this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2024
445 points (98.3% liked)
RPGMemes
10319 readers
203 users here now
Humor, jokes, memes about TTRPGs
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Mirror image specifies that it blocks attacks that are targeted at the caster. Magic missile has no "attack" component, it automatically hits. Mirror image also ignores AoE damage. The specific wording is "A duplicate can be destroyed only by an attack that hits it. It ignores all other damage and effects."
We just had this discussion at our table on Saturday.
This is one of the issues I have with going from 3.5 to 5e. In trying to simplify the rules, they have left out details that make it ambiguous.
Here's the text of the rule from 5:
Then there is detail on how it affects attacks
Then there is detail on how the duplicates defend:
Then the rule ends by describing how to bypass the spell.
It does not say that a creature is unaffected by this spell if it is using a spell that does not use an attack roll.
Magic Missile starts with this:
I would argue that Magic Missile relies on sight, and Mirror Image prevents you from visibly discerning which duplicate is the target. So you can't "see" which target is the creature and which is the duplicate.
I know I'm in the minority on this topic, and I'll always defer to whatever the DM decides. Most people feel that, since it doesn't explicitly include non-attack targeting, that those actions ignore Mirror Image. But I prefer to play to a common sense interpretation of the spirit of the rules. Like if a teammate tries to toss a healing potion to the Wizard, but it shatters on the ground because they threw it to one of the duplicates. Or casting any divination or enchantment that relies on sight should be affected by Mirror Image, even if there is no attack roll.
That's the logic I was extending to include applying a mirror to the target. But that's probably too far afield from RAW.