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

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

How do you determine the 'most potent effect' for overlapping spells?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?

3

$begingroup$

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 1 hour ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

212

New contributor

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

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

$begingroup$

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 1 hour ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

212

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
  1 hour 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 1 hour ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

212

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 1 hour ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

212

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 1 hour ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

212

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 1 hour ago

V2Blast

25k383155

edited 1 hour ago

V2Blast

25k383155

asked 1 hour ago

BrendanBrendan

212

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

212

1 Answer
1

active

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6

$begingroup$

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.

---

Note: It is possible to cast Absorb Elements twice such that the durations overlap, but the damage won't stack. This is because a character's Reaction resets at the start of their turn, not at the end:

When you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn.

For example, suppose the Sorcerer takes fire damage before their turn, using their reaction to cast Absorb Elements. Then on the Sorcerer's turn, once their reaction resets, they somehow take fire damage again, and spend their reaction (again) to cast Absorb Elements (again). This would mean having multiple castings of the same spell, but their benefits do not stack:

The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect--such as the highest bonus--from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.

If the Sorcerer proceeds to make an attack on this same turn, then only the "most recent" or "most potent" casting of Absorb Elements would apply to that attack.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 mins ago

answered 1 hour 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
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

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

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  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
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @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
  42 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @RyanThompson that's an interesting question, I think it merits its own Q&A.
  $endgroup$
  – Ruse
  36 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

Your Answer

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6

$begingroup$

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.

---

Note: It is possible to cast Absorb Elements twice such that the durations overlap, but the damage won't stack. This is because a character's Reaction resets at the start of their turn, not at the end:

When you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn.

For example, suppose the Sorcerer takes fire damage before their turn, using their reaction to cast Absorb Elements. Then on the Sorcerer's turn, once their reaction resets, they somehow take fire damage again, and spend their reaction (again) to cast Absorb Elements (again). This would mean having multiple castings of the same spell, but their benefits do not stack:

The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect--such as the highest bonus--from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.

If the Sorcerer proceeds to make an attack on this same turn, then only the "most recent" or "most potent" casting of Absorb Elements would apply to that attack.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 mins ago

answered 1 hour 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
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

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

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  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
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @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
  42 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @RyanThompson that's an interesting question, I think it merits its own Q&A.
  $endgroup$
  – Ruse
  36 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

6

$begingroup$

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.

---

Note: It is possible to cast Absorb Elements twice such that the durations overlap, but the damage won't stack. This is because a character's Reaction resets at the start of their turn, not at the end:

When you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn.

For example, suppose the Sorcerer takes fire damage before their turn, using their reaction to cast Absorb Elements. Then on the Sorcerer's turn, once their reaction resets, they somehow take fire damage again, and spend their reaction (again) to cast Absorb Elements (again). This would mean having multiple castings of the same spell, but their benefits do not stack:

The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect--such as the highest bonus--from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.

If the Sorcerer proceeds to make an attack on this same turn, then only the "most recent" or "most potent" casting of Absorb Elements would apply to that attack.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 mins ago

answered 1 hour 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
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

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

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  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
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @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
  42 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @RyanThompson that's an interesting question, I think it merits its own Q&A.
  $endgroup$
  – Ruse
  36 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

$begingroup$

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.

---

Note: It is possible to cast Absorb Elements twice such that the durations overlap, but the damage won't stack. This is because a character's Reaction resets at the start of their turn, not at the end:

When you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn.

For example, suppose the Sorcerer takes fire damage before their turn, using their reaction to cast Absorb Elements. Then on the Sorcerer's turn, once their reaction resets, they somehow take fire damage again, and spend their reaction (again) to cast Absorb Elements (again). This would mean having multiple castings of the same spell, but their benefits do not stack:

The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect--such as the highest bonus--from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.

If the Sorcerer proceeds to make an attack on this same turn, then only the "most recent" or "most potent" casting of Absorb Elements would apply to that attack.

share|improve this answer

edited 8 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited 8 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

answered 1 hour ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286

answered 1 hour ago

MikeQMikeQ

14.7k63286