D20:Breath Weapon Special Ability

[top]Breath Weapon (Su)

A creature attacking with a breath weapon is actually expelling something from its mouth (rather than conjuring it by means of a spell or some other magical effect). A breath weapon attack usually deals damage and is often based on some type of energy.
Such breath weapons allow a Reflex save for half damage (DC 10 + 1/2 breathing creature?s racial HD + breathing creature?s Con modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature?s descriptive text). Some breath weapons allow a Fortitude save or a Will save instead of a Reflex save. Most creatures with breath weapons are limited to a number of uses per day or by a minimum length of time that must pass between uses. Such creatures are usually smart enough to save their breath weapon until they really need it.
  • Using a breath weapon is typically a standard action.
  • No attack roll is necessary. The breath simply fills its stated area.
  • Any character caught in the area must make the appropriate saving throw or suffer the breath weapon?s full effect. In many cases, a character who succeeds on his saving throw still takes half damage or some other reduced effect.
  • Breath weapons are supernatural abilities except where noted.
  • Creatures are immune to their own breath weapons unless otherwise noted.
  • Creatures unable to breathe can still use breath weapons. (The term is something of a misnomer.)


Back to System Reference Document -> Combat Rules -> Special Abilities
 
This article is a D20 reference page
The System Reference Document is a comprehensive toolbox consisting of rules, races, classes, feats, skills, various systems, spells, magic items, and monsters compatible with the d20 System version of Dungeons & Dragons and various other roleplaying games from Wizards of the Coast.
 

Tags for this Page

Similar Pages

  1. Blindsight and Blindsense (Special Ability)
    By Arjan in forum D20 system reference document
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 05-19-2007, 10:14 PM
  2. Antimagic (Special Ability)
    By Arjan in forum D20 system reference document
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 05-19-2007, 09:52 PM
  3. Alternate Form (Special Ability)
    By Arjan in forum D20 system reference document
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 05-19-2007, 09:46 PM
  4. Ability Score Loss (Special Ability)
    By Arjan in forum D20 system reference document
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 05-19-2007, 09:39 PM
  5. Spells (Special Ability)
    By Arjan in forum D20 system reference document
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 05-16-2007, 12:27 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

Posting Permissions
  • You may not create new articles
  • You may not edit articles
  • You may not protect articles
  • You may not post comments
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your comments
BIRTHRIGHT, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, the BIRTHRIGHT logo, and the D&D logo are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used by permission. ©2002-2010 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.