DM Descriptions – Combat Descriptions for Dungeon Masters

DM Descriptions

Resistance Tracking Descriptions

	Vulnerability	Resistance	Immunity
Expectation	To your delight As expected Predictably effective	Less than expected Somewhat dulled Diminished impact	To your horror Utterly ineffective Completely negated
Enemy Reaction	Recoils in agony Stumbles back Screams in pain	Shrugs off the blow Grimaces slightly Takes it in stride	Laughs off the attack Ignores it entirely Doesn’t flinch
Damage Effect	Tears through flesh Rips through armor Blasts the target apart	Sputters out early Dissipates mid-strike Barely leaves a mark	Deflects harmlessly Disperses on contact Fades before landing
Enemy Attitude	Frenzied with pain Panicked Visibly shaken	Wary but composed Irritated Still calculating	Amused Mocking Coldly confident
Vocalizations	Shrieks Screams Bellows in rage	Grunts Snorts Growls softly	Chuckles Scoffs Mutters disdainfully
Wound	Devastating Bleeding profusely Mangled	Trivial wound Barely scratched Surface burn	Unscathed Pristine Untouched
Movement	Staggers back Collapses momentarily Writhes	Sidesteps Regains stance quickly Braces effortlessly	Unmoved Strides forward Unstoppable
Visual Cue	Smoke rises from seared flesh Armor buckles Chunks fly off	Glow dims slightly Armor singes but holds Sparks fly off harmlessly	No visible effect Attack phases through Glancing shimmer of a barrier

Damage Type Descriptions

Physical Damage

Slashing	Piercing	Bludgeoning
Slices Rends Cleaves Hacks Gashes Slashes Severs Lascerates Chops	Stabs Impales Skewers Punctures Riddles (with holes) Penetrates Harpoons Punches (a hole into) Gores	Crushes Smashes Pummels Batters Bashes Concusses Pounds Slams Clubs

Elemental Damage

Fire	Cold	Electricity	Acid	Sonic	Force
Scorches Sears Singes Immolates Blackens Chars Blisters Incinerates Flares	Freezes Numbs Frosts Encases Bites Chills Stiffens Crystallizes Solidifies	Shocks Arcs Jolts Crackles Zaps Surges Fries Overloads Galvanized	Corrodes Melts Sizzles Eats Away Bubbles Dissolves Chars Sloughs Erodes	Reverberates Rattles Ruptures Deafens Disorients Pounds Shatters Thrums Booms	Slams Impacts Strikes Crushes Hurls Batters Bursts Knocks Catapults

Alignment Damage

Positive Energy	Negative Energy
Overwhelms Bursts Floods Blinds Surges Radiates Disorients Emits Beams	Drains Withers Darkens Consumes Corrupts Enfeebles Leeches Festers Saps

Health Tracking Descriptions

	Full Health	Half Health	Near Death
Posture	Swaggering Confident stance Standing tall	Slouching Swaying slightly Staggering	Barely upright Sinking to knees Propped on weapon
Attitude	Casual Reckless Playful taunts	Wary Focused Grim resolve	Fearful Desperate Wild-eyed
Armor Damage	Barely scratched Surface nicks Pristine	Gouged Cracked Dented visibly	Cleft open Shattered plating Falling apart
Breathing	Steady Exhilarated Barely winded	Heavy Labored Quick and uneven	Ragged Gasping Wheezing with every breath
Vocalizations	Angry shouts Mocking insults Roars	Pained grunts Short cries Growls of frustration	Screams Choked sobs Desperate whimpers
Wounds	Superficial cuts Bruises Cosmetic injuries	Bleeding freely Deep lacerations Painful swelling	Debilitating Exposed bone Barely holding together
Movement	Fluid and aggressive Bounding steps Unimpeded	Measured Slight limp Favoring a side	Dragging limbs Unsteady gait Stumbling
Eyes/Focus	Sharp and confident Scanning lazily Unblinking	Tracking carefully Alert Hesitant	Glassy Bloodshot Flickering consciousness