Elementals are living creatures? o_o

[magicalmagicman]

Does that mean I can implant necrotic cysts in them? How about Animate Dead? Elemental Zombies!

[Blackhawk748]

Does that mean I can implant necrotic cysts in them? How about Animate Dead? Elemental Zombies!

They are alive, but they are also Outsiders, so you cant animate them.

[frogglesmash]

They are alive, but they are also Outsiders, so you cant animate them.

As far as I can tell there's nothing in Animate Dead's description, or the Outsider creature type description that prevents outsiders from being animated,. Is it possible that you are actually thinking of Raise Dead?

[Duke of Urrel]

They are alive, but they are also Outsiders, so you cant animate them.

Elementals belong to their own creature type, the Elemental type (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#elementalType).

[Coidzor]

Necromentals are the undead forms of Elemental.

You can't ordinarily make Elementals into undead because they don't leave a usable corpse behind, and Zombies and Skeletons require a body with a skeletal system, so no dice on those two types of undead even if you have an elemental corpse.

[the_david]

Elementals belong to their own creature type, the Elemental type (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#elementalType).

Not in Pathfinder.

[Necroticplague]

Does that mean I can implant necrotic cysts in them? How about Animate Dead? Elemental Zombies!

Yes, no (elementals don't leave corpses, due to their body-soul unity), no (elementals don't have skeletal systems).

[hamishspence]

Not in Pathfinder.

"Classic elementals" in Pathfinder have the Outsider type, and the elemental subtype.

Given that outsiders sometimes do leave corpses - there's room for certain spells working on them.

[Coidzor]

IIRC, zombie fiends are fun, especially when combined with Awaken Undead.

[Fizban]

Dunno about Necrotic Cyst, but the problem with using Animate Dead on many elementals is the pesky lack of a skeleton (the spell only says "corpse" for zombies, but the Zombie template calls out the skeletal structure requirement). Planar Binding Outsiders is a fine way to call up animation fodder though.

[Starbuck_II]

Yes, no (elementals don't leave corpses, due to their body-soul unity), no (elementals don't have skeletal systems).

Actually, in D&D, nothing says that body soul affects that. Nothing says they don't have a skeleton. Pus, you don't need one for a zombie.

[zergling.exe]

Actually, in D&D, nothing says that body soul affects that. Nothing says they don't have a skeleton. Pus, you don't need one for a zombie.

As already brought up, the zombie template prevents it:
“Zombie” is an acquired template that can be added to any corporeal creature (other than an undead) that has a skeletal system (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

Bold to highlight.

So an elemental may be a valid target, but can't produce either a zombie or a skeleton since they don't have a skeletal system.

[magicalmagicman]

Ok so the consensus is that necrotic cyst affects elementals, but not animate dead because they don't have skeletons, but other outsiders such as fiends can be.

This is 3.5 btw, should be obvious because necrotic cysts don't exist in pathfinder