Can an earth elemental drown/bury its opponent underground using earth glide?
$begingroup$
Situation
The party are at an elemental cult's shrine. The cleric contributed to the desecration of the shrine when she stuck a javelin with continual flame burning into the ground (for RP reasons). That makes her the target.
Proposed method to bury / drown / suffocate this cleric
Earth elemental burrows up out of the ground and grapples cleric. Cleric's Strength is 13, Earth Elemental's is 20. This is a standard PHB grapple attempt, not a special grapple attack in the monster's stat block. Assume that the earth elemental is successful in this attempt.
- Moving a grappled creature
When you move, you can drag or carry the grappled creature with you,
but your speed is halved, unless the creature is two or more sizes
smaller than you.
- Salient stat block issues: EE Burrow movement speed is 30. EE has two slam attacks (under Multi-attack). It can try to grapple her once.
you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them.
Two different ways this goes down (yeah, pun intended).
Elemental begins 5' under the earth's surface, burrows up (moves 5 or 10 feet), grapples cleric, and then moves 20' remaining (divided by two, so 10 feet of movement remaining) under ground. This does not leave a hole, per earth glide's text: the elemental doesn't disturb the material it moves through (MM, Earth Glide)
Elemental encounters the party, engages, grabs the cleric with a grapple, and then moves 15' straight down under ground.
In either case, the cleric suffocates until enough rounds have passed to kill her (18 Constitution, she'll last a little while), or, the party figures out a way to dig her out before she suffocates 5', 10', or 15' under the ground. The cleric has no burrowing speed, nor access to earth glide via items, spells, or features.
Does this work like I think it does?
Can a creature who can enter a terrain that another creature can't, bring that other creature into that terrain? I know a water elemental can do this, but most PCs easily enter into water.
dnd-5e monsters grapple breathing
asked 7 hours ago
KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast
80.9k19252436
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Situation
The party are at an elemental cult's shrine. The cleric contributed to the desecration of the shrine when she stuck a javelin with continual flame burning into the ground (for RP reasons). That makes her the target.
Proposed method to bury / drown / suffocate this cleric
Earth elemental burrows up out of the ground and grapples cleric. Cleric's Strength is 13, Earth Elemental's is 20. This is a standard PHB grapple attempt, not a special grapple attack in the monster's stat block. Assume that the earth elemental is successful in this attempt.
- Moving a grappled creature
When you move, you can drag or carry the grappled creature with you,
but your speed is halved, unless the creature is two or more sizes
smaller than you.
- Salient stat block issues: EE Burrow movement speed is 30. EE has two slam attacks (under Multi-attack). It can try to grapple her once.
you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them.
Two different ways this goes down (yeah, pun intended).
Elemental begins 5' under the earth's surface, burrows up (moves 5 or 10 feet), grapples cleric, and then moves 20' remaining (divided by two, so 10 feet of movement remaining) under ground. This does not leave a hole, per earth glide's text: the elemental doesn't disturb the material it moves through (MM, Earth Glide)
Elemental encounters the party, engages, grabs the cleric with a grapple, and then moves 15' straight down under ground.
In either case, the cleric suffocates until enough rounds have passed to kill her (18 Constitution, she'll last a little while), or, the party figures out a way to dig her out before she suffocates 5', 10', or 15' under the ground. The cleric has no burrowing speed, nor access to earth glide via items, spells, or features.
Does this work like I think it does?
Can a creature who can enter a terrain that another creature can't, bring that other creature into that terrain? I know a water elemental can do this, but most PCs easily enter into water.
dnd-5e monsters grapple breathing
asked 7 hours ago
KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast
80.9k19252436
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Though only tangentially related to your question, note that the Earth Elemental can only grapple once per round, as it can't make multiple attacks with the "Attack" action. (Instead it uses the "Multi-attack" action, which mandates Slams, and is explictly not the "Attack" action)
$endgroup$
– Sable Dreamer
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@SableDreamer fixed
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
This isn't me trying to be snarky or pedantic, but when you say "drown" that implies water or liquid. If this question is just about dirt or earth being used to suffocate a creature, then "suffocate" would be the right term everywhere "drown" is used. Do I have your meaning correct? It's a bit confusing because you do mention water elementals at the very end, so it's unclear if you want this question to handle drowning by water elemental, suffocation by earth elemental, or both. Can you clarify, please?
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Bloodcinder Drowning is a form of suffocation. Since the idea of "earth glide" is a lot like "swimming" under and in the earth, "drown" seems to me a possible way to describe this, as is simple suffocation. We are dealing with magic, here, not our real world stuff, so I am using a bit of literary license. I was trying to shorten the original title, the longer bit is in the body of text. I am not sure if smother isn't also an apt term that might be used.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Smother, suffocate, and asphyxiate all work, but drowning is exclusively reserved for liquid. I guess if you mean it with "literary license," I would suggest doing... something to clarify that. I think nothing would be lost if you replaced drowning with smother/suffocating, but for at least one person (me) the mention of drowning and then water elementals at the end confuses what the intent of the question is.
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Situation
The party are at an elemental cult's shrine. The cleric contributed to the desecration of the shrine when she stuck a javelin with continual flame burning into the ground (for RP reasons). That makes her the target.
Proposed method to bury / drown / suffocate this cleric
Earth elemental burrows up out of the ground and grapples cleric. Cleric's Strength is 13, Earth Elemental's is 20. This is a standard PHB grapple attempt, not a special grapple attack in the monster's stat block. Assume that the earth elemental is successful in this attempt.
- Moving a grappled creature
When you move, you can drag or carry the grappled creature with you,
but your speed is halved, unless the creature is two or more sizes
smaller than you.
- Salient stat block issues: EE Burrow movement speed is 30. EE has two slam attacks (under Multi-attack). It can try to grapple her once.
you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them.
Two different ways this goes down (yeah, pun intended).
Elemental begins 5' under the earth's surface, burrows up (moves 5 or 10 feet), grapples cleric, and then moves 20' remaining (divided by two, so 10 feet of movement remaining) under ground. This does not leave a hole, per earth glide's text: the elemental doesn't disturb the material it moves through (MM, Earth Glide)
Elemental encounters the party, engages, grabs the cleric with a grapple, and then moves 15' straight down under ground.
In either case, the cleric suffocates until enough rounds have passed to kill her (18 Constitution, she'll last a little while), or, the party figures out a way to dig her out before she suffocates 5', 10', or 15' under the ground. The cleric has no burrowing speed, nor access to earth glide via items, spells, or features.
Does this work like I think it does?
Can a creature who can enter a terrain that another creature can't, bring that other creature into that terrain? I know a water elemental can do this, but most PCs easily enter into water.
dnd-5e monsters grapple breathing
asked 7 hours ago
KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast
80.9k19252436
$endgroup$
Situation
The party are at an elemental cult's shrine. The cleric contributed to the desecration of the shrine when she stuck a javelin with continual flame burning into the ground (for RP reasons). That makes her the target.
Proposed method to bury / drown / suffocate this cleric
Earth elemental burrows up out of the ground and grapples cleric. Cleric's Strength is 13, Earth Elemental's is 20. This is a standard PHB grapple attempt, not a special grapple attack in the monster's stat block. Assume that the earth elemental is successful in this attempt.
- Moving a grappled creature
When you move, you can drag or carry the grappled creature with you,
but your speed is halved, unless the creature is two or more sizes
smaller than you.
- Salient stat block issues: EE Burrow movement speed is 30. EE has two slam attacks (under Multi-attack). It can try to grapple her once.
you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them.
Two different ways this goes down (yeah, pun intended).
Elemental begins 5' under the earth's surface, burrows up (moves 5 or 10 feet), grapples cleric, and then moves 20' remaining (divided by two, so 10 feet of movement remaining) under ground. This does not leave a hole, per earth glide's text: the elemental doesn't disturb the material it moves through (MM, Earth Glide)
Elemental encounters the party, engages, grabs the cleric with a grapple, and then moves 15' straight down under ground.
In either case, the cleric suffocates until enough rounds have passed to kill her (18 Constitution, she'll last a little while), or, the party figures out a way to dig her out before she suffocates 5', 10', or 15' under the ground. The cleric has no burrowing speed, nor access to earth glide via items, spells, or features.
Does this work like I think it does?
Can a creature who can enter a terrain that another creature can't, bring that other creature into that terrain? I know a water elemental can do this, but most PCs easily enter into water.
dnd-5e monsters grapple breathing
dnd-5e monsters grapple breathing
asked 7 hours ago
KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast
80.9k19252436
asked 7 hours ago
KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast
80.9k19252436
edited 3 hours ago
KorvinStarmast
asked 7 hours ago
KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast
80.9k19252436
asked 7 hours ago
KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast
80.9k19252436
asked 7 hours ago
KorvinStarmastKorvinStarmast
80.9k19252436
80.9k19252436
$begingroup$
Though only tangentially related to your question, note that the Earth Elemental can only grapple once per round, as it can't make multiple attacks with the "Attack" action. (Instead it uses the "Multi-attack" action, which mandates Slams, and is explictly not the "Attack" action)
$endgroup$
– Sable Dreamer
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@SableDreamer fixed
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
This isn't me trying to be snarky or pedantic, but when you say "drown" that implies water or liquid. If this question is just about dirt or earth being used to suffocate a creature, then "suffocate" would be the right term everywhere "drown" is used. Do I have your meaning correct? It's a bit confusing because you do mention water elementals at the very end, so it's unclear if you want this question to handle drowning by water elemental, suffocation by earth elemental, or both. Can you clarify, please?
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Bloodcinder Drowning is a form of suffocation. Since the idea of "earth glide" is a lot like "swimming" under and in the earth, "drown" seems to me a possible way to describe this, as is simple suffocation. We are dealing with magic, here, not our real world stuff, so I am using a bit of literary license. I was trying to shorten the original title, the longer bit is in the body of text. I am not sure if smother isn't also an apt term that might be used.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Smother, suffocate, and asphyxiate all work, but drowning is exclusively reserved for liquid. I guess if you mean it with "literary license," I would suggest doing... something to clarify that. I think nothing would be lost if you replaced drowning with smother/suffocating, but for at least one person (me) the mention of drowning and then water elementals at the end confuses what the intent of the question is.
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Though only tangentially related to your question, note that the Earth Elemental can only grapple once per round, as it can't make multiple attacks with the "Attack" action. (Instead it uses the "Multi-attack" action, which mandates Slams, and is explictly not the "Attack" action)
$endgroup$
– Sable Dreamer
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@SableDreamer fixed
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
This isn't me trying to be snarky or pedantic, but when you say "drown" that implies water or liquid. If this question is just about dirt or earth being used to suffocate a creature, then "suffocate" would be the right term everywhere "drown" is used. Do I have your meaning correct? It's a bit confusing because you do mention water elementals at the very end, so it's unclear if you want this question to handle drowning by water elemental, suffocation by earth elemental, or both. Can you clarify, please?
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Bloodcinder Drowning is a form of suffocation. Since the idea of "earth glide" is a lot like "swimming" under and in the earth, "drown" seems to me a possible way to describe this, as is simple suffocation. We are dealing with magic, here, not our real world stuff, so I am using a bit of literary license. I was trying to shorten the original title, the longer bit is in the body of text. I am not sure if smother isn't also an apt term that might be used.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Smother, suffocate, and asphyxiate all work, but drowning is exclusively reserved for liquid. I guess if you mean it with "literary license," I would suggest doing... something to clarify that. I think nothing would be lost if you replaced drowning with smother/suffocating, but for at least one person (me) the mention of drowning and then water elementals at the end confuses what the intent of the question is.
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Though only tangentially related to your question, note that the Earth Elemental can only grapple once per round, as it can't make multiple attacks with the "Attack" action. (Instead it uses the "Multi-attack" action, which mandates Slams, and is explictly not the "Attack" action)
$endgroup$
– Sable Dreamer
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Though only tangentially related to your question, note that the Earth Elemental can only grapple once per round, as it can't make multiple attacks with the "Attack" action. (Instead it uses the "Multi-attack" action, which mandates Slams, and is explictly not the "Attack" action)
$endgroup$
– Sable Dreamer
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@SableDreamer fixed
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@SableDreamer fixed
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
This isn't me trying to be snarky or pedantic, but when you say "drown" that implies water or liquid. If this question is just about dirt or earth being used to suffocate a creature, then "suffocate" would be the right term everywhere "drown" is used. Do I have your meaning correct? It's a bit confusing because you do mention water elementals at the very end, so it's unclear if you want this question to handle drowning by water elemental, suffocation by earth elemental, or both. Can you clarify, please?
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
This isn't me trying to be snarky or pedantic, but when you say "drown" that implies water or liquid. If this question is just about dirt or earth being used to suffocate a creature, then "suffocate" would be the right term everywhere "drown" is used. Do I have your meaning correct? It's a bit confusing because you do mention water elementals at the very end, so it's unclear if you want this question to handle drowning by water elemental, suffocation by earth elemental, or both. Can you clarify, please?
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Bloodcinder Drowning is a form of suffocation. Since the idea of "earth glide" is a lot like "swimming" under and in the earth, "drown" seems to me a possible way to describe this, as is simple suffocation. We are dealing with magic, here, not our real world stuff, so I am using a bit of literary license. I was trying to shorten the original title, the longer bit is in the body of text. I am not sure if smother isn't also an apt term that might be used.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Bloodcinder Drowning is a form of suffocation. Since the idea of "earth glide" is a lot like "swimming" under and in the earth, "drown" seems to me a possible way to describe this, as is simple suffocation. We are dealing with magic, here, not our real world stuff, so I am using a bit of literary license. I was trying to shorten the original title, the longer bit is in the body of text. I am not sure if smother isn't also an apt term that might be used.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Smother, suffocate, and asphyxiate all work, but drowning is exclusively reserved for liquid. I guess if you mean it with "literary license," I would suggest doing... something to clarify that. I think nothing would be lost if you replaced drowning with smother/suffocating, but for at least one person (me) the mention of drowning and then water elementals at the end confuses what the intent of the question is.
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Smother, suffocate, and asphyxiate all work, but drowning is exclusively reserved for liquid. I guess if you mean it with "literary license," I would suggest doing... something to clarify that. I think nothing would be lost if you replaced drowning with smother/suffocating, but for at least one person (me) the mention of drowning and then water elementals at the end confuses what the intent of the question is.
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
The earth elemental cannot take others with it using Earth Glide.
This question is actually specifically answered by Jeremy Crawford in Sage Advice! (page 18)
Can an earth elemental grapple with a creature and then pull it underground and leave it there to die?
No. An earth elemental’s Earth Glide is meant to apply to itself only. The elemental doesn’t take other creatures with it when it moves in this way.
But we can also answer the question with a close reading of the ability text.
Earth Glide. The elemental can burrow through non magical,
unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the elemental
doesn't disturb the material it moves through.
This ability allows the elemental to burrow through the ground, but it does not grant this ability to anyone else (like to an adventurer the elemental grapples). So unless the adventurer also has Earth Glide, they have no ability to move through earth & stone, and would therefore be stopped by the ground as soon as the elemental starts pulling them down.
Additionally, because Earth Glide does not disturb the earth, it does not create a tunnel or any kind of space that the elemental could pull an adventurer into, and then collapse. So ultimately, no, your cleric is not at risk of being suffocated underground.
answered 7 hours ago
theCerealKillrtheCerealKillr
375311
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theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2
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Would a close reading for an ability worded similarly except that allows the creature to, for example, fly or swim likewise prevent the creature from bringing with it passengers/victims?
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Was thinking the same and probably deserves it's own question. This may be a case of a specific case being very different and needing a different ruling because it'd kill a creature otherwise.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan I think the difference here is that this is a specific ability, rather than a Burrow speed. I would probably rule that a Bulette or Purple Worm could bring a victim underground, especially if ingested first.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Definitely a good question to ask. There's a lot to consider (including PCs with a ring of earth elemental command.)
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@NautArch I'll give it a shot, I definitely have a few questions left.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
Earth elementals are siege monsters (2x damage to structures), so it would be plausible for an EE to slowly smash a tunnel and then pull a creature down into it. Creatures standing above it would feel it coming, but the elemental could get a couple thin spots in the ground ready to reach up and break under someone.
After doing this, collapsing the tunnel could achieve a burying effect, but it would be much more limited than Earth Glide in terms of how hard it would be for other PCs to reach them and dig them out.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter CordesPeter Cordes
257213
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
(oops, the title says "using earth glide", this maybe should just be a comment.)
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Still helpful in terms of Earth Elemental capabilities to do something like I had envisioned, but a lot more difficult for the EE.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Anybody who's anybody can throw someone down a hole :P
$endgroup$
– NautArch
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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$begingroup$
The earth elemental cannot take others with it using Earth Glide.
This question is actually specifically answered by Jeremy Crawford in Sage Advice! (page 18)
Can an earth elemental grapple with a creature and then pull it underground and leave it there to die?
No. An earth elemental’s Earth Glide is meant to apply to itself only. The elemental doesn’t take other creatures with it when it moves in this way.
But we can also answer the question with a close reading of the ability text.
Earth Glide. The elemental can burrow through non magical,
unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the elemental
doesn't disturb the material it moves through.
This ability allows the elemental to burrow through the ground, but it does not grant this ability to anyone else (like to an adventurer the elemental grapples). So unless the adventurer also has Earth Glide, they have no ability to move through earth & stone, and would therefore be stopped by the ground as soon as the elemental starts pulling them down.
Additionally, because Earth Glide does not disturb the earth, it does not create a tunnel or any kind of space that the elemental could pull an adventurer into, and then collapse. So ultimately, no, your cleric is not at risk of being suffocated underground.
answered 7 hours ago
theCerealKillrtheCerealKillr
375311
New contributor
theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
Would a close reading for an ability worded similarly except that allows the creature to, for example, fly or swim likewise prevent the creature from bringing with it passengers/victims?
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Was thinking the same and probably deserves it's own question. This may be a case of a specific case being very different and needing a different ruling because it'd kill a creature otherwise.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan I think the difference here is that this is a specific ability, rather than a Burrow speed. I would probably rule that a Bulette or Purple Worm could bring a victim underground, especially if ingested first.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Definitely a good question to ask. There's a lot to consider (including PCs with a ring of earth elemental command.)
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@NautArch I'll give it a shot, I definitely have a few questions left.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
The earth elemental cannot take others with it using Earth Glide.
This question is actually specifically answered by Jeremy Crawford in Sage Advice! (page 18)
Can an earth elemental grapple with a creature and then pull it underground and leave it there to die?
No. An earth elemental’s Earth Glide is meant to apply to itself only. The elemental doesn’t take other creatures with it when it moves in this way.
But we can also answer the question with a close reading of the ability text.
Earth Glide. The elemental can burrow through non magical,
unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the elemental
doesn't disturb the material it moves through.
This ability allows the elemental to burrow through the ground, but it does not grant this ability to anyone else (like to an adventurer the elemental grapples). So unless the adventurer also has Earth Glide, they have no ability to move through earth & stone, and would therefore be stopped by the ground as soon as the elemental starts pulling them down.
Additionally, because Earth Glide does not disturb the earth, it does not create a tunnel or any kind of space that the elemental could pull an adventurer into, and then collapse. So ultimately, no, your cleric is not at risk of being suffocated underground.
answered 7 hours ago
theCerealKillrtheCerealKillr
375311
New contributor
theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
Would a close reading for an ability worded similarly except that allows the creature to, for example, fly or swim likewise prevent the creature from bringing with it passengers/victims?
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Was thinking the same and probably deserves it's own question. This may be a case of a specific case being very different and needing a different ruling because it'd kill a creature otherwise.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan I think the difference here is that this is a specific ability, rather than a Burrow speed. I would probably rule that a Bulette or Purple Worm could bring a victim underground, especially if ingested first.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Definitely a good question to ask. There's a lot to consider (including PCs with a ring of earth elemental command.)
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@NautArch I'll give it a shot, I definitely have a few questions left.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
The earth elemental cannot take others with it using Earth Glide.
This question is actually specifically answered by Jeremy Crawford in Sage Advice! (page 18)
Can an earth elemental grapple with a creature and then pull it underground and leave it there to die?
No. An earth elemental’s Earth Glide is meant to apply to itself only. The elemental doesn’t take other creatures with it when it moves in this way.
But we can also answer the question with a close reading of the ability text.
Earth Glide. The elemental can burrow through non magical,
unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the elemental
doesn't disturb the material it moves through.
This ability allows the elemental to burrow through the ground, but it does not grant this ability to anyone else (like to an adventurer the elemental grapples). So unless the adventurer also has Earth Glide, they have no ability to move through earth & stone, and would therefore be stopped by the ground as soon as the elemental starts pulling them down.
Additionally, because Earth Glide does not disturb the earth, it does not create a tunnel or any kind of space that the elemental could pull an adventurer into, and then collapse. So ultimately, no, your cleric is not at risk of being suffocated underground.
answered 7 hours ago
theCerealKillrtheCerealKillr
375311
New contributor
theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
The earth elemental cannot take others with it using Earth Glide.
This question is actually specifically answered by Jeremy Crawford in Sage Advice! (page 18)
Can an earth elemental grapple with a creature and then pull it underground and leave it there to die?
No. An earth elemental’s Earth Glide is meant to apply to itself only. The elemental doesn’t take other creatures with it when it moves in this way.
But we can also answer the question with a close reading of the ability text.
Earth Glide. The elemental can burrow through non magical,
unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the elemental
doesn't disturb the material it moves through.
This ability allows the elemental to burrow through the ground, but it does not grant this ability to anyone else (like to an adventurer the elemental grapples). So unless the adventurer also has Earth Glide, they have no ability to move through earth & stone, and would therefore be stopped by the ground as soon as the elemental starts pulling them down.
Additionally, because Earth Glide does not disturb the earth, it does not create a tunnel or any kind of space that the elemental could pull an adventurer into, and then collapse. So ultimately, no, your cleric is not at risk of being suffocated underground.
answered 7 hours ago
theCerealKillrtheCerealKillr
375311
New contributor
theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 7 hours ago
answered 7 hours ago
theCerealKillrtheCerealKillr
375311
New contributor
theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 7 hours ago
theCerealKillrtheCerealKillr
375311
answered 7 hours ago
theCerealKillrtheCerealKillr
375311
375311
New contributor
theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
theCerealKillr is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
$begingroup$
Would a close reading for an ability worded similarly except that allows the creature to, for example, fly or swim likewise prevent the creature from bringing with it passengers/victims?
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Was thinking the same and probably deserves it's own question. This may be a case of a specific case being very different and needing a different ruling because it'd kill a creature otherwise.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan I think the difference here is that this is a specific ability, rather than a Burrow speed. I would probably rule that a Bulette or Purple Worm could bring a victim underground, especially if ingested first.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Definitely a good question to ask. There's a lot to consider (including PCs with a ring of earth elemental command.)
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@NautArch I'll give it a shot, I definitely have a few questions left.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
2
$begingroup$
Would a close reading for an ability worded similarly except that allows the creature to, for example, fly or swim likewise prevent the creature from bringing with it passengers/victims?
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Was thinking the same and probably deserves it's own question. This may be a case of a specific case being very different and needing a different ruling because it'd kill a creature otherwise.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan I think the difference here is that this is a specific ability, rather than a Burrow speed. I would probably rule that a Bulette or Purple Worm could bring a victim underground, especially if ingested first.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Definitely a good question to ask. There's a lot to consider (including PCs with a ring of earth elemental command.)
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@NautArch I'll give it a shot, I definitely have a few questions left.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
6 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
Would a close reading for an ability worded similarly except that allows the creature to, for example, fly or swim likewise prevent the creature from bringing with it passengers/victims?
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Would a close reading for an ability worded similarly except that allows the creature to, for example, fly or swim likewise prevent the creature from bringing with it passengers/victims?
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
7 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Was thinking the same and probably deserves it's own question. This may be a case of a specific case being very different and needing a different ruling because it'd kill a creature otherwise.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Was thinking the same and probably deserves it's own question. This may be a case of a specific case being very different and needing a different ruling because it'd kill a creature otherwise.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan I think the difference here is that this is a specific ability, rather than a Burrow speed. I would probably rule that a Bulette or Purple Worm could bring a victim underground, especially if ingested first.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan I think the difference here is that this is a specific ability, rather than a Burrow speed. I would probably rule that a Bulette or Purple Worm could bring a victim underground, especially if ingested first.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
7 hours ago
3
3
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Definitely a good question to ask. There's a lot to consider (including PCs with a ring of earth elemental command.)
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@HeyICanChan Definitely a good question to ask. There's a lot to consider (including PCs with a ring of earth elemental command.)
$endgroup$
– NautArch
7 hours ago
3
3
$begingroup$
@NautArch I'll give it a shot, I definitely have a few questions left.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@NautArch I'll give it a shot, I definitely have a few questions left.
$endgroup$
– theCerealKillr
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
Earth elementals are siege monsters (2x damage to structures), so it would be plausible for an EE to slowly smash a tunnel and then pull a creature down into it. Creatures standing above it would feel it coming, but the elemental could get a couple thin spots in the ground ready to reach up and break under someone.
After doing this, collapsing the tunnel could achieve a burying effect, but it would be much more limited than Earth Glide in terms of how hard it would be for other PCs to reach them and dig them out.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter CordesPeter Cordes
257213
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
(oops, the title says "using earth glide", this maybe should just be a comment.)
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Still helpful in terms of Earth Elemental capabilities to do something like I had envisioned, but a lot more difficult for the EE.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Anybody who's anybody can throw someone down a hole :P
$endgroup$
– NautArch
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Earth elementals are siege monsters (2x damage to structures), so it would be plausible for an EE to slowly smash a tunnel and then pull a creature down into it. Creatures standing above it would feel it coming, but the elemental could get a couple thin spots in the ground ready to reach up and break under someone.
After doing this, collapsing the tunnel could achieve a burying effect, but it would be much more limited than Earth Glide in terms of how hard it would be for other PCs to reach them and dig them out.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter CordesPeter Cordes
257213
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
(oops, the title says "using earth glide", this maybe should just be a comment.)
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Still helpful in terms of Earth Elemental capabilities to do something like I had envisioned, but a lot more difficult for the EE.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Anybody who's anybody can throw someone down a hole :P
$endgroup$
– NautArch
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Earth elementals are siege monsters (2x damage to structures), so it would be plausible for an EE to slowly smash a tunnel and then pull a creature down into it. Creatures standing above it would feel it coming, but the elemental could get a couple thin spots in the ground ready to reach up and break under someone.
After doing this, collapsing the tunnel could achieve a burying effect, but it would be much more limited than Earth Glide in terms of how hard it would be for other PCs to reach them and dig them out.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter CordesPeter Cordes
257213
$endgroup$
Earth elementals are siege monsters (2x damage to structures), so it would be plausible for an EE to slowly smash a tunnel and then pull a creature down into it. Creatures standing above it would feel it coming, but the elemental could get a couple thin spots in the ground ready to reach up and break under someone.
After doing this, collapsing the tunnel could achieve a burying effect, but it would be much more limited than Earth Glide in terms of how hard it would be for other PCs to reach them and dig them out.
answered 3 hours ago
Peter CordesPeter Cordes
257213
answered 3 hours ago
Peter CordesPeter Cordes
257213
answered 3 hours ago
Peter CordesPeter Cordes
257213
answered 3 hours ago
Peter CordesPeter Cordes
257213
257213
$begingroup$
(oops, the title says "using earth glide", this maybe should just be a comment.)
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Still helpful in terms of Earth Elemental capabilities to do something like I had envisioned, but a lot more difficult for the EE.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Anybody who's anybody can throw someone down a hole :P
$endgroup$
– NautArch
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
(oops, the title says "using earth glide", this maybe should just be a comment.)
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Still helpful in terms of Earth Elemental capabilities to do something like I had envisioned, but a lot more difficult for the EE.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Anybody who's anybody can throw someone down a hole :P
$endgroup$
– NautArch
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
(oops, the title says "using earth glide", this maybe should just be a comment.)
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
(oops, the title says "using earth glide", this maybe should just be a comment.)
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Still helpful in terms of Earth Elemental capabilities to do something like I had envisioned, but a lot more difficult for the EE.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Still helpful in terms of Earth Elemental capabilities to do something like I had envisioned, but a lot more difficult for the EE.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Anybody who's anybody can throw someone down a hole :P
$endgroup$
– NautArch
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Anybody who's anybody can throw someone down a hole :P
$endgroup$
– NautArch
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Though only tangentially related to your question, note that the Earth Elemental can only grapple once per round, as it can't make multiple attacks with the "Attack" action. (Instead it uses the "Multi-attack" action, which mandates Slams, and is explictly not the "Attack" action)
$endgroup$
– Sable Dreamer
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@SableDreamer fixed
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
This isn't me trying to be snarky or pedantic, but when you say "drown" that implies water or liquid. If this question is just about dirt or earth being used to suffocate a creature, then "suffocate" would be the right term everywhere "drown" is used. Do I have your meaning correct? It's a bit confusing because you do mention water elementals at the very end, so it's unclear if you want this question to handle drowning by water elemental, suffocation by earth elemental, or both. Can you clarify, please?
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Bloodcinder Drowning is a form of suffocation. Since the idea of "earth glide" is a lot like "swimming" under and in the earth, "drown" seems to me a possible way to describe this, as is simple suffocation. We are dealing with magic, here, not our real world stuff, so I am using a bit of literary license. I was trying to shorten the original title, the longer bit is in the body of text. I am not sure if smother isn't also an apt term that might be used.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Smother, suffocate, and asphyxiate all work, but drowning is exclusively reserved for liquid. I guess if you mean it with "literary license," I would suggest doing... something to clarify that. I think nothing would be lost if you replaced drowning with smother/suffocating, but for at least one person (me) the mention of drowning and then water elementals at the end confuses what the intent of the question is.
$endgroup$
– Bloodcinder
3 hours ago