Bypassing Immunity to Negative Levels

[Vaz]

Is there any way this is possible?

[Keneth]

You can completely bypass the immunity by using virtually anything other than negative levels.

Sorry, couldn't help myself. Pathfinder has Thanatopic Spell (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/thanatopic-spell-metamagic) metamagic which, of course, only works for spells. Not sure if there's any way to make inherent abilities bypass immunity to negative levels, but if you find one, my vampire would like a word with you. :smallamused:

[Zanos]

The Spark of Life spell works for undead, and the Humanoid Essence line works for constructs. I can't find humanoid essence right now, but Spark of Life is a 7/8th level spell that requires a will save, and if you can get them to fail that you're better off doing something else, probably.

[TuggyNE]

Well, you can always get the target to hold a holy/unholy/anarchic/axiomatic weapon, according to their alignment, or otherwise use some other alignment-restricted magic item that slaps negative levels on.

That's not very practical, though. Unfortunately, besides humanoid essence/spark of life and dispelling death ward or similar, there isn't really much that's generally applicable. And, in particular, nothing I know of without a save/dispel check.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

What are you trying to inflict negative levels on?

[peacenlove]

Dispel magic (and its bigger brothers) to the items / spell effects granting the immunity. They usually have a low caster level (for items at least) and an abjuration aura.

[ShurikVch]

I am unaware of such immunity.
Which creatures (classes/items/spells/powers/mysteries/meldshapes...) grant it?
If it about energy drain immunity, then it protect only from Energy Drain spell, monster attack of the same name, and derivatives from them.
For example, Enervation spell completely penetrate it, and Fell Drain metamagic too.

[Vaz]

I am unaware of such immunity.
Which creatures (classes/items/spells/powers/mysteries/meldshapes...) grant it?
If it about energy drain immunity, then it protect only from Energy Drain spell, monster attack of the same name, and derivatives from them.
For example, Enervation spell completely penetrate it, and Fell Drain metamagic too.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/deathWard.htm

It's immunity to to Negative energy effects, which things like the aforementioned Enervation is;


releasing a black ray of crackling negative energy

Specifically, Undead etc have bonuses gained via Negative energy, and things like a Vampire's Slam specify Living opponents.

However, Death Ward renders me immune, but dispelling the Death Ward is a viable enough tactic, as I actually thought that Negative Levels were far easier to protect against than they were.

[ShurikVch]

Yes, Death Ward is one of the most powerful protective spells in the game. Even power of greater gods unable to bypass it outright.

But it protect against negative energy, not negative levels.

For example, Void Disciple have capstone ability Void Strike, which is inflict negative levels, but outright said not related to negative energy.

Mindwipe is [Mind-Affecting] power, but it lacks mention of negative energy, so I seriously doubt Death Ward can stop it.

[Keneth]

Putting the few rare exceptions aside, negative levels are almost always the result of energy drain and/or negative energy.

And Void Strike states that it doesn't benefit undead, but it doesn't state that it can affect them negatively, so that's up to DM discretion.

[Chronos]

Aha, I thought I had already responded to this topic (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304098)!

[Venger]

The Spark of Life spell works for undead, and the Humanoid Essence line works for constructs. I can't find humanoid essence right now, but Spark of Life is a 7/8th level spell that requires a will save, and if you can get them to fail that you're better off doing something else, probably.

spark of life has since been updated to the far more reasonable level of 3rd as per the spell compendium

PaO would work. all you need to do is turn them into something living and then you can blast them with negative levels.