Erupting Earth spell questions...

[samcifer]

I really like the flavor of Erupting Earth, but have a few questions...

1. Does the bludgeoning damage count as magical for overcoming resistances?

2. Would it work in an environment of snow and ice (Icewind Dale campaign, specifically)?

[MaxWilson]

Ask your DM.

My answer would be: yes, and yes. But mine doesn't matter.

[Protolisk]

Most monsters have their resistances written as "Resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks". Since Erupting Earth isn't an attack, it's not resisted by that form of resistance. Meanwhile, the Treant is flatly resistant to all bludgeoning, so that would be resistant.

[RogueJK]

Most monsters have their resistances written as "Resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks". Since Erupting Earth isn't an attack, it's not resisted by that form of resistance.

Besides, it's magical bludgeoning damage anyway. So it's not resisted for two good reasons.

Even if the B/P/S damage were based on an attack, like with the Hunter's Mark spell, the damage from the spell itself is magical B/P/S damage and isn't resisted: https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/663025214926655489


Meanwhile, the Treant is flatly resistant to all bludgeoning, so that would be resistant.

Correct. There's no "nonmagical only" caveat to their Resistance.

[ImproperJustice]

This spell can really do some damage via a Sorcerer with Empower spell and their higher chance of getting the fiddly d12s to cooperate.

Makes it scale well at higher levels.

And I agree with above posters on all accounts but your GM mileage may vary.