Find Steed vs. Death Ray

[Dr. Cliché]

So, in our last session, a paladin's steed (the one created via Find Steed) was reduced to 0hp via a Beholder's Death Ray.

Death Ray states that any creature reduced to 0hp by it is killed.

What happens to the steed? Is it permanently killed by the death ray or does it just vanish as normal since it was reduced to 0hp?


As a follow-up question, what would happen if a paladin's steed was killed by Power Word Kill (which wouldn't reduce it to 0hp)?

[Unoriginal]

So, in our last session, a paladin's steed (the one created via Find Steed) was reduced to 0hp via a Beholder's Death Ray.

Death Ray states that any creature reduced to 0hp by it is killed.

What happens to the steed? Is it permanently killed by the death ray or does it just vanish as normal since it was reduced to 0hp?


As a follow-up question, what would happen if a paladin's steed was killed by Power Word Kill (which wouldn't reduce it to 0hp)?

The Steed is a spirit that goes back to its home plane when killed, so it'll just come back once called again.

[Dr. Cliché]

The Steed is a spirit that goes back to its home plane when killed, so it'll just come back once called again.

Is there any actual rule confirming this?

[DrowPiratRobrts]

Is there any actual rule confirming this?

"When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. You can also dismiss your steed at any time as an action, causing it to disappear. In either case, casting this spell again summons the same steed, restored to its hit point maximum."

Specific over General: This specific spirit has a rule that applies to only itself when it hits 0 hp. That's more specific than the Death Ray, which applies to creatures in general.

"You summon a spirit that assumes the form of..."

You might also argue that a "Spirit" isn't a "creature" but the first option should suffice.

[Dr. Cliché]

"When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. You can also dismiss your steed at any time as an action, causing it to disappear. In either case, casting this spell again summons the same steed, restored to its hit point maximum."

Specific over General: This specific spirit has a rule that applies to only itself when it hits 0 hp. That's more specific than the Death Ray, which applies to creatures in general.

Okay, but what about the Power Word: Death example?

In this case, the Steed never drops to 0hp - it just dies.

[Unoriginal]

Okay, but what about the Power Word: Death example?

In this case, the Steed never drops to 0hp - it just dies.

Doesn't matter, it's still a spirit who'll show up again next time the spell.

[Zanthy1]

Okay, but what about the Power Word: Death example?

In this case, the Steed never drops to 0hp - it just dies.

Death in DnD 5e means hp is 0. Find Steed is a spell that summons a spirit in the shape of a mount. It never says its the same spirit, so even if you did say Power Word: Kill gets rid of that one, you can just summon another in 10 minutes.

[DrowPiratRobrts]

Death in DnD 5e means hp is 0. Find Steed is a spell that summons a spirit in the shape of a mount. It never says its the same spirit, so even if you did say Power Word: Kill gets rid of that one, you can just summon another in 10 minutes.

THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS?!?!

"When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. You can also dismiss your steed at any time as an action, causing it to disappear. In either case, casting this spell again summons the same steed, restored to its hit point maximum."

*DRAMATIC BUM BUM BUM*

[youtellatale]

THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS?!?!

"When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. You can also dismiss your steed at any time as an action, causing it to disappear. In either case, casting this spell again summons the same steed, restored to its hit point maximum."

*DRAMATIC BUM BUM BUM*

Then you learn a slightly different version of the spell with moderately changed inflection. Therefore it summons a new steed and everyone is fine because literally there is nothing to get riled up about. You cannot perma-death a spell.

[Asmotherion]

There are two ways to view Familiars and Steeds

One is as Creatures, able to die, the other is as "spirits", or Class Features.

If you view them as Creatures, you make the world around you more shifting and Dangerous, thus, make the RP more volatile, and the conseuences of actions more permanent.

If you view them as "Spirits", the world becomes more stable and less dangerous, kinda like a PC game.

It's kinda the same as how often (or if at all) resurection will be avalable in your game, for players who are dead. Is death a permanent event in your game or not? Perhaps something in between? Perhaps the Spirit is not dead, but you need to cast some form of costly ritual to revive your Ally (as per the 10gp for Find Familiar).

Those Details are up to the DM to deside, and I think it's deliberate for each DM to decide the Tone of their campain, or how Dangerous their World will effectivelly be.

Ultimatelly, permanancy or the effective avalability of resurection (be it for your companion NPCs or for the PCs) is a very effective way to set the tone of your campain.