Can a Sorcerer twin a spell to hit a creature with two heads with both attacks?











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During our campaign this weekend we encountered an Ettin named Oinkers Boinkers. It had two heads (one head was Oinkers, the other was Boinkers), each with a different personality and it acted like two creatures in one body.



A sorcerer can twin a single-target spell to hit a second target that is different from the first target.



Legally, a basic Ettin is one target, I think, but the fact that I could say "I'm targeting Oinkers" or "I'm targeting Boinkers" suggests that there are two implied targets and a sorcerer could legally twin an attack spell to hit both heads but for their shared health pool.



Could a sorcerer act in this way?



Related: What qualifies for the target of a spell?










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    up vote
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    down vote

    favorite












    During our campaign this weekend we encountered an Ettin named Oinkers Boinkers. It had two heads (one head was Oinkers, the other was Boinkers), each with a different personality and it acted like two creatures in one body.



    A sorcerer can twin a single-target spell to hit a second target that is different from the first target.



    Legally, a basic Ettin is one target, I think, but the fact that I could say "I'm targeting Oinkers" or "I'm targeting Boinkers" suggests that there are two implied targets and a sorcerer could legally twin an attack spell to hit both heads but for their shared health pool.



    Could a sorcerer act in this way?



    Related: What qualifies for the target of a spell?










    share|improve this question


























      up vote
      4
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      4
      down vote

      favorite











      During our campaign this weekend we encountered an Ettin named Oinkers Boinkers. It had two heads (one head was Oinkers, the other was Boinkers), each with a different personality and it acted like two creatures in one body.



      A sorcerer can twin a single-target spell to hit a second target that is different from the first target.



      Legally, a basic Ettin is one target, I think, but the fact that I could say "I'm targeting Oinkers" or "I'm targeting Boinkers" suggests that there are two implied targets and a sorcerer could legally twin an attack spell to hit both heads but for their shared health pool.



      Could a sorcerer act in this way?



      Related: What qualifies for the target of a spell?










      share|improve this question















      During our campaign this weekend we encountered an Ettin named Oinkers Boinkers. It had two heads (one head was Oinkers, the other was Boinkers), each with a different personality and it acted like two creatures in one body.



      A sorcerer can twin a single-target spell to hit a second target that is different from the first target.



      Legally, a basic Ettin is one target, I think, but the fact that I could say "I'm targeting Oinkers" or "I'm targeting Boinkers" suggests that there are two implied targets and a sorcerer could legally twin an attack spell to hit both heads but for their shared health pool.



      Could a sorcerer act in this way?



      Related: What qualifies for the target of a spell?







      dnd-5e spells sorcerer metamagic targeting






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      edited 1 hour ago









      V2Blast

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      18.7k251116










      asked 4 hours ago









      Rykara

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      1,547317






















          1 Answer
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          No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures



          The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:




          When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).




          An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.



          This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):




          Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.



          ...



          When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.







          share|improve this answer

















          • 3




            Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
            – Miniman
            4 hours ago











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          1 Answer
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          1 Answer
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          active

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          up vote
          13
          down vote



          accepted










          No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures



          The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:




          When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).




          An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.



          This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):




          Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.



          ...



          When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.







          share|improve this answer

















          • 3




            Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
            – Miniman
            4 hours ago















          up vote
          13
          down vote



          accepted










          No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures



          The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:




          When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).




          An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.



          This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):




          Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.



          ...



          When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.







          share|improve this answer

















          • 3




            Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
            – Miniman
            4 hours ago













          up vote
          13
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          13
          down vote



          accepted






          No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures



          The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:




          When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).




          An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.



          This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):




          Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.



          ...



          When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.







          share|improve this answer












          No, Twinned Spell requires two separate creatures



          The Twinned Spell metamagic (PHB, p. 102) says:




          When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip).




          An ettin is one creature; just because it has two heads, it does not count as two creatures, even if the creature has two heads, two separate names and two personalities. RAW, Twinned Spell would not allow a spell to target the ettin twice.



          This is further supported by reading the description of the ettin in the Monster Manual (p. 132):




          Dual Personality. The twin heads of an ettin are two individuals trapped in the same brutish body. Each head has its own mind, personality, and name, and possesses unique preferences and quirks.



          ...



          When other creatures refer to an ettin, they combine its double names to form a single compound name that applies to the creature as a whole.








          share|improve this answer












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          share|improve this answer










          answered 4 hours ago









          NathanS

          21.8k698235




          21.8k698235








          • 3




            Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
            – Miniman
            4 hours ago














          • 3




            Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
            – Miniman
            4 hours ago








          3




          3




          Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
          – Miniman
          4 hours ago




          Nice answer - it could also be worth mentioning that you can only target creatures, not heads, with unTwinned spells, so it's not like Twinning is adding a restriction.
          – Miniman
          4 hours ago


















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