attack. You have resistance
to the triggering damage type until the start of your next turn. Also,
the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the
target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell
ends.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd
level or higher, the extra damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level
above 1st.

So if my Sorcerer is hit with a fire bolt from the enemy mage, I use my reaction to cast absorb elements at 3rd level so I now have 3d6 fire damage stored for my next melee attack, I then use my action to cast a 1st-level spell and my turn ends, resetting my reaction. Another enemy hits me with chain lightning and I use absorb elements again at 3rd level.

Do I now have 3d6 fire + 3d6 lightning or just 3d6 lightning stored for my next melee attack?

dnd-5e spells damage stacking

share|improve this question

edited 55 mins ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

161

New contributor

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

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance.
  $endgroup$
  – V2Blast
  54 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

The absorb elements spell says

The spell captures some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect
on you and storing it for your next melee attack. You have resistance
to the triggering damage type until the start of your next turn. Also,
the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the
target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell
ends.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd
level or higher, the extra damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level
above 1st.

So if my Sorcerer is hit with a fire bolt from the enemy mage, I use my reaction to cast absorb elements at 3rd level so I now have 3d6 fire damage stored for my next melee attack, I then use my action to cast a 1st-level spell and my turn ends, resetting my reaction. Another enemy hits me with chain lightning and I use absorb elements again at 3rd level.

Do I now have 3d6 fire + 3d6 lightning or just 3d6 lightning stored for my next melee attack?

dnd-5e spells damage stacking

share|improve this question

edited 55 mins ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

161

New contributor

Brendan 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 question

edited 55 mins ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

161

New contributor

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

share|improve this question

edited 55 mins ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

161

New contributor

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

edited 55 mins ago

V2Blast

25k383155

edited 55 mins ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

161

New contributor

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

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

161

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

4

$begingroup$

No, the extra damage is only added to one attack on your next turn.

Read the Absorb Elements text carefully:

Also, the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell ends.

(emphasis added by me)

The spell only provides a benefit during the turn after you cast Absorb Elements. You cannot "store" the extra damage across multiple turns.

If the Sorcerer did not make a melee attack roll on their next turn, then the benefit of Absorb Elements is lost at the end of that turn.

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I think it's worth noting that even though the damage buff from absorb elements only lasts until the end of your next turn, it's still possible to cast it twice and then attack on your turn. Cast it once before your turn, then, when your turn starts, your reaction comes back and you cast it again on your turn (perhaps in response to an opportunity attack made with an elemental-enchanted weapon), and then finally make a melee attack on your turn. So you might want to explain what happens in that case.
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  36 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  +1, but if you could get an enemy to hit you with elemental damage on your next turn, you could actually use absorb elements again and stack the damage.
  $endgroup$
  – Miniman
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I thought multiple castings of the same spell don't stack.
  $endgroup$
  – MikeQ
  32 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I'm saying that it's possible to apply two castings of absorb elements to the same attack, and it's not 100% clear what happens in this case, especially if the triggering damage types are different, as in the OP's example. If they don't stack, then which is the "stronger effect" of 3d6 fire and 3d6 lightning?
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  30 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @RyanThompson I understand that you can cast absorb elements once before your turn, then again during your turn, and then attack. But that means having the same spell active twice, and so the second casting replaces the first. Am I missing something?
  $endgroup$
  – MikeQ
  5 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

Your Answer

StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");

StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "122"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});

function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});


}
});

Brendan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.

draft saved

draft discarded

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Sign up using Google

Sign up using Facebook

Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

Name

Email

Required, but never shown

StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f143360%2fis-it-possible-to-stack-the-damage-done-by-the-absorb-elements-spell%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest

Name

Email

Required, but never shown

4

$begingroup$

No, the extra damage is only added to one attack on your next turn.

Read the Absorb Elements text carefully:

Also, the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell ends.

(emphasis added by me)

The spell only provides a benefit during the turn after you cast Absorb Elements. You cannot "store" the extra damage across multiple turns.

If the Sorcerer did not make a melee attack roll on their next turn, then the benefit of Absorb Elements is lost at the end of that turn.

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I think it's worth noting that even though the damage buff from absorb elements only lasts until the end of your next turn, it's still possible to cast it twice and then attack on your turn. Cast it once before your turn, then, when your turn starts, your reaction comes back and you cast it again on your turn (perhaps in response to an opportunity attack made with an elemental-enchanted weapon), and then finally make a melee attack on your turn. So you might want to explain what happens in that case.
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  36 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  +1, but if you could get an enemy to hit you with elemental damage on your next turn, you could actually use absorb elements again and stack the damage.
  $endgroup$
  – Miniman
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I thought multiple castings of the same spell don't stack.
  $endgroup$
  – MikeQ
  32 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I'm saying that it's possible to apply two castings of absorb elements to the same attack, and it's not 100% clear what happens in this case, especially if the triggering damage types are different, as in the OP's example. If they don't stack, then which is the "stronger effect" of 3d6 fire and 3d6 lightning?
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  30 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @RyanThompson I understand that you can cast absorb elements once before your turn, then again during your turn, and then attack. But that means having the same spell active twice, and so the second casting replaces the first. Am I missing something?
  $endgroup$
  – MikeQ
  5 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

4

$begingroup$

No, the extra damage is only added to one attack on your next turn.

Read the Absorb Elements text carefully:

Also, the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell ends.

(emphasis added by me)

The spell only provides a benefit during the turn after you cast Absorb Elements. You cannot "store" the extra damage across multiple turns.

If the Sorcerer did not make a melee attack roll on their next turn, then the benefit of Absorb Elements is lost at the end of that turn.

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I think it's worth noting that even though the damage buff from absorb elements only lasts until the end of your next turn, it's still possible to cast it twice and then attack on your turn. Cast it once before your turn, then, when your turn starts, your reaction comes back and you cast it again on your turn (perhaps in response to an opportunity attack made with an elemental-enchanted weapon), and then finally make a melee attack on your turn. So you might want to explain what happens in that case.
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  36 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  +1, but if you could get an enemy to hit you with elemental damage on your next turn, you could actually use absorb elements again and stack the damage.
  $endgroup$
  – Miniman
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I thought multiple castings of the same spell don't stack.
  $endgroup$
  – MikeQ
  32 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  I'm saying that it's possible to apply two castings of absorb elements to the same attack, and it's not 100% clear what happens in this case, especially if the triggering damage types are different, as in the OP's example. If they don't stack, then which is the "stronger effect" of 3d6 fire and 3d6 lightning?
  $endgroup$
  – Ryan Thompson
  30 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @RyanThompson I understand that you can cast absorb elements once before your turn, then again during your turn, and then attack. But that means having the same spell active twice, and so the second casting replaces the first. Am I missing something?
  $endgroup$
  – MikeQ
  5 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

$begingroup$

No, the extra damage is only added to one attack on your next turn.

Read the Absorb Elements text carefully:

Also, the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell ends.

(emphasis added by me)

The spell only provides a benefit during the turn after you cast Absorb Elements. You cannot "store" the extra damage across multiple turns.

If the Sorcerer did not make a melee attack roll on their next turn, then the benefit of Absorb Elements is lost at the end of that turn.

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

answered 48 mins ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

answered 48 mins ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286