Dungeons & Dragons Made One Condition Infinitely More Horrifying in 2024 Rules

Dungeons & Dragons Made One Condition Infinitely More Horrifying in 2024 Rules

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of dice-rolling under my belt, I must say that the new Petrified condition update in Dungeons & Dragons has sent a shiver down my spine, and not just because it’s autumn. The 2024 ruleset has brought about numerous changes, but none quite as intriguing (and terrifying) as this one.


In the forthcoming updates to Dungeons & Dragons ruleset for 2024, set to roll out next month, the team has revamped several conditions that offer mechanical advantages or disadvantages to creatures during and outside of combat. While some conditions have undergone significant transformations (like Exhaustion), others have received subtle modifications that make them more tactically challenging. However, one condition saw a minor tweak that makes it far scarier in practical play than it was in the 2014 core rules.

In essence, the fundamentals of the Petrified state remain consistent with the original 2014 guidelines. Creatures like Medusa, Basilisk, and a few others can induce this state, transforming a creature into a stone-like form. The 2024 core rules retain the same mechanical consequences – the Petrified creature becomes Incapacitated, moves at zero speed, all attacks against it gain an advantage, they automatically fail Strength and Dexterity saving throws, they become immune to poison and have resistance to all types of damage. A notable difference between the 2014 and 2024 rules is that, in the former, a Petrified creature was unresponsive to its surroundings, while this detail is not explicitly mentioned in the 2024 core rules.

It’s plausible that the creators of D&D intentionally omitted that detail to spark creative narrative opportunities. A petrified being might retain consciousness and perceive events happening around them, potentially offering players useful insights. Conversely, a creature freed from petrification could be mentally scarred by witnessing their comrades’ demise and their own transformation into stone for centuries. However, the Dungeon Master has the final say in whether a petrified creature remains oblivious to its surroundings.

The new Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook comes out on September 17th.

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2024-08-14 16:10