If two Ensnaring Strikes affect the same target, does it have to make two saves to be unrestrained?
Say two Rangers shot the same target with ensnaring strike and the target failed its saves on both.
The PHB says the effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine such as two Clerics casting bless on the same target only provides the benefits once. (pg 205)
My understanding is there are still two spells in effect. So for my example above, if the target succeeded on its Strength save and removed one ensnaring strike, it would still be restrained and damaged by the other.
Are there examples where this is talked about per RAW?
dnd-5e spells saving-throw
add a comment |
Say two Rangers shot the same target with ensnaring strike and the target failed its saves on both.
The PHB says the effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine such as two Clerics casting bless on the same target only provides the benefits once. (pg 205)
My understanding is there are still two spells in effect. So for my example above, if the target succeeded on its Strength save and removed one ensnaring strike, it would still be restrained and damaged by the other.
Are there examples where this is talked about per RAW?
dnd-5e spells saving-throw
add a comment |
Say two Rangers shot the same target with ensnaring strike and the target failed its saves on both.
The PHB says the effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine such as two Clerics casting bless on the same target only provides the benefits once. (pg 205)
My understanding is there are still two spells in effect. So for my example above, if the target succeeded on its Strength save and removed one ensnaring strike, it would still be restrained and damaged by the other.
Are there examples where this is talked about per RAW?
dnd-5e spells saving-throw
Say two Rangers shot the same target with ensnaring strike and the target failed its saves on both.
The PHB says the effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine such as two Clerics casting bless on the same target only provides the benefits once. (pg 205)
My understanding is there are still two spells in effect. So for my example above, if the target succeeded on its Strength save and removed one ensnaring strike, it would still be restrained and damaged by the other.
Are there examples where this is talked about per RAW?
dnd-5e spells saving-throw
dnd-5e spells saving-throw
edited Dec 4 '18 at 21:42
T.J.L.
29.5k5101155
29.5k5101155
asked Dec 3 '18 at 14:11
Payden K. PringlePayden K. Pringle
2168
2168
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Two separate saves (if the strongest/most recent spell ends).
While both spells are maintained, the most potent or most recent one is active.
The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect - such as the highest bonus - from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.
Ensnaring strike (PHB, p. 237) reads
While restrained by this spell, the target takes 1d6 piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
So, while both spells are maintained, the strongest ensnaring strike is active, restraining and damaging the target, while the weakest one is suppressed (but still on-going, and its caster is still maintaining concentration). When the target succeeds on a save, the target is freed from that spell. The spell hasn't finished (lasts 1 minute), but its caster can dismiss it at any time, since it is a concentration spell, and is now useless (no longer doing damage or restraining a target, it's just wasting concentration).
If the weaker spell is still being maintained (less than a minute has passed since it was cast, and the caster has not lost concentration) when the most potent spell end (its caster dropped concentration, or its duration ran out), the weaker spell is now active, restraining and damaging the target, which requires another save.
Someone has pointed out (in a now deleted comment below) how the spell says the target is freed and not the spell ends. You can argue that "getting freed" would release you from any other restraint, but I think it makes no sense that the target gets freed from all restraints and incapacitates affecting it. If you had your Brawler Barbarian grappling and restraining a target, would his getting rid of Ensnaring Strike also free him from the Barbarian? It seems clear to me the idea is that making your save frees you from the effects of this spell, and nothing else.
There is no need to mark edits. Just add in any improvements to your answer and integrate them as best you can. Make each version the best version. If we want to see what you changed there are edit histories for that.
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 14:57
1
Agreed. Otherwise, a Restraining Strike could be used to let an ally out of a much worse restraint situation by giving them an extra save.
– MarkTO
Dec 3 '18 at 14:58
1
Just a note: the recent errata added ", or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap." to the end of the "Combining Magical Effects" sentence.
– V2Blast
Dec 4 '18 at 2:54
@V2Blast Added, thank you
– BlueMoon93
Dec 4 '18 at 9:20
add a comment |
They only have to make one save because they are only under one effect (unless the most potent spell ends)
When a spell is under the effects of two of the same spell only one of them takes effect at a time: the most potent or recent one. From "Combining Magical Effects" in the PHB:
The effects of the same spell cast multiple
times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect — such
as the highest bonus — from those castings applies while their
durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings
are equally potent and their durations overlap.
When the creature successfully makes their save against the most potent spell, that spell is still active and would still override the other spell. From the description of ensnaring strike:
The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
Making one save would free them from the only spell effect currently affecting them (the most potent one). And since the spell does not end on that successful save and no other spell becomes more potent than it, its effects remain. Thus, they would have to make only one save.
Ending the most potent spell after the successful save would cause the creature to have to make another save
If the most potent spell ends for any reason then the less potent spell effect (if still present) would take effect. The natural way for this to happen is going to be the duration of the first spell cast expiring. One way to purposefully do this is to have the caster of the most potent spell (that just got saved against) stop concentrating on the spell and thus end it. No matter how, when the most potent spell ends, the other spell (the formerly less potent one) would be able to take effect and the creature would then have to make that save as well in order to no longer be restrained by the effects of this spell.
Since a creature can stop concentrating on a spell at any time this is allowed in the rules. With ensnaring strike there is no reason not to do this since the spell no longer has any effect.
They have to save twice, but only one effect applies.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:56
@Mindwin I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. Can you clarify?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
i just editted the comment. but the effect would end only after the last turn on the latest ranger to ensnare the target.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
@Mindwin I'm sorry I honestly don't understand what you are trying to tell me and your answer doesn't really help me. Can you reword it somehow? Why is the duration of the spell important if one of the spells is getting saved against (and, per my answer, likely ended)?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 4 '18 at 17:38
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "122"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f136686%2fif-two-ensnaring-strikes-affect-the-same-target-does-it-have-to-make-two-saves%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Two separate saves (if the strongest/most recent spell ends).
While both spells are maintained, the most potent or most recent one is active.
The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect - such as the highest bonus - from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.
Ensnaring strike (PHB, p. 237) reads
While restrained by this spell, the target takes 1d6 piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
So, while both spells are maintained, the strongest ensnaring strike is active, restraining and damaging the target, while the weakest one is suppressed (but still on-going, and its caster is still maintaining concentration). When the target succeeds on a save, the target is freed from that spell. The spell hasn't finished (lasts 1 minute), but its caster can dismiss it at any time, since it is a concentration spell, and is now useless (no longer doing damage or restraining a target, it's just wasting concentration).
If the weaker spell is still being maintained (less than a minute has passed since it was cast, and the caster has not lost concentration) when the most potent spell end (its caster dropped concentration, or its duration ran out), the weaker spell is now active, restraining and damaging the target, which requires another save.
Someone has pointed out (in a now deleted comment below) how the spell says the target is freed and not the spell ends. You can argue that "getting freed" would release you from any other restraint, but I think it makes no sense that the target gets freed from all restraints and incapacitates affecting it. If you had your Brawler Barbarian grappling and restraining a target, would his getting rid of Ensnaring Strike also free him from the Barbarian? It seems clear to me the idea is that making your save frees you from the effects of this spell, and nothing else.
There is no need to mark edits. Just add in any improvements to your answer and integrate them as best you can. Make each version the best version. If we want to see what you changed there are edit histories for that.
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 14:57
1
Agreed. Otherwise, a Restraining Strike could be used to let an ally out of a much worse restraint situation by giving them an extra save.
– MarkTO
Dec 3 '18 at 14:58
1
Just a note: the recent errata added ", or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap." to the end of the "Combining Magical Effects" sentence.
– V2Blast
Dec 4 '18 at 2:54
@V2Blast Added, thank you
– BlueMoon93
Dec 4 '18 at 9:20
add a comment |
Two separate saves (if the strongest/most recent spell ends).
While both spells are maintained, the most potent or most recent one is active.
The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect - such as the highest bonus - from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.
Ensnaring strike (PHB, p. 237) reads
While restrained by this spell, the target takes 1d6 piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
So, while both spells are maintained, the strongest ensnaring strike is active, restraining and damaging the target, while the weakest one is suppressed (but still on-going, and its caster is still maintaining concentration). When the target succeeds on a save, the target is freed from that spell. The spell hasn't finished (lasts 1 minute), but its caster can dismiss it at any time, since it is a concentration spell, and is now useless (no longer doing damage or restraining a target, it's just wasting concentration).
If the weaker spell is still being maintained (less than a minute has passed since it was cast, and the caster has not lost concentration) when the most potent spell end (its caster dropped concentration, or its duration ran out), the weaker spell is now active, restraining and damaging the target, which requires another save.
Someone has pointed out (in a now deleted comment below) how the spell says the target is freed and not the spell ends. You can argue that "getting freed" would release you from any other restraint, but I think it makes no sense that the target gets freed from all restraints and incapacitates affecting it. If you had your Brawler Barbarian grappling and restraining a target, would his getting rid of Ensnaring Strike also free him from the Barbarian? It seems clear to me the idea is that making your save frees you from the effects of this spell, and nothing else.
There is no need to mark edits. Just add in any improvements to your answer and integrate them as best you can. Make each version the best version. If we want to see what you changed there are edit histories for that.
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 14:57
1
Agreed. Otherwise, a Restraining Strike could be used to let an ally out of a much worse restraint situation by giving them an extra save.
– MarkTO
Dec 3 '18 at 14:58
1
Just a note: the recent errata added ", or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap." to the end of the "Combining Magical Effects" sentence.
– V2Blast
Dec 4 '18 at 2:54
@V2Blast Added, thank you
– BlueMoon93
Dec 4 '18 at 9:20
add a comment |
Two separate saves (if the strongest/most recent spell ends).
While both spells are maintained, the most potent or most recent one is active.
The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect - such as the highest bonus - from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.
Ensnaring strike (PHB, p. 237) reads
While restrained by this spell, the target takes 1d6 piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
So, while both spells are maintained, the strongest ensnaring strike is active, restraining and damaging the target, while the weakest one is suppressed (but still on-going, and its caster is still maintaining concentration). When the target succeeds on a save, the target is freed from that spell. The spell hasn't finished (lasts 1 minute), but its caster can dismiss it at any time, since it is a concentration spell, and is now useless (no longer doing damage or restraining a target, it's just wasting concentration).
If the weaker spell is still being maintained (less than a minute has passed since it was cast, and the caster has not lost concentration) when the most potent spell end (its caster dropped concentration, or its duration ran out), the weaker spell is now active, restraining and damaging the target, which requires another save.
Someone has pointed out (in a now deleted comment below) how the spell says the target is freed and not the spell ends. You can argue that "getting freed" would release you from any other restraint, but I think it makes no sense that the target gets freed from all restraints and incapacitates affecting it. If you had your Brawler Barbarian grappling and restraining a target, would his getting rid of Ensnaring Strike also free him from the Barbarian? It seems clear to me the idea is that making your save frees you from the effects of this spell, and nothing else.
Two separate saves (if the strongest/most recent spell ends).
While both spells are maintained, the most potent or most recent one is active.
The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect - such as the highest bonus - from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap.
Ensnaring strike (PHB, p. 237) reads
While restrained by this spell, the target takes 1d6 piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
So, while both spells are maintained, the strongest ensnaring strike is active, restraining and damaging the target, while the weakest one is suppressed (but still on-going, and its caster is still maintaining concentration). When the target succeeds on a save, the target is freed from that spell. The spell hasn't finished (lasts 1 minute), but its caster can dismiss it at any time, since it is a concentration spell, and is now useless (no longer doing damage or restraining a target, it's just wasting concentration).
If the weaker spell is still being maintained (less than a minute has passed since it was cast, and the caster has not lost concentration) when the most potent spell end (its caster dropped concentration, or its duration ran out), the weaker spell is now active, restraining and damaging the target, which requires another save.
Someone has pointed out (in a now deleted comment below) how the spell says the target is freed and not the spell ends. You can argue that "getting freed" would release you from any other restraint, but I think it makes no sense that the target gets freed from all restraints and incapacitates affecting it. If you had your Brawler Barbarian grappling and restraining a target, would his getting rid of Ensnaring Strike also free him from the Barbarian? It seems clear to me the idea is that making your save frees you from the effects of this spell, and nothing else.
edited Dec 4 '18 at 9:20
answered Dec 3 '18 at 14:22
BlueMoon93BlueMoon93
12.7k965132
12.7k965132
There is no need to mark edits. Just add in any improvements to your answer and integrate them as best you can. Make each version the best version. If we want to see what you changed there are edit histories for that.
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 14:57
1
Agreed. Otherwise, a Restraining Strike could be used to let an ally out of a much worse restraint situation by giving them an extra save.
– MarkTO
Dec 3 '18 at 14:58
1
Just a note: the recent errata added ", or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap." to the end of the "Combining Magical Effects" sentence.
– V2Blast
Dec 4 '18 at 2:54
@V2Blast Added, thank you
– BlueMoon93
Dec 4 '18 at 9:20
add a comment |
There is no need to mark edits. Just add in any improvements to your answer and integrate them as best you can. Make each version the best version. If we want to see what you changed there are edit histories for that.
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 14:57
1
Agreed. Otherwise, a Restraining Strike could be used to let an ally out of a much worse restraint situation by giving them an extra save.
– MarkTO
Dec 3 '18 at 14:58
1
Just a note: the recent errata added ", or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap." to the end of the "Combining Magical Effects" sentence.
– V2Blast
Dec 4 '18 at 2:54
@V2Blast Added, thank you
– BlueMoon93
Dec 4 '18 at 9:20
There is no need to mark edits. Just add in any improvements to your answer and integrate them as best you can. Make each version the best version. If we want to see what you changed there are edit histories for that.
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 14:57
There is no need to mark edits. Just add in any improvements to your answer and integrate them as best you can. Make each version the best version. If we want to see what you changed there are edit histories for that.
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 14:57
1
1
Agreed. Otherwise, a Restraining Strike could be used to let an ally out of a much worse restraint situation by giving them an extra save.
– MarkTO
Dec 3 '18 at 14:58
Agreed. Otherwise, a Restraining Strike could be used to let an ally out of a much worse restraint situation by giving them an extra save.
– MarkTO
Dec 3 '18 at 14:58
1
1
Just a note: the recent errata added ", or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap." to the end of the "Combining Magical Effects" sentence.
– V2Blast
Dec 4 '18 at 2:54
Just a note: the recent errata added ", or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap." to the end of the "Combining Magical Effects" sentence.
– V2Blast
Dec 4 '18 at 2:54
@V2Blast Added, thank you
– BlueMoon93
Dec 4 '18 at 9:20
@V2Blast Added, thank you
– BlueMoon93
Dec 4 '18 at 9:20
add a comment |
They only have to make one save because they are only under one effect (unless the most potent spell ends)
When a spell is under the effects of two of the same spell only one of them takes effect at a time: the most potent or recent one. From "Combining Magical Effects" in the PHB:
The effects of the same spell cast multiple
times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect — such
as the highest bonus — from those castings applies while their
durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings
are equally potent and their durations overlap.
When the creature successfully makes their save against the most potent spell, that spell is still active and would still override the other spell. From the description of ensnaring strike:
The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
Making one save would free them from the only spell effect currently affecting them (the most potent one). And since the spell does not end on that successful save and no other spell becomes more potent than it, its effects remain. Thus, they would have to make only one save.
Ending the most potent spell after the successful save would cause the creature to have to make another save
If the most potent spell ends for any reason then the less potent spell effect (if still present) would take effect. The natural way for this to happen is going to be the duration of the first spell cast expiring. One way to purposefully do this is to have the caster of the most potent spell (that just got saved against) stop concentrating on the spell and thus end it. No matter how, when the most potent spell ends, the other spell (the formerly less potent one) would be able to take effect and the creature would then have to make that save as well in order to no longer be restrained by the effects of this spell.
Since a creature can stop concentrating on a spell at any time this is allowed in the rules. With ensnaring strike there is no reason not to do this since the spell no longer has any effect.
They have to save twice, but only one effect applies.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:56
@Mindwin I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. Can you clarify?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
i just editted the comment. but the effect would end only after the last turn on the latest ranger to ensnare the target.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
@Mindwin I'm sorry I honestly don't understand what you are trying to tell me and your answer doesn't really help me. Can you reword it somehow? Why is the duration of the spell important if one of the spells is getting saved against (and, per my answer, likely ended)?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 4 '18 at 17:38
add a comment |
They only have to make one save because they are only under one effect (unless the most potent spell ends)
When a spell is under the effects of two of the same spell only one of them takes effect at a time: the most potent or recent one. From "Combining Magical Effects" in the PHB:
The effects of the same spell cast multiple
times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect — such
as the highest bonus — from those castings applies while their
durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings
are equally potent and their durations overlap.
When the creature successfully makes their save against the most potent spell, that spell is still active and would still override the other spell. From the description of ensnaring strike:
The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
Making one save would free them from the only spell effect currently affecting them (the most potent one). And since the spell does not end on that successful save and no other spell becomes more potent than it, its effects remain. Thus, they would have to make only one save.
Ending the most potent spell after the successful save would cause the creature to have to make another save
If the most potent spell ends for any reason then the less potent spell effect (if still present) would take effect. The natural way for this to happen is going to be the duration of the first spell cast expiring. One way to purposefully do this is to have the caster of the most potent spell (that just got saved against) stop concentrating on the spell and thus end it. No matter how, when the most potent spell ends, the other spell (the formerly less potent one) would be able to take effect and the creature would then have to make that save as well in order to no longer be restrained by the effects of this spell.
Since a creature can stop concentrating on a spell at any time this is allowed in the rules. With ensnaring strike there is no reason not to do this since the spell no longer has any effect.
They have to save twice, but only one effect applies.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:56
@Mindwin I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. Can you clarify?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
i just editted the comment. but the effect would end only after the last turn on the latest ranger to ensnare the target.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
@Mindwin I'm sorry I honestly don't understand what you are trying to tell me and your answer doesn't really help me. Can you reword it somehow? Why is the duration of the spell important if one of the spells is getting saved against (and, per my answer, likely ended)?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 4 '18 at 17:38
add a comment |
They only have to make one save because they are only under one effect (unless the most potent spell ends)
When a spell is under the effects of two of the same spell only one of them takes effect at a time: the most potent or recent one. From "Combining Magical Effects" in the PHB:
The effects of the same spell cast multiple
times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect — such
as the highest bonus — from those castings applies while their
durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings
are equally potent and their durations overlap.
When the creature successfully makes their save against the most potent spell, that spell is still active and would still override the other spell. From the description of ensnaring strike:
The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
Making one save would free them from the only spell effect currently affecting them (the most potent one). And since the spell does not end on that successful save and no other spell becomes more potent than it, its effects remain. Thus, they would have to make only one save.
Ending the most potent spell after the successful save would cause the creature to have to make another save
If the most potent spell ends for any reason then the less potent spell effect (if still present) would take effect. The natural way for this to happen is going to be the duration of the first spell cast expiring. One way to purposefully do this is to have the caster of the most potent spell (that just got saved against) stop concentrating on the spell and thus end it. No matter how, when the most potent spell ends, the other spell (the formerly less potent one) would be able to take effect and the creature would then have to make that save as well in order to no longer be restrained by the effects of this spell.
Since a creature can stop concentrating on a spell at any time this is allowed in the rules. With ensnaring strike there is no reason not to do this since the spell no longer has any effect.
They only have to make one save because they are only under one effect (unless the most potent spell ends)
When a spell is under the effects of two of the same spell only one of them takes effect at a time: the most potent or recent one. From "Combining Magical Effects" in the PHB:
The effects of the same spell cast multiple
times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect — such
as the highest bonus — from those castings applies while their
durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings
are equally potent and their durations overlap.
When the creature successfully makes their save against the most potent spell, that spell is still active and would still override the other spell. From the description of ensnaring strike:
The creature restrained can make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target is freed.
Making one save would free them from the only spell effect currently affecting them (the most potent one). And since the spell does not end on that successful save and no other spell becomes more potent than it, its effects remain. Thus, they would have to make only one save.
Ending the most potent spell after the successful save would cause the creature to have to make another save
If the most potent spell ends for any reason then the less potent spell effect (if still present) would take effect. The natural way for this to happen is going to be the duration of the first spell cast expiring. One way to purposefully do this is to have the caster of the most potent spell (that just got saved against) stop concentrating on the spell and thus end it. No matter how, when the most potent spell ends, the other spell (the formerly less potent one) would be able to take effect and the creature would then have to make that save as well in order to no longer be restrained by the effects of this spell.
Since a creature can stop concentrating on a spell at any time this is allowed in the rules. With ensnaring strike there is no reason not to do this since the spell no longer has any effect.
edited Dec 4 '18 at 18:28
answered Dec 3 '18 at 14:48
RubiksmooseRubiksmoose
48.9k6243369
48.9k6243369
They have to save twice, but only one effect applies.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:56
@Mindwin I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. Can you clarify?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
i just editted the comment. but the effect would end only after the last turn on the latest ranger to ensnare the target.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
@Mindwin I'm sorry I honestly don't understand what you are trying to tell me and your answer doesn't really help me. Can you reword it somehow? Why is the duration of the spell important if one of the spells is getting saved against (and, per my answer, likely ended)?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 4 '18 at 17:38
add a comment |
They have to save twice, but only one effect applies.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:56
@Mindwin I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. Can you clarify?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
i just editted the comment. but the effect would end only after the last turn on the latest ranger to ensnare the target.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
@Mindwin I'm sorry I honestly don't understand what you are trying to tell me and your answer doesn't really help me. Can you reword it somehow? Why is the duration of the spell important if one of the spells is getting saved against (and, per my answer, likely ended)?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 4 '18 at 17:38
They have to save twice, but only one effect applies.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:56
They have to save twice, but only one effect applies.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:56
@Mindwin I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. Can you clarify?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
@Mindwin I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. Can you clarify?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
i just editted the comment. but the effect would end only after the last turn on the latest ranger to ensnare the target.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
i just editted the comment. but the effect would end only after the last turn on the latest ranger to ensnare the target.
– Mindwin
Dec 3 '18 at 17:58
@Mindwin I'm sorry I honestly don't understand what you are trying to tell me and your answer doesn't really help me. Can you reword it somehow? Why is the duration of the spell important if one of the spells is getting saved against (and, per my answer, likely ended)?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 4 '18 at 17:38
@Mindwin I'm sorry I honestly don't understand what you are trying to tell me and your answer doesn't really help me. Can you reword it somehow? Why is the duration of the spell important if one of the spells is getting saved against (and, per my answer, likely ended)?
– Rubiksmoose
Dec 4 '18 at 17:38
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Role-playing Games Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f136686%2fif-two-ensnaring-strikes-affect-the-same-target-does-it-have-to-make-two-saves%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown