What is drowning 5e?

Drowning in D&D 5e

Drowning is a significant hazard in D&D 5e, particularly for characters venturing underwater or finding themselves submerged. The rules governing drowning are designed to create a sense of urgency and danger.

Suffocating: A creature can drown when it runs out of breath. This typically happens when a creature is underwater, but could also occur in areas with no breathable air. The rules for suffocation cover drowning.

Holding Breath: A creature can hold its breath for a limited time, determined by its Constitution score. The base time is calculated as follows:

• A creature can hold its breath for a number of minutes equal to 1 + its Constitution modifier (minimum of 30 seconds).

Suffocation Process: When a creature runs out of breath or is suffocating, it begins to suffocate. Suffocation has the following effects:

1. The creature can continue to hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 round).
2. At the start of its next turn, it drops to 0 hit points and is dying, and it can't regain hit points or be stabilized.
3. Each time the creature is subject to further damage while dying, it suffers a death saving throw failure.
4. The creature dies if it fails three death saving throws or takes any damage while it is dying.

Important Considerations:

• Heavy Armor: Wearing heavy armor can significantly hinder a creature's ability to swim and makes drowning much more likely.
• Magical Effects: Spells like water breathing can negate the risk of drowning entirely.
• Creature Abilities: Some creatures have innate abilities, such as amphibious traits or the ability to breathe underwater, that make them immune to drowning.
• DM Discretion: The DM has the final say in how drowning is handled in their campaign and might introduce additional factors, such as strong currents or exhaustion, to make the situation even more challenging.