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aliases:
- Breaking Objects
created: 2026-03-09T12:15:34.442-04:00
modified: 2026-03-09T12:15:34.442-04:00
published: 2026-03-09T12:15:34.442-04:00
tags: - ttrpg-cli/compendium/src/5e/xphb
cssclasses: - json5e-note
obsidianUIMode: preview
Breaking Objects
Source: Player’s Handbook (2024) p. 362. Available in the SRD and the Free Rules (2024)
Objects can be harmed by attacks and by some spells, using the rules below. If an object is exceedingly fragile, the DM may allow a creature to break it automatically with the Attack or Utilize action.
Armor Class
The Object Armor Class table suggests ACs for various substances.
Object Armor Class
| AC | Substance |
|---|---|
| 11 | Cloth, paper, rope |
| 13 | Crystal, glass, ice |
| 15 | Wood |
| 17 | Stone |
| 19 | Iron, steel |
| 21 | Mithral |
| 23 | Adamantite |
| ^object-armor-class |
Hit Points
An object is destroyed when it has 0 Hit Points. The Object Hit Points table suggests Hit Points for fragile and resilient objects that are Large or smaller. To track Hit Points for a Huge or Gargantuan object, divide it into Large or smaller sections, and track each section’s Hit Points separately. The DM determines whether destroying part of an object causes the whole thing to collapse.
Object Hit Points
| Size | Fragile | Resilient |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny (bottle, lock) | 2 (1d4) | 5 (2d4) |
| Small (chest, lute) | 3 (1d6) | 10 (3d6) |
| Medium (barrel, chandelier) | 4 (1d8) | 18 (4d8) |
| Large (cart, dining table) | 5 (1d10) | 27 (5d10) |
| ^object-hit-points |
Damage Types and Objects
Objects have Immunity to Poison and Psychic damage. The DM might decide that some damage types are more or less effective against an object. For example, Bludgeoning damage works well for smashing things but not for cutting. Paper or cloth objects might have Vulnerability to Fire damage.
Damage Threshold
Big objects, such as castle walls, often have extra resilience represented by a damage threshold.
No Ability Scores
An object lacks ability scores unless a rule assigns scores to the object. Without ability scores, an object can’t make ability checks, and it fails all saving throws.