Potion of Poison 5e
Adventuring gear (potion), uncommon
This concoction looks, smells, and tastes like a potion of healing or other beneficial potion. However, it is actually poison masked by illusion magic. An identify spell reveals its true nature.
If you drink it, you take 3d6 poison damage, and you must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned. At the start of each of your turns while you are poisoned in this way, you take 3d6 poison damage. At the end of each of your turns, you can repeat the saving throw. On a successful save, the poison damage you take on your subsequent turns decreases by 1d6. The poison ends when the damage decreases to 0.
Commentary by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold
Did you stumble across some suspiciously convenient Potions of Healing? Beware, you may be about to take some Potions of Poison! These disguised items are closer to a trap than an item, usually used to surprise players who go mindlessly chugging strange beverages they find buried in ancient tombs.
The Poisoned condition imposes disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
Persistent poison damage like this can be lethal at low tiers. 3rd level characters are usually working with around 21 hit points; you always take 3d6 damage on consumption, which is an average of 10.5 damage, and should you fail the initial save you’re guaranteed to take at least 6d6 damage- 3d6 from the first turn, 2d6 from the second turn with a successful save, and 1d6 on the final turn with a successful save.
If you’re a DM looking for a spicy trap, I’d really only look to use these in lethal dungeons in the mid-tiers plus, as prior to 5th level, anyone drinking this potion can easily be killed outright for it, and feel a bit lied to. Use with caution!
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