Can a Sorcerer twin a spell to hit a creature with two heads with both attacks?
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During our campaign this weekend we encountered an Ettin named Oinkers Boinkers. It had two heads (one head was Oinkers, the other was Boinkers), each with a different personality and it acted like two creatures in one body.
A sorcerer can twin a single-target spell to hit a second target that is different from the first target.
Legally, a basic Ettin is one target, I think, but the fact that I could say "I'm targeting Oinkers" or "I'm targeting Boinkers" suggests that there are two implied targets and a sorcerer could legally twin an attack spell to hit both heads but for their shared health pool.
Could a sorcerer act in this way?
Related: What qualifies for the target of a spell?
dnd-5e spells sorcerer metamagic targeting
edited Dec 11 at 1:52
V2Blast
19.2k252119
asked Dec 10 at 22:37
Rykara
2,184322
add a comment |
During our campaign this weekend we encountered an Ettin named Oinkers Boinkers. It had two heads (one head was Oinkers, the other was Boinkers), each with a different personality and it acted like two creatures in one body.
A sorcerer can twin a single-target spell to hit a second target that is different from the first target.
Legally, a basic Ettin is one target, I think, but the fact that I could say "I'm targeting Oinkers" or "I'm targeting Boinkers" suggests that there are two implied targets and a sorcerer could legally twin an attack spell to hit both heads but for their shared health pool.
Could a sorcerer act in this way?
Related: What qualifies for the target of a spell?
dnd-5e spells sorcerer metamagic targeting
edited Dec 11 at 1:52
V2Blast
19.2k252119
asked Dec 10 at 22:37
Rykara
2,184322
add a comment |
During our campaign this weekend we encountered an Ettin named Oinkers Boinkers. It had two heads (one head was Oinkers, the other was Boinkers), each with a different personality and it acted like two creatures in one body.
A sorcerer can twin a single-target spell to hit a second target that is different from the first target.
Legally, a basic Ettin is one target, I think, but the fact that I could say "I'm targeting Oinkers" or "I'm targeting Boinkers" suggests that there are two implied targets and a sorcerer could legally twin an attack spell to hit both heads but for their shared health pool.
Could a sorcerer act in this way?
Related: What qualifies for the target of a spell?
dnd-5e spells sorcerer metamagic targeting
edited Dec 11 at 1:52
V2Blast
19.2k252119
asked Dec 10 at 22:37
Rykara
2,184322
During our campaign this weekend we encountered an Ettin named Oinkers Boinkers. It had two heads (one head was Oinkers, the other was Boinkers), each with a different personality and it acted like two creatures in one body.
A sorcerer can twin a single-target spell to hit a second target that is different from the first target.
Legally, a basic Ettin is one target, I think, but the fact that I could say "I'm targeting Oinkers" or "I'm targeting Boinkers" suggests that there are two implied targets and a sorcerer could legally twin an attack spell to hit both heads but for their shared health pool.
Could a sorcerer act in this way?
Related: What qualifies for the target of a spell?
dnd-5e spells sorcerer metamagic targeting
dnd-5e spells sorcerer metamagic targeting
edited Dec 11 at 1:52
V2Blast
19.2k252119
asked Dec 10 at 22:37
Rykara
2,184322
edited Dec 11 at 1:52
V2Blast
19.2k252119
asked Dec 10 at 22:37
Rykara
2,184322
edited Dec 11 at 1:52
V2Blast
19.2k252119
edited Dec 11 at 1:52
V2Blast
19.2k252119
edited Dec 11 at 1:52
V2Blast
19.2k252119
19.2k252119
asked Dec 10 at 22:37
Rykara
2,184322
asked Dec 10 at 22:37
Rykara
2,184322
asked Dec 10 at 22:37
Rykara
2,184322
2,184322
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures
The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:
When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).
An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.
This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):
Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.
...
When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.
answered Dec 10 at 22:42
NathanS
22.9k6105245
4
Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
– Miniman
Dec 10 at 23:02
I might make a note about creatures where you can target a head, such as the hydra. You can target individual heads of hydra to sever/cauterize them, severing damage does not affect HP.
– ravery
Dec 11 at 6:01
1
@ravery That's not how I read the Hydra; MM p. 190 "Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies". I read this as still only having one creature, one target, and "cutting off heads" is purely narrative.
– NathanS
Dec 11 at 7:44
1
hmmm, maybe I'm thinking of a different edition,or another monster ...
– ravery
Dec 11 at 8:23
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures
The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:
When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).
An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.
This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):
Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.
...
When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.
answered Dec 10 at 22:42
NathanS
22.9k6105245
4
Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
– Miniman
Dec 10 at 23:02
I might make a note about creatures where you can target a head, such as the hydra. You can target individual heads of hydra to sever/cauterize them, severing damage does not affect HP.
– ravery
Dec 11 at 6:01
1
@ravery That's not how I read the Hydra; MM p. 190 "Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies". I read this as still only having one creature, one target, and "cutting off heads" is purely narrative.
– NathanS
Dec 11 at 7:44
1
hmmm, maybe I'm thinking of a different edition,or another monster ...
– ravery
Dec 11 at 8:23
add a comment |
No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures
The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:
When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).
An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.
This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):
Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.
...
When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.
answered Dec 10 at 22:42
NathanS
22.9k6105245
4
Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
– Miniman
Dec 10 at 23:02
I might make a note about creatures where you can target a head, such as the hydra. You can target individual heads of hydra to sever/cauterize them, severing damage does not affect HP.
– ravery
Dec 11 at 6:01
1
@ravery That's not how I read the Hydra; MM p. 190 "Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies". I read this as still only having one creature, one target, and "cutting off heads" is purely narrative.
– NathanS
Dec 11 at 7:44
1
hmmm, maybe I'm thinking of a different edition,or another monster ...
– ravery
Dec 11 at 8:23
add a comment |
No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures
The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:
When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).
An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.
This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):
Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.
...
When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.
answered Dec 10 at 22:42
NathanS
22.9k6105245
No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures
The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:
When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).
An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.
This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):
Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.
...
When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.
answered Dec 10 at 22:42
NathanS
22.9k6105245
answered Dec 10 at 22:42
NathanS
22.9k6105245
answered Dec 10 at 22:42
NathanS
22.9k6105245
answered Dec 10 at 22:42
NathanS
22.9k6105245
22.9k6105245
4
Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
– Miniman
Dec 10 at 23:02
I might make a note about creatures where you can target a head, such as the hydra. You can target individual heads of hydra to sever/cauterize them, severing damage does not affect HP.
– ravery
Dec 11 at 6:01
1
@ravery That's not how I read the Hydra; MM p. 190 "Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies". I read this as still only having one creature, one target, and "cutting off heads" is purely narrative.
– NathanS
Dec 11 at 7:44
1
hmmm, maybe I'm thinking of a different edition,or another monster ...
– ravery
Dec 11 at 8:23
add a comment |
4
Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
– Miniman
Dec 10 at 23:02
I might make a note about creatures where you can target a head, such as the hydra. You can target individual heads of hydra to sever/cauterize them, severing damage does not affect HP.
– ravery
Dec 11 at 6:01
1
@ravery That's not how I read the Hydra; MM p. 190 "Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies". I read this as still only having one creature, one target, and "cutting off heads" is purely narrative.
– NathanS
Dec 11 at 7:44
1
hmmm, maybe I'm thinking of a different edition,or another monster ...
– ravery
Dec 11 at 8:23
4
4
Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
– Miniman
Dec 10 at 23:02
Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
– Miniman
Dec 10 at 23:02
I might make a note about creatures where you can target a head, such as the hydra. You can target individual heads of hydra to sever/cauterize them, severing damage does not affect HP.
– ravery
Dec 11 at 6:01
I might make a note about creatures where you can target a head, such as the hydra. You can target individual heads of hydra to sever/cauterize them, severing damage does not affect HP.
– ravery
Dec 11 at 6:01
1
1
@ravery That's not how I read the Hydra; MM p. 190 "Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies". I read this as still only having one creature, one target, and "cutting off heads" is purely narrative.
– NathanS
Dec 11 at 7:44
@ravery That's not how I read the Hydra; MM p. 190 "Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies". I read this as still only having one creature, one target, and "cutting off heads" is purely narrative.
– NathanS
Dec 11 at 7:44
1
1
hmmm, maybe I'm thinking of a different edition,or another monster ...
– ravery
Dec 11 at 8:23
hmmm, maybe I'm thinking of a different edition,or another monster ...
– ravery
Dec 11 at 8:23
add a comment |
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