Does the damage of the Chaos Bolt spell against the first target resolve before it jumps to another creature?












15














How is the damage of the chaos bolt spell (XGtE, p. 151; GGtR, p. 67) applied?



It may sound straight forward, but I've read the spell's description about twenty times now and it doesn't specifically say.




You hurl an undulating, warbling mass of chaotic energy at one creature in range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage.



If you roll the same number on both d8s, the chaotic energy leaps from the target to a different creature of your choice within 30 feet of it. Make a new attack roll against the new target, and make a new damage roll, which could cause the chaotic energy to leap again.



A creature can be targeted only once by each casting of this spell.




You roll the attack, and let's say it hits. Then you roll 2d8+1d6, let's say both d8s are 5, meaning it would jump.



Here's the question. Does the damage resolve on the first target THEN attack the second and resolve on the second as well? Due to the "wild magic" perception of this spell, it would "hit" the first guy, but not damage him, instead moving to the second guy, until finally you stop rolling doubles.



Example:



I'm attacking Bob (because screw Bob), and he's got his buddies Ted and Dan. I roll to attack Bob, hit, roll damage: result is 8+8+6 (max damage, because Bob deserves that). That would mean it would jump to let's say Ted (because screw Ted).




  • Would Bob take the 8+8+6, and then I would roll to hit and damage
    Ted?


Or:




  • Would the damage to Bob not happen, and instead I would roll to hit
    and damage Ted?










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  • 1




    Great question! I feel like I know what it should be, but I can see where the language is confusing and could mean either. Hopefully a 5e guru will be around shortly to clear this up. While you wait, consider taking a quick tour of the site. There's some good information about what we do and how we do it.
    – Ifusaso
    16 hours ago
















15














How is the damage of the chaos bolt spell (XGtE, p. 151; GGtR, p. 67) applied?



It may sound straight forward, but I've read the spell's description about twenty times now and it doesn't specifically say.




You hurl an undulating, warbling mass of chaotic energy at one creature in range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage.



If you roll the same number on both d8s, the chaotic energy leaps from the target to a different creature of your choice within 30 feet of it. Make a new attack roll against the new target, and make a new damage roll, which could cause the chaotic energy to leap again.



A creature can be targeted only once by each casting of this spell.




You roll the attack, and let's say it hits. Then you roll 2d8+1d6, let's say both d8s are 5, meaning it would jump.



Here's the question. Does the damage resolve on the first target THEN attack the second and resolve on the second as well? Due to the "wild magic" perception of this spell, it would "hit" the first guy, but not damage him, instead moving to the second guy, until finally you stop rolling doubles.



Example:



I'm attacking Bob (because screw Bob), and he's got his buddies Ted and Dan. I roll to attack Bob, hit, roll damage: result is 8+8+6 (max damage, because Bob deserves that). That would mean it would jump to let's say Ted (because screw Ted).




  • Would Bob take the 8+8+6, and then I would roll to hit and damage
    Ted?


Or:




  • Would the damage to Bob not happen, and instead I would roll to hit
    and damage Ted?










share|improve this question









New contributor




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
















  • 1




    Great question! I feel like I know what it should be, but I can see where the language is confusing and could mean either. Hopefully a 5e guru will be around shortly to clear this up. While you wait, consider taking a quick tour of the site. There's some good information about what we do and how we do it.
    – Ifusaso
    16 hours ago














15












15








15


1





How is the damage of the chaos bolt spell (XGtE, p. 151; GGtR, p. 67) applied?



It may sound straight forward, but I've read the spell's description about twenty times now and it doesn't specifically say.




You hurl an undulating, warbling mass of chaotic energy at one creature in range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage.



If you roll the same number on both d8s, the chaotic energy leaps from the target to a different creature of your choice within 30 feet of it. Make a new attack roll against the new target, and make a new damage roll, which could cause the chaotic energy to leap again.



A creature can be targeted only once by each casting of this spell.




You roll the attack, and let's say it hits. Then you roll 2d8+1d6, let's say both d8s are 5, meaning it would jump.



Here's the question. Does the damage resolve on the first target THEN attack the second and resolve on the second as well? Due to the "wild magic" perception of this spell, it would "hit" the first guy, but not damage him, instead moving to the second guy, until finally you stop rolling doubles.



Example:



I'm attacking Bob (because screw Bob), and he's got his buddies Ted and Dan. I roll to attack Bob, hit, roll damage: result is 8+8+6 (max damage, because Bob deserves that). That would mean it would jump to let's say Ted (because screw Ted).




  • Would Bob take the 8+8+6, and then I would roll to hit and damage
    Ted?


Or:




  • Would the damage to Bob not happen, and instead I would roll to hit
    and damage Ted?










share|improve this question









New contributor




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











How is the damage of the chaos bolt spell (XGtE, p. 151; GGtR, p. 67) applied?



It may sound straight forward, but I've read the spell's description about twenty times now and it doesn't specifically say.




You hurl an undulating, warbling mass of chaotic energy at one creature in range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage.



If you roll the same number on both d8s, the chaotic energy leaps from the target to a different creature of your choice within 30 feet of it. Make a new attack roll against the new target, and make a new damage roll, which could cause the chaotic energy to leap again.



A creature can be targeted only once by each casting of this spell.




You roll the attack, and let's say it hits. Then you roll 2d8+1d6, let's say both d8s are 5, meaning it would jump.



Here's the question. Does the damage resolve on the first target THEN attack the second and resolve on the second as well? Due to the "wild magic" perception of this spell, it would "hit" the first guy, but not damage him, instead moving to the second guy, until finally you stop rolling doubles.



Example:



I'm attacking Bob (because screw Bob), and he's got his buddies Ted and Dan. I roll to attack Bob, hit, roll damage: result is 8+8+6 (max damage, because Bob deserves that). That would mean it would jump to let's say Ted (because screw Ted).




  • Would Bob take the 8+8+6, and then I would roll to hit and damage
    Ted?


Or:




  • Would the damage to Bob not happen, and instead I would roll to hit
    and damage Ted?







dnd-5e spells damage






share|improve this question









New contributor




Sorcerer_Farnsworth 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









New contributor




Sorcerer_Farnsworth 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




share|improve this question








edited 15 hours ago









V2Blast

19.9k357123




19.9k357123






New contributor




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









asked 17 hours ago









Sorcerer_FarnsworthSorcerer_Farnsworth

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822




New contributor




Sorcerer_Farnsworth is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor





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






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








  • 1




    Great question! I feel like I know what it should be, but I can see where the language is confusing and could mean either. Hopefully a 5e guru will be around shortly to clear this up. While you wait, consider taking a quick tour of the site. There's some good information about what we do and how we do it.
    – Ifusaso
    16 hours ago














  • 1




    Great question! I feel like I know what it should be, but I can see where the language is confusing and could mean either. Hopefully a 5e guru will be around shortly to clear this up. While you wait, consider taking a quick tour of the site. There's some good information about what we do and how we do it.
    – Ifusaso
    16 hours ago








1




1




Great question! I feel like I know what it should be, but I can see where the language is confusing and could mean either. Hopefully a 5e guru will be around shortly to clear this up. While you wait, consider taking a quick tour of the site. There's some good information about what we do and how we do it.
– Ifusaso
16 hours ago




Great question! I feel like I know what it should be, but I can see where the language is confusing and could mean either. Hopefully a 5e guru will be around shortly to clear this up. While you wait, consider taking a quick tour of the site. There's some good information about what we do and how we do it.
– Ifusaso
16 hours ago










1 Answer
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oldest

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26














On a hit, you deal damage



The spell states that, "on a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage". Nothing later in the spell contradicts this, so no matter what you roll on the dice, the target takes damage. Then you might make another attack roll etc., but that doesn't change the initial attack.



If the Bolt only bounces and doesn't deal damage, it is strictly inferior to Chromatic Orb



Chromatic Orb is another 1st level spell that Sorcerers get access to. It does 3d8 damage of the type you choose. If Chaos Bolt didn't do damage on a bounce, it would do less damage, have an uncontrollable type, and target unpredictably, making it worse in every way to Chromatic Orb. The fact that it can chain and do more damage to more targets is what makes it viable (and fun!).



The 5e developers generally don't make options that completely invalidate other options, and they wouldn't introduce one like Chaos Bolt in a supplemental book when Chromatic Orb was already in the PHB. They certainly make mistakes from time to time but this seems like an obvious one, and the fact that an un-chaining Chaos Bolt would be useless adds weight to the reasoning I used above.






share|improve this answer























  • Oh my gosh I can't believe I overlooked that ONE SPECIFIC thing. Thanks much. That helped a ton.
    – Sorcerer_Farnsworth
    16 hours ago










  • @Sorcerer_Farnsworth You're welcome, that's why we're here.
    – GreySage
    16 hours ago











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26














On a hit, you deal damage



The spell states that, "on a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage". Nothing later in the spell contradicts this, so no matter what you roll on the dice, the target takes damage. Then you might make another attack roll etc., but that doesn't change the initial attack.



If the Bolt only bounces and doesn't deal damage, it is strictly inferior to Chromatic Orb



Chromatic Orb is another 1st level spell that Sorcerers get access to. It does 3d8 damage of the type you choose. If Chaos Bolt didn't do damage on a bounce, it would do less damage, have an uncontrollable type, and target unpredictably, making it worse in every way to Chromatic Orb. The fact that it can chain and do more damage to more targets is what makes it viable (and fun!).



The 5e developers generally don't make options that completely invalidate other options, and they wouldn't introduce one like Chaos Bolt in a supplemental book when Chromatic Orb was already in the PHB. They certainly make mistakes from time to time but this seems like an obvious one, and the fact that an un-chaining Chaos Bolt would be useless adds weight to the reasoning I used above.






share|improve this answer























  • Oh my gosh I can't believe I overlooked that ONE SPECIFIC thing. Thanks much. That helped a ton.
    – Sorcerer_Farnsworth
    16 hours ago










  • @Sorcerer_Farnsworth You're welcome, that's why we're here.
    – GreySage
    16 hours ago
















26














On a hit, you deal damage



The spell states that, "on a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage". Nothing later in the spell contradicts this, so no matter what you roll on the dice, the target takes damage. Then you might make another attack roll etc., but that doesn't change the initial attack.



If the Bolt only bounces and doesn't deal damage, it is strictly inferior to Chromatic Orb



Chromatic Orb is another 1st level spell that Sorcerers get access to. It does 3d8 damage of the type you choose. If Chaos Bolt didn't do damage on a bounce, it would do less damage, have an uncontrollable type, and target unpredictably, making it worse in every way to Chromatic Orb. The fact that it can chain and do more damage to more targets is what makes it viable (and fun!).



The 5e developers generally don't make options that completely invalidate other options, and they wouldn't introduce one like Chaos Bolt in a supplemental book when Chromatic Orb was already in the PHB. They certainly make mistakes from time to time but this seems like an obvious one, and the fact that an un-chaining Chaos Bolt would be useless adds weight to the reasoning I used above.






share|improve this answer























  • Oh my gosh I can't believe I overlooked that ONE SPECIFIC thing. Thanks much. That helped a ton.
    – Sorcerer_Farnsworth
    16 hours ago










  • @Sorcerer_Farnsworth You're welcome, that's why we're here.
    – GreySage
    16 hours ago














26












26








26






On a hit, you deal damage



The spell states that, "on a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage". Nothing later in the spell contradicts this, so no matter what you roll on the dice, the target takes damage. Then you might make another attack roll etc., but that doesn't change the initial attack.



If the Bolt only bounces and doesn't deal damage, it is strictly inferior to Chromatic Orb



Chromatic Orb is another 1st level spell that Sorcerers get access to. It does 3d8 damage of the type you choose. If Chaos Bolt didn't do damage on a bounce, it would do less damage, have an uncontrollable type, and target unpredictably, making it worse in every way to Chromatic Orb. The fact that it can chain and do more damage to more targets is what makes it viable (and fun!).



The 5e developers generally don't make options that completely invalidate other options, and they wouldn't introduce one like Chaos Bolt in a supplemental book when Chromatic Orb was already in the PHB. They certainly make mistakes from time to time but this seems like an obvious one, and the fact that an un-chaining Chaos Bolt would be useless adds weight to the reasoning I used above.






share|improve this answer














On a hit, you deal damage



The spell states that, "on a hit, the target takes 2d8 + 1d6 damage". Nothing later in the spell contradicts this, so no matter what you roll on the dice, the target takes damage. Then you might make another attack roll etc., but that doesn't change the initial attack.



If the Bolt only bounces and doesn't deal damage, it is strictly inferior to Chromatic Orb



Chromatic Orb is another 1st level spell that Sorcerers get access to. It does 3d8 damage of the type you choose. If Chaos Bolt didn't do damage on a bounce, it would do less damage, have an uncontrollable type, and target unpredictably, making it worse in every way to Chromatic Orb. The fact that it can chain and do more damage to more targets is what makes it viable (and fun!).



The 5e developers generally don't make options that completely invalidate other options, and they wouldn't introduce one like Chaos Bolt in a supplemental book when Chromatic Orb was already in the PHB. They certainly make mistakes from time to time but this seems like an obvious one, and the fact that an un-chaining Chaos Bolt would be useless adds weight to the reasoning I used above.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 16 hours ago

























answered 16 hours ago









GreySageGreySage

14.2k45094




14.2k45094












  • Oh my gosh I can't believe I overlooked that ONE SPECIFIC thing. Thanks much. That helped a ton.
    – Sorcerer_Farnsworth
    16 hours ago










  • @Sorcerer_Farnsworth You're welcome, that's why we're here.
    – GreySage
    16 hours ago


















  • Oh my gosh I can't believe I overlooked that ONE SPECIFIC thing. Thanks much. That helped a ton.
    – Sorcerer_Farnsworth
    16 hours ago










  • @Sorcerer_Farnsworth You're welcome, that's why we're here.
    – GreySage
    16 hours ago
















Oh my gosh I can't believe I overlooked that ONE SPECIFIC thing. Thanks much. That helped a ton.
– Sorcerer_Farnsworth
16 hours ago




Oh my gosh I can't believe I overlooked that ONE SPECIFIC thing. Thanks much. That helped a ton.
– Sorcerer_Farnsworth
16 hours ago












@Sorcerer_Farnsworth You're welcome, that's why we're here.
– GreySage
16 hours ago




@Sorcerer_Farnsworth You're welcome, that's why we're here.
– GreySage
16 hours ago










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










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