swarms with evasion?

[SangoProduction]

Swarms as a baseline are kinda annoying, especially since, unless you've a blaster, you are going to have a hard time cutting through its various immunities (often from vermin type in addition to swarm), and damage reduction (or outright immunity).

So, how do you deal with one that has evasion? (Hell, who even thinks about Gust of Wind, let alone prepare it?)

[AnimeTheCat]

Often times I will have characters that carry flasks of alchemists flame or acid or whatever else our wizard or whomever concocts. Those help a lot with swarms and are incredibly handy to have around.

EDIT: This just in, if you have a flaming or frost type weapon, the extra damage is dealt fully which bypasses the need to even worry about evasion.

[Psyren]

Swarms as a baseline are kinda annoying, especially since, unless you've a blaster, you are going to have a hard time cutting through its various immunities (often from vermin type in addition to swarm), and damage reduction (or outright immunity).

So, how do you deal with one that has evasion? (Hell, who even thinks about Gust of Wind, let alone prepare it?)

Well for starters, just because they have evasion doesn't mean they'll succeed at their reflex save. If you're a dedicated blaster, you should have a decent save DC; if you don't, you should probably work on that because swarms are the least of your worries.

But let's assume their reflex save is somehow just that good; the simple answer is to use spells that don't have one instead, like Ice Storm or Shout.

[SangoProduction]

Well for starters, just because they have evasion doesn't mean they'll succeed at their reflex save. If you're a dedicated blaster, you should have a decent save DC; if you don't, you should probably work on that because swarms are the least of your worries.

But let's assume their reflex save is somehow just that good; the simple answer is to use spells that don't have one instead, like Ice Storm or Shout.

Oh right, there are some evo spells that don't use saves.

[AvatarVecna]

Oh right, there are some evo spells that don't use saves.

There's also blasting spells that offer saves other than Reflex (which evasion won't apply to), like Cone Of Cold.

[Psyren]

There's also blasting spells that offer saves other than Reflex (which evasion won't apply to), like Cone Of Cold.

Cone of Cold does have a reflex save - you might be thinking of the cold version of Energy Cone, the psionic power, which uses Fort instead.

[Florian]

So, how do you deal with one that has evasion? (Hell, who even thinks about Gust of Wind, let alone prepare it?)

Damage aura type spells, like Fire Shield?

[AvatarVecna]

Cone of Cold does have a reflex save - you might be thinking of the cold version of Energy Cone, the psionic power, which uses Fort instead.

Actually, was thinking of Cone Of Cold, but I was recalling the wrong edition (5e has it as a Constitution save). :smallredface:

[sleepyphoenixx]

Summon something with a non-ref save aoe effect. Or Gust of Wind, a few summons have that too.
Alternatively cast Haboob, which is one of my favorite spells of its level anyway.
Most of the summon lists have something suitable and swarms generally have crap hp so the low damage isn't too much of an issue.

If you're not a spellcaster it's your own damn fault for not carrying an item to deal with swarms.
A few Screaming Flasks or Firestones are affordable for everyone above level 1. Insectbane Candles are affordable for anyone.

Basically i get and advise any party members to get a Shax's Indispensible Haversack (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?148101-3-x-Shax-s-Indispensible-Haversack-(Equipment-Handbook)), at least the first level.
It doesn't have a great option to deal with everything, but it has usable options to deal with most things. Which is a lot more than most characters carry otherwise.

[Darrin]

Thanks for the plug, but you can go even cheaper than alchemists' fire. Do you have a copper piece? Buy a torch. Or buy 100 of 'em for 1 GP. Torch = 1d6 fire damage.