Can the Magic Missile spell attack objects (like bowstrings)?












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I wanna use magic missile (which apparently never misses) to disable bows by attacking the bowstrings. Is this allowed? Or can it only target creatures?






dnd-5e spells targeting objects







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    Related on What qualifies as the target of a spell? and How does one target a piece of jewelry being worn by a character?
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    1 hour ago


















3












$begingroup$


I wanna use magic missile (which apparently never misses) to disable bows by attacking the bowstrings. Is this allowed? Or can it only target creatures?






dnd-5e spells targeting objects







share|improve this question









New contributor




Ray Alez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Related on What qualifies as the target of a spell? and How does one target a piece of jewelry being worn by a character?
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    1 hour ago
















3












3








3





$begingroup$


I wanna use magic missile (which apparently never misses) to disable bows by attacking the bowstrings. Is this allowed? Or can it only target creatures?






dnd-5e spells targeting objects







share|improve this question









New contributor




Ray Alez is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




I wanna use magic missile (which apparently never misses) to disable bows by attacking the bowstrings. Is this allowed? Or can it only target creatures?






dnd-5e spells targeting objects




dnd-5e spells targeting objects






share|improve this question









New contributor




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Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









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share|improve this question




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edited 21 mins ago









V2Blast

21.3k361135




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asked 1 hour ago









Ray AlezRay Alez

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  • $begingroup$
    Related on What qualifies as the target of a spell? and How does one target a piece of jewelry being worn by a character?
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    1 hour ago




















  • $begingroup$
    Related on What qualifies as the target of a spell? and How does one target a piece of jewelry being worn by a character?
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    1 hour ago


















$begingroup$
Related on What qualifies as the target of a spell? and How does one target a piece of jewelry being worn by a character?
$endgroup$
– NautArch
1 hour ago






$begingroup$
Related on What qualifies as the target of a spell? and How does one target a piece of jewelry being worn by a character?
$endgroup$
– NautArch
1 hour ago












3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















10












$begingroup$

Can only target creatures



The spell description spells this out fairly clearly (emphasis mine):




Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




Most spells that do target objects specify that the object must be unattended for the effect to take place, likely specifically to prevent this kind of disarming which can be un-fun (especially when used against players who may be attached to their gear).




[i.e. firebolt, emphasis mine:]  A flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn't being worn or carried.




There are some instances where this is not the case, like chain lightning (thanks NautArch in the comments), but it is rare that this option appears.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$





















    14












    $begingroup$

    You must target a creature



    Magic Missile states in it's description:




    Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




    This spell requires a target to be a creature, so you can only target creatures with this spell.




    Magic Missile can deal no damage



    You also had said that the spell never misses - but this isn't quite true. There are cases where Magic Missile does no damage. The spell Shield is a case because it includes the language:




    ...you take no damage from magic missile.




    Which I guess technically isn't that it missed, but that there was no damage - the end of effect of not hurting someone with it is what I was getting at :)






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$





















      -1












      $begingroup$

      Talk to your DM.
      Although it doesn't work as per the rule book in the end the PHB and other sources are not strict law. They are a guideline.
      If your DM is okay with it and wants to reward creativity they are more than welcome to, but as the other answers show that is not how it is intended to work.






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor




      Deceptecium is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      $endgroup$













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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        10












        $begingroup$

        Can only target creatures



        The spell description spells this out fairly clearly (emphasis mine):




        Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




        Most spells that do target objects specify that the object must be unattended for the effect to take place, likely specifically to prevent this kind of disarming which can be un-fun (especially when used against players who may be attached to their gear).




        [i.e. firebolt, emphasis mine:]  A flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn't being worn or carried.




        There are some instances where this is not the case, like chain lightning (thanks NautArch in the comments), but it is rare that this option appears.






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$


















          10












          $begingroup$

          Can only target creatures



          The spell description spells this out fairly clearly (emphasis mine):




          Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




          Most spells that do target objects specify that the object must be unattended for the effect to take place, likely specifically to prevent this kind of disarming which can be un-fun (especially when used against players who may be attached to their gear).




          [i.e. firebolt, emphasis mine:]  A flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn't being worn or carried.




          There are some instances where this is not the case, like chain lightning (thanks NautArch in the comments), but it is rare that this option appears.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$
















            10












            10








            10





            $begingroup$

            Can only target creatures



            The spell description spells this out fairly clearly (emphasis mine):




            Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




            Most spells that do target objects specify that the object must be unattended for the effect to take place, likely specifically to prevent this kind of disarming which can be un-fun (especially when used against players who may be attached to their gear).




            [i.e. firebolt, emphasis mine:]  A flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn't being worn or carried.




            There are some instances where this is not the case, like chain lightning (thanks NautArch in the comments), but it is rare that this option appears.






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$



            Can only target creatures



            The spell description spells this out fairly clearly (emphasis mine):




            Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




            Most spells that do target objects specify that the object must be unattended for the effect to take place, likely specifically to prevent this kind of disarming which can be un-fun (especially when used against players who may be attached to their gear).




            [i.e. firebolt, emphasis mine:]  A flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn't being worn or carried.




            There are some instances where this is not the case, like chain lightning (thanks NautArch in the comments), but it is rare that this option appears.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 1 hour ago

























            answered 1 hour ago









            David CoffronDavid Coffron

            34.5k3119239




            34.5k3119239

























                14












                $begingroup$

                You must target a creature



                Magic Missile states in it's description:




                Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




                This spell requires a target to be a creature, so you can only target creatures with this spell.




                Magic Missile can deal no damage



                You also had said that the spell never misses - but this isn't quite true. There are cases where Magic Missile does no damage. The spell Shield is a case because it includes the language:




                ...you take no damage from magic missile.




                Which I guess technically isn't that it missed, but that there was no damage - the end of effect of not hurting someone with it is what I was getting at :)






                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$


















                  14












                  $begingroup$

                  You must target a creature



                  Magic Missile states in it's description:




                  Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




                  This spell requires a target to be a creature, so you can only target creatures with this spell.




                  Magic Missile can deal no damage



                  You also had said that the spell never misses - but this isn't quite true. There are cases where Magic Missile does no damage. The spell Shield is a case because it includes the language:




                  ...you take no damage from magic missile.




                  Which I guess technically isn't that it missed, but that there was no damage - the end of effect of not hurting someone with it is what I was getting at :)






                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$
















                    14












                    14








                    14





                    $begingroup$

                    You must target a creature



                    Magic Missile states in it's description:




                    Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




                    This spell requires a target to be a creature, so you can only target creatures with this spell.




                    Magic Missile can deal no damage



                    You also had said that the spell never misses - but this isn't quite true. There are cases where Magic Missile does no damage. The spell Shield is a case because it includes the language:




                    ...you take no damage from magic missile.




                    Which I guess technically isn't that it missed, but that there was no damage - the end of effect of not hurting someone with it is what I was getting at :)






                    share|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$



                    You must target a creature



                    Magic Missile states in it's description:




                    Each dart hits a creature of your choice that you can see within range.




                    This spell requires a target to be a creature, so you can only target creatures with this spell.




                    Magic Missile can deal no damage



                    You also had said that the spell never misses - but this isn't quite true. There are cases where Magic Missile does no damage. The spell Shield is a case because it includes the language:




                    ...you take no damage from magic missile.




                    Which I guess technically isn't that it missed, but that there was no damage - the end of effect of not hurting someone with it is what I was getting at :)







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited 1 hour ago

























                    answered 1 hour ago









                    NautArchNautArch

                    54.3k8191364




                    54.3k8191364























                        -1












                        $begingroup$

                        Talk to your DM.
                        Although it doesn't work as per the rule book in the end the PHB and other sources are not strict law. They are a guideline.
                        If your DM is okay with it and wants to reward creativity they are more than welcome to, but as the other answers show that is not how it is intended to work.






                        share|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        Deceptecium is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






                        $endgroup$


















                          -1












                          $begingroup$

                          Talk to your DM.
                          Although it doesn't work as per the rule book in the end the PHB and other sources are not strict law. They are a guideline.
                          If your DM is okay with it and wants to reward creativity they are more than welcome to, but as the other answers show that is not how it is intended to work.






                          share|improve this answer








                          New contributor




                          Deceptecium is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.






                          $endgroup$
















                            -1












                            -1








                            -1





                            $begingroup$

                            Talk to your DM.
                            Although it doesn't work as per the rule book in the end the PHB and other sources are not strict law. They are a guideline.
                            If your DM is okay with it and wants to reward creativity they are more than welcome to, but as the other answers show that is not how it is intended to work.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            Deceptecium is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.






                            $endgroup$



                            Talk to your DM.
                            Although it doesn't work as per the rule book in the end the PHB and other sources are not strict law. They are a guideline.
                            If your DM is okay with it and wants to reward creativity they are more than welcome to, but as the other answers show that is not how it is intended to work.







                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            Deceptecium is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer






                            New contributor




                            Deceptecium is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                            answered 1 hour ago









                            DecepteciumDeceptecium

                            783113




                            783113




                            New contributor




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                            New contributor





                            Deceptecium is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                            Deceptecium is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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