Damage Types

The corrosive spray of a black dragon's breath and the dissolving enzymes secreted by a black pudding deal acid damage.

Blunt force attacks — hammers, falling, constriction, and the like — deal bludgeoning damage.

The frost of a white dragon's breath and the touch of a ghoul deal cold damage.

Red dragons breathe fire, and many spells conjure flames to deal fire damage.

Pure magical energy, as with the spell magic missile, deals force damage.

A lightning bolt spell and a blue dragon's breath deal lightning damage.

Necrotic damage withers matter and even the soul, as dealt by an undead's touch.

Puncturing and impaling attacks, including spears and monster bites, deal piercing damage.

Venomous stings and toxic gases, such as a poisonous snakebite or the poison spray cantrip, deal poison damage.

Mental abilities such as a mind flayer's psionic blast deal psychic damage.

Radiant damage, dealt by a cleric's flame strike spell or an angel's smiting weapon, sears the flesh like fire and overloads the spirit with power.

Swords, axes, and monster claws deal slashing damage.

A concussive burst of sound, such as the thunderwave spell, deals thunder damage.