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If I readied a spell with the trigger “When I take damage”, do I have to make a constitution saving throw to avoid losing Concentration?

How specific does the trigger for a readied action have to be?How long can a readied spell be held before it's lost?What to do when someone's attacking you, but succeeding the save is worse than failing it?Timing of the Ready action when the trigger is associated with spell casting?Can a readied spell be Counterspelled after it is cast, but before the trigger occurs?Does the spell Cloudkill deal damage when first cast?When using a wand to cast a concentration spell, does the user need to make a saving throw to maintain concentration when damaged?Does dealing 0 damage to a concentrating spellcaster require a saving throw?Can you Ready a Concentration spell?What creature of CR 5 or lower has the highest Constitution saving throw bonus?

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18

1

$begingroup$

Suppose I was playing a wizard. I say to my DM, "I ready my Magic Missile. I cast it when I take damage, at the attacker."

When the time comes, do I need to make a Constitution saving throw immediately before I cast to avoid losing concentration?

dnd-5e spells readied-action concentration

share|improve this question

edited May 1 at 19:10

V2Blast

29.1k5105177

asked May 1 at 13:50

MrHiTechMrHiTech

1,078326

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Why not rephrase to trigger 'immediately before something causes me to take damage'?
  $endgroup$
  – Kieveli
  May 2 at 19:22
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Kieveli I also thought off that but (in the [hypothetical] game) that was the wording I chose. The question is about that specific wording.
  $endgroup$
  – MrHiTech
  May 3 at 15:33
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

18

1

$begingroup$

Suppose I was playing a wizard. I say to my DM, "I ready my Magic Missile. I cast it when I take damage, at the attacker."

When the time comes, do I need to make a Constitution saving throw immediately before I cast to avoid losing concentration?

dnd-5e spells readied-action concentration

share|improve this question

edited May 1 at 19:10

V2Blast

29.1k5105177

asked May 1 at 13:50

MrHiTechMrHiTech

1,078326

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Why not rephrase to trigger 'immediately before something causes me to take damage'?
  $endgroup$
  – Kieveli
  May 2 at 19:22
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Kieveli I also thought off that but (in the [hypothetical] game) that was the wording I chose. The question is about that specific wording.
  $endgroup$
  – MrHiTech
  May 3 at 15:33
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Suppose I was playing a wizard. I say to my DM, "I ready my Magic Missile. I cast it when I take damage, at the attacker."

When the time comes, do I need to make a Constitution saving throw immediately before I cast to avoid losing concentration?

dnd-5e spells readied-action concentration

share|improve this question

edited May 1 at 19:10

V2Blast

29.1k5105177

asked May 1 at 13:50

MrHiTechMrHiTech

1,078326

$endgroup$

share|improve this question

edited May 1 at 19:10

V2Blast

29.1k5105177

asked May 1 at 13:50

MrHiTechMrHiTech

1,078326

share|improve this question

edited May 1 at 19:10

V2Blast

29.1k5105177

asked May 1 at 13:50

MrHiTechMrHiTech

1,078326

edited May 1 at 19:10

V2Blast

29.1k5105177

edited May 1 at 19:10

V2Blast

29.1k5105177

asked May 1 at 13:50

MrHiTechMrHiTech

1,078326

asked May 1 at 13:50

MrHiTechMrHiTech

1,078326

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

35

$begingroup$

Yes, you do

The Readied action doesn't trigger until after your trigger completes:

When the trigger occurs, you can either take your reaction right after the trigger finishes or ignore the trigger.

When you ready a spell, you are concentrating on that spell as you hold it (PHB, 193)

When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs. To be readied, a spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and holding onto the spell’s magic requires concentration (explained in chapter 10). If your concentration is broken, the spell dissipates without taking effect.

Since your trigger is when I take damage and you are concentrating, you will have to make a concentration save per the rules on concentration:

Taking damage. Whenever you take damage while you are concentrating on a spell, you must make a Constitution saving throw to maintain your concentration. The DC equals 10 or half the damage you take, whichever number is higher. If you take damage from multiple sources, such as an arrow and a dragon's breath, you make a separate saving throw for each source of damage.

If you fail, then you've lost your spell

Just to close the loop, if you do fail that concentration save, then you drop the readied spell and you won't be casting it.

share|improve this answer

edited May 1 at 14:34

Slagmoth

18.4k15598

answered May 1 at 14:03

NautArchNautArch

65.3k10240434

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

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35

$begingroup$

Yes, you do

The Readied action doesn't trigger until after your trigger completes:

When the trigger occurs, you can either take your reaction right after the trigger finishes or ignore the trigger.

When you ready a spell, you are concentrating on that spell as you hold it (PHB, 193)

When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs. To be readied, a spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and holding onto the spell’s magic requires concentration (explained in chapter 10). If your concentration is broken, the spell dissipates without taking effect.

Since your trigger is when I take damage and you are concentrating, you will have to make a concentration save per the rules on concentration:

Taking damage. Whenever you take damage while you are concentrating on a spell, you must make a Constitution saving throw to maintain your concentration. The DC equals 10 or half the damage you take, whichever number is higher. If you take damage from multiple sources, such as an arrow and a dragon's breath, you make a separate saving throw for each source of damage.

If you fail, then you've lost your spell

Just to close the loop, if you do fail that concentration save, then you drop the readied spell and you won't be casting it.

share|improve this answer

edited May 1 at 14:34

Slagmoth

18.4k15598

answered May 1 at 14:03

NautArchNautArch

65.3k10240434

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

35

$begingroup$

Yes, you do

The Readied action doesn't trigger until after your trigger completes:

When the trigger occurs, you can either take your reaction right after the trigger finishes or ignore the trigger.

When you ready a spell, you are concentrating on that spell as you hold it (PHB, 193)

When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs. To be readied, a spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and holding onto the spell’s magic requires concentration (explained in chapter 10). If your concentration is broken, the spell dissipates without taking effect.

Since your trigger is when I take damage and you are concentrating, you will have to make a concentration save per the rules on concentration:

Taking damage. Whenever you take damage while you are concentrating on a spell, you must make a Constitution saving throw to maintain your concentration. The DC equals 10 or half the damage you take, whichever number is higher. If you take damage from multiple sources, such as an arrow and a dragon's breath, you make a separate saving throw for each source of damage.

If you fail, then you've lost your spell

Just to close the loop, if you do fail that concentration save, then you drop the readied spell and you won't be casting it.

share|improve this answer

edited May 1 at 14:34

Slagmoth

18.4k15598

answered May 1 at 14:03

NautArchNautArch

65.3k10240434

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Yes, you do

The Readied action doesn't trigger until after your trigger completes:

When the trigger occurs, you can either take your reaction right after the trigger finishes or ignore the trigger.

When you ready a spell, you are concentrating on that spell as you hold it (PHB, 193)

When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs. To be readied, a spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and holding onto the spell’s magic requires concentration (explained in chapter 10). If your concentration is broken, the spell dissipates without taking effect.

Since your trigger is when I take damage and you are concentrating, you will have to make a concentration save per the rules on concentration:

Taking damage. Whenever you take damage while you are concentrating on a spell, you must make a Constitution saving throw to maintain your concentration. The DC equals 10 or half the damage you take, whichever number is higher. If you take damage from multiple sources, such as an arrow and a dragon's breath, you make a separate saving throw for each source of damage.

If you fail, then you've lost your spell

Just to close the loop, if you do fail that concentration save, then you drop the readied spell and you won't be casting it.

share|improve this answer

edited May 1 at 14:34

Slagmoth

18.4k15598

answered May 1 at 14:03

NautArchNautArch

65.3k10240434

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited May 1 at 14:34

Slagmoth

18.4k15598

answered May 1 at 14:03

NautArchNautArch

65.3k10240434

edited May 1 at 14:34

Slagmoth

18.4k15598

edited May 1 at 14:34

Slagmoth

18.4k15598

answered May 1 at 14:03

NautArchNautArch

65.3k10240434

answered May 1 at 14:03

NautArchNautArch

65.3k10240434