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What happens if you Dissonant Whispers a Hydra?

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What happens if you cast Dissonant Whispers on a Hydra?

Does Dissonant Whispers cause the target to release a grapple?How does the disengage action work against a monster with the reactive heads ability, such as a hydra?Can a berserker use his reaction for “retaliation” during his turn?Dissonant Whispers vs. Otyugh GrappleDoes someone who fails against Dissonant Whispers on their turn waste their movement for that turn?At what point in a creature's movement does an opportunity attack take place?Can a Hydra make multiple opportunity attacks at once?Can a College of Swords bard use a Blade Flourish option on an opportunity attack provoked by their own Dissonant Whispers spell?How does the War Caster feat interact with a Hydra's Reactive Heads trait?Is it possible to chain the Dissonant Whispers spell if multiple characters have the War Caster feat?

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4

$begingroup$

A Hydra gets extra reactions which "can be used only for opportunity attacks". The Dissonant Whispers spell forces a creature to consume its reaction to do stuff one cannot ordinarily do with a reaction.

Can Dissonant Whispers spam force a hydra to consume its reactions running away, or will the creature not have to spend its reactions on running and remain able to use them for opportunity attacks?

dnd-5e spells monsters reactions

share|improve this question

edited 13 mins ago

V2Blast♦

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asked 9 hours ago

the dark wandererthe dark wanderer

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add a comment | 

4

$begingroup$

A Hydra gets extra reactions which "can be used only for opportunity attacks". The Dissonant Whispers spell forces a creature to consume its reaction to do stuff one cannot ordinarily do with a reaction.

Can Dissonant Whispers spam force a hydra to consume its reactions running away, or will the creature not have to spend its reactions on running and remain able to use them for opportunity attacks?

dnd-5e spells monsters reactions

share|improve this question

edited 13 mins ago

V2Blast♦

32.5k55 gold badges117117 silver badges201201 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

the dark wandererthe dark wanderer

40.5k55 gold badges107107 silver badges213213 bronze badges

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

A Hydra gets extra reactions which "can be used only for opportunity attacks". The Dissonant Whispers spell forces a creature to consume its reaction to do stuff one cannot ordinarily do with a reaction.

Can Dissonant Whispers spam force a hydra to consume its reactions running away, or will the creature not have to spend its reactions on running and remain able to use them for opportunity attacks?

dnd-5e spells monsters reactions

share|improve this question

edited 13 mins ago

V2Blast♦

32.5k55 gold badges117117 silver badges201201 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

the dark wandererthe dark wanderer

40.5k55 gold badges107107 silver badges213213 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this question

edited 13 mins ago

V2Blast♦

32.5k55 gold badges117117 silver badges201201 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

the dark wandererthe dark wanderer

40.5k55 gold badges107107 silver badges213213 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited 13 mins ago

V2Blast♦

32.5k55 gold badges117117 silver badges201201 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

the dark wandererthe dark wanderer

40.5k55 gold badges107107 silver badges213213 bronze badges

edited 13 mins ago

V2Blast♦

32.5k55 gold badges117117 silver badges201201 bronze badges

edited 13 mins ago

V2Blast♦

32.5k55 gold badges117117 silver badges201201 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

the dark wandererthe dark wanderer

40.5k55 gold badges107107 silver badges213213 bronze badges

asked 9 hours ago

the dark wandererthe dark wanderer

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1 Answer
1

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11

$begingroup$

The Hydra uses one reaction to run away

The Hydra's "Reactive Heads" feature states that for every head beyond the first, the Hydra gains an extra reaction that can only be used for opportunity attacks. This means that the Hydra has one "normal" reaction, which would be consumed by Dissonant Whispers.

There are two reasons why the Hydra would not be able to use its extra reactions to move.

In the case of 5e, a specific rule always trumps a general one - in this case, Dissonant Whispers states that on a failed saving throw the creature must use its reaction to move away from you. However, the Hydra's Reactive Heads feature states that the extra reactions can only be used for opportunity attacks. This is a specific rule and trumps the general one.

Secondly, the wording of Dissonant Whispers states that the creature "must immediately use its reaction, if available, to move ..." In this case, we can consider the Hydra's extra reactions unavailable, because they can only be used for opportunity attacks.

In short, the Hydra will use its primary reaction to move away from the caster of Dissonant Whispers if it fails the saving throw, but the bonus reactions cannot be used in this way and as such it will hold on to them (possibly to take a big bite out of your front-liner barbarian).

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

AjohnsonAjohnson

31622 silver badges1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  -1: incorrect application of specific versus general. Rest of your answer seems fine, though.
  $endgroup$
  – the dark wanderer
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


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  @thedarkwanderer "If a specific rule contradicts a general rule, the specific rule wins." How is this not a specific rule, the restriction to a Hydra's reaction, overriding/disallowing/contradicting a more general rule, dissonant whispers using any available reaction?
  $endgroup$
  – Medix2
  8 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
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  The two of you are right in correcting my use of specific versus general and I have removed that paragraph. Thanks.
  $endgroup$
  – Ajohnson
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


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  @Medix2 because the abilities do not share a scope, so there is no basis to determine that one is more specific than the other
  $endgroup$
  – the dark wanderer
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


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  @thedarkwanderer The one ability says you must use your reaction to move. The other says you can only use it to make an opportunity attack, and therefore, also says you cannot use it to move, directly overruling dissonant whispers. To me this is a more specific restriction overruling/preventing another less strict (and thus less specific / more general) restriction
  $endgroup$
  – Medix2
  4 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

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11

$begingroup$

The Hydra uses one reaction to run away

The Hydra's "Reactive Heads" feature states that for every head beyond the first, the Hydra gains an extra reaction that can only be used for opportunity attacks. This means that the Hydra has one "normal" reaction, which would be consumed by Dissonant Whispers.

There are two reasons why the Hydra would not be able to use its extra reactions to move.

In the case of 5e, a specific rule always trumps a general one - in this case, Dissonant Whispers states that on a failed saving throw the creature must use its reaction to move away from you. However, the Hydra's Reactive Heads feature states that the extra reactions can only be used for opportunity attacks. This is a specific rule and trumps the general one.

Secondly, the wording of Dissonant Whispers states that the creature "must immediately use its reaction, if available, to move ..." In this case, we can consider the Hydra's extra reactions unavailable, because they can only be used for opportunity attacks.

In short, the Hydra will use its primary reaction to move away from the caster of Dissonant Whispers if it fails the saving throw, but the bonus reactions cannot be used in this way and as such it will hold on to them (possibly to take a big bite out of your front-liner barbarian).

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

AjohnsonAjohnson

31622 silver badges1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  -1: incorrect application of specific versus general. Rest of your answer seems fine, though.
  $endgroup$
  – the dark wanderer
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @thedarkwanderer "If a specific rule contradicts a general rule, the specific rule wins." How is this not a specific rule, the restriction to a Hydra's reaction, overriding/disallowing/contradicting a more general rule, dissonant whispers using any available reaction?
  $endgroup$
  – Medix2
  8 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  The two of you are right in correcting my use of specific versus general and I have removed that paragraph. Thanks.
  $endgroup$
  – Ajohnson
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Medix2 because the abilities do not share a scope, so there is no basis to determine that one is more specific than the other
  $endgroup$
  – the dark wanderer
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @thedarkwanderer The one ability says you must use your reaction to move. The other says you can only use it to make an opportunity attack, and therefore, also says you cannot use it to move, directly overruling dissonant whispers. To me this is a more specific restriction overruling/preventing another less strict (and thus less specific / more general) restriction
  $endgroup$
  – Medix2
  4 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

11

$begingroup$

The Hydra uses one reaction to run away

The Hydra's "Reactive Heads" feature states that for every head beyond the first, the Hydra gains an extra reaction that can only be used for opportunity attacks. This means that the Hydra has one "normal" reaction, which would be consumed by Dissonant Whispers.

There are two reasons why the Hydra would not be able to use its extra reactions to move.

In the case of 5e, a specific rule always trumps a general one - in this case, Dissonant Whispers states that on a failed saving throw the creature must use its reaction to move away from you. However, the Hydra's Reactive Heads feature states that the extra reactions can only be used for opportunity attacks. This is a specific rule and trumps the general one.

Secondly, the wording of Dissonant Whispers states that the creature "must immediately use its reaction, if available, to move ..." In this case, we can consider the Hydra's extra reactions unavailable, because they can only be used for opportunity attacks.

In short, the Hydra will use its primary reaction to move away from the caster of Dissonant Whispers if it fails the saving throw, but the bonus reactions cannot be used in this way and as such it will hold on to them (possibly to take a big bite out of your front-liner barbarian).

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

AjohnsonAjohnson

31622 silver badges1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  -1: incorrect application of specific versus general. Rest of your answer seems fine, though.
  $endgroup$
  – the dark wanderer
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @thedarkwanderer "If a specific rule contradicts a general rule, the specific rule wins." How is this not a specific rule, the restriction to a Hydra's reaction, overriding/disallowing/contradicting a more general rule, dissonant whispers using any available reaction?
  $endgroup$
  – Medix2
  8 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  The two of you are right in correcting my use of specific versus general and I have removed that paragraph. Thanks.
  $endgroup$
  – Ajohnson
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Medix2 because the abilities do not share a scope, so there is no basis to determine that one is more specific than the other
  $endgroup$
  – the dark wanderer
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @thedarkwanderer The one ability says you must use your reaction to move. The other says you can only use it to make an opportunity attack, and therefore, also says you cannot use it to move, directly overruling dissonant whispers. To me this is a more specific restriction overruling/preventing another less strict (and thus less specific / more general) restriction
  $endgroup$
  – Medix2
  4 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

$begingroup$

The Hydra uses one reaction to run away

The Hydra's "Reactive Heads" feature states that for every head beyond the first, the Hydra gains an extra reaction that can only be used for opportunity attacks. This means that the Hydra has one "normal" reaction, which would be consumed by Dissonant Whispers.

There are two reasons why the Hydra would not be able to use its extra reactions to move.

In the case of 5e, a specific rule always trumps a general one - in this case, Dissonant Whispers states that on a failed saving throw the creature must use its reaction to move away from you. However, the Hydra's Reactive Heads feature states that the extra reactions can only be used for opportunity attacks. This is a specific rule and trumps the general one.

Secondly, the wording of Dissonant Whispers states that the creature "must immediately use its reaction, if available, to move ..." In this case, we can consider the Hydra's extra reactions unavailable, because they can only be used for opportunity attacks.

In short, the Hydra will use its primary reaction to move away from the caster of Dissonant Whispers if it fails the saving throw, but the bonus reactions cannot be used in this way and as such it will hold on to them (possibly to take a big bite out of your front-liner barbarian).

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

AjohnsonAjohnson

31622 silver badges1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited 7 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

AjohnsonAjohnson

31622 silver badges1010 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

AjohnsonAjohnson

31622 silver badges1010 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

AjohnsonAjohnson

31622 silver badges1010 bronze badges