No other affliction is so prevalent as poison. From the fangs of a viper to the ichor-stained assassin's blade, poison is a constant threat. Poisons can be cured by successful saving throws and spells such as neutralize poison.
Contact poisons are contracted the moment someone touches the poison with his bare skin. Such poisons can be used as injury poisons. Contact poisons usually have an onset time of 1 minute and a frequency of 1 minute. Ingested poisons are contracted when a creature eats or drinks the poison. Ingested poisons usually have an onset time of 10 minutes and a frequency of 1 minute. Injury poisons are primarily contracted through the attacks of certain creatures and through weapons coated in the toxin. Injury poisons do not usually have an onset time and have a frequency of 1 round. Inhaled poisons are contracted the moment a creature enters an area containing such poisons. Most inhaled poisons fill a volume equal to a 10-foot cube per dose. Creatures can attempt to hold their breaths while inside to avoid inhaling the toxin. Creatures holding their breaths receive a 50% chance of not having to make a Fortitude save each round. See the rules for holding your breath and suffocation in Environment. Note that a character that would normally suffocate while attempting to hold its breath instead begins to breathe normally again.
Unlike other afflictions, multiple doses of the same poison stack. Poisons delivered by injury and contact cannot inflict more than one dose of poison at a time, but inhaled and ingested poisons can inflict multiple doses at once. Each additional dose extends the total duration of the poison (as noted under frequency) by half its total duration. In addition, each dose of poison increases the DC to resist the poison by +2. This increase is cumulative. Multiple doses do not alter the cure conditions of the poison, and meeting these conditions ends the affliction for all the doses. For example, a character is bit three times in the same round by a trio of Medium monstrous spiders, injecting him with three doses of Medium spider venom. The unfortunate character must make a DC 18 Fortitude save for the next 8 rounds. Fortunately, just one successful save cures the character of all three doses of the poison.
Applying poison to a weapon or single piece of ammunition is a standard action. Whenever a character applies or readies a poison for use there is a 5% chance that he exposes himself to the poison and must save against the poison as normal. This does not consume the dose of poison. Whenever a character attacks with a poisoned weapon, if the attack roll results in a natural 1, he exposes himself to the poison. This poison is consumed when the weapon strikes a creature or is touched by the wielder. Characters with the poison use class feature do not risk accidentally poisoning themselves.
Poisons can be made using Craft (alchemy). The DC to make a poison is equal to its Fortitude save DC. Rolling a natural 1 on a Craft skill check while making a poison exposes the crafter to the poison. Crafters with the poison use class feature do not risk poisoning themselves when using Craft to make poison.
The following samples represent just some of the possibilities when creating poisons.
| Name | Type | Fort DC | Onset | Frequency | Effect | Cure | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | ingested | 13 | 10 min. | 1/min. for 4 min. | 1d2 Con | 1 save | 120 gp |
| Belladonna | ingested | 14 | 10 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d2 Str, see text | 1 save | 100 gp |
| Black adder venom | injury | 11 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d2 Con | 1 save | 120 gp |
| Black lotus extract | contact | 20 | 1 min. | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d6 Con | 2 saves | 4,500 gp |
| Bloodroot | injury | 12 | 1 rd. | 1/rd. for 4 rds. | 1 Con and 1 Wis | 1 save | 100 gp |
| Blue whinnis | injury | 14 | — | 1/rd. for 2 rds | 1 Con/unconscious 1d3 hours | 1 save | 120 gp |
| Burnt othur fumes | inhaled | 18 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1 Con drain/1d3 Con | 2 saves | 2,100 gp |
| Dark reaver powder | ingested | 18 | 10 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d3 Con and 1 Str | 2 saves | 800 gp |
| Deathblade | injury | 20 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d3 Con | 2 saves | 1,800 gp |
| Dragon bile | contact | 26 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d3 Str | — | 1,500 gp |
| Drow poison | injury | 13 | — | 1/min. for 2 min. | unconscious 1 min./2d4 hours | 1 save | 75 gp |
| Giant wasp poison | injury | 18 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d2 Dex | 1 save | 210 gp |
| Greenblood oil | injury | 13 | — | 1/rd. for 4 rds. | 1 Con | 1 save | 100 gp |
| Green prismatic poison | spell | varies | — | 1/rd. | for 6 rds. Death/1 Con | 2 saves | — |
| Hemlock | ingested | 18 | 10 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d6 Dex, see text | 2 saves | 2,500 gp |
| Id moss | ingested | 14 | 10 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d3 Int | 1 save | 125 gp |
| Insanity mist | inhaled | 15 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d3 Wis | 1 save | 1,500 gp |
| King's sleep | ingested | 19 | 1 day | 1/day | 1 Con drain | 2 saves | 5,000 gp |
| Large scorpion venom | injury | 17 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d2 Str | 1 save | 200 gp |
| Lich dust | ingested | 17 | 10 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d3 Str | 2 saves | 400 gp |
| Malyass root paste | contact | 16 | 1 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d2 Dex | 1 save | 250 gp |
| Medium spider venom | injury | 14 | — | 1/rd. for 4 rds. | 1d2 Str | 1 save | 150 gp |
| Nightmare vapor | inhaled | 20 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1 Wis and confused 1 round | 2 saves | 1,800 gp |
| Nitharit | contact | 13 | 1 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d3 Con | 1 save | 650 gp |
| Oil of taggit | ingested | 15 | min. | — | unconscious 1d3 hours | 1 save | 90 gp |
| Purple worm poison | injury | 24 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d3 Str | 2 saves | 700 gp |
| Sassone leaf residue | contact | 16 | 1 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 2d12 hp/1 Con | 1 save | 300 gp |
| Shadow essence | injury | 17 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1 Str drain/1d2 Str | 1 save | 250 gp |
| Small centipede poison | injury | 11 | — | 1/rd. for 4 rds. | 1 Dex | save | 90 gp |
| Striped toadstool | ingested | 11 | 10 min. | 1/min. for 4 min. | 1d3 Wis and 1 Int | 1 save | 180 gp |
| Tears of death | contact | 22 | 1 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d6 Con and paralyzed 1 min. | — | 6,500 gp |
| Terinav root | contact | 16 | 1 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d3 Dex | 1 save | 400 gp |
| Ungol dust | inhaled | 15 | — | 1/rd. for 4 rds. | 1 Cha drain/1d2 Cha | 1 save | 1,000 gp |
| Wolfsbane | ingested | 16 | 10 min. | 1/min. for 6 min. | 1d3 Con | 1 save | 500 gp |
| Wyvern poison | injury | 17 | — | 1/rd. for 6 rds. | 1d4 Con | 2 saves | 3,000 gp |
Arsenic
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 13
Onset 10 minutes; Frequency 1/minute for 4 minutes
Effect 1d2 Con damage; Cure 1 save
Belladonna
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 14
Onset 10 minutes; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d2 Str damage, target can attempt one save to cure a lycanthropy affliction contracted in the past hour; Cure 1 save
Black Adder Venom
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 11
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1d2 Con damage; Cure 1 save
Black Lotus Extract
Type poison, contact; SaveFortitude DC 20
Onset 1 minute; Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1d6 Con damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Bloodroot
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 12
Onset 1 round; Frequency 1/round for 4 rounds
Effect 1 Con damage and 1 Wis damage; Cure 1 save
Blue Whinnis
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 14
Frequency 1/round for 2 rounds
Initial Effect 1 Con damage; Secondary Effect unconsciousness for 1d3 hours; Cure 1 save
Burnt Othur Fumes
Type poison, inhaled; SaveFortitude DC 18
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Initial Effect 1 Con drain; Secondary Effect 1d3 Con damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Dark Reaver Powder
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 18
Onset 10 minutes; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d3 Con damage and 1 Str damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Deathblade
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 20
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1d3 Con damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Dragon Bile
Type poison, contact; SaveFortitude DC 26
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1d3 Str damage
Drow Poison
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 13
Frequency 1/minute for 2 minutes
Initial Effect unconsciousness for 1 minute; Secondary Effect unconsciousness for 2d4 hours; Cure 1 save
Giant Wasp Poison
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 18
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1d2 Dex damage; Cure 1 save
Greenblood Oil
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 13
Frequency 1/round for 4 rounds
Effect 1 Con damage; Cure 1 save
Green Prismatic Poison
Type poison, spell; Save Fort DC varies by spell
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Initial Effect death; Secondary Effect 1 Con damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves. See prismatic sphere, prismatic spray, or prismatic wall for more details.
Hemlock
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 18
Onset 10 minutes; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d6 Dex damage, creatures reduced to 0 Dexterity suffocate; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Id Moss
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 14
Onset 10 minutes; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d3 Int damage; Cure 1 save
Insanity Mist
Type poison, inhaled; SaveFortitude DC 15
Frequency 1/rounds for 6 rounds
Effect 1d3 Wis damage; Cure 1 save
King's Sleep
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 19
Onset 1 day; Frequency 1/day
Effect 1 Con drain; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Large Scorpion Venom
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 17
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1d2 Str damage; Cure 1 save
Lich Dust
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 17
Onset 10 minutes; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d3 Str damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Malyass Root Paste
Type poison, contact; SaveFortitude DC 16
Onset 1 minute; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d2 Dex damage; Cure 1 save
Medium Spider Venom
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 14
Frequency 1/round for 4 rounds
Effect 1d2 Str damage; Cure 1 save
Nightmare Vapor
Type poison, inhaled; SaveFortitude DC 20
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1 Wis damage and confused for 1 round; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Nitharit
Type poison, contact; SaveFortitude DC 13
Onset 1 minute; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d3 Con damage; Cure 1 save
Oil of Taggit
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 15
Onset 1 minute
Effect unconsciousness for 1d3 hours; Cure 1 save
Purple Worm Poison
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 24
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1d3 Str damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Sassone Leaf Residue
Type poison, contact; SaveFortitude DC 16
Onset 1 minute; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Initial Effect 2d12 hit point damage; Secondary Effect 1 Con damage; Cure 1 save
Shadow Essence
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 17
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Initial Effect 1 Str drain; Secondary Effect 1d2 Str damage; Cure 1 save
Small Centipede Poison
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 11
Frequency 1/round for 4 rounds
Effect 1 Dex damage; Cure 1 save
Striped Toadstool
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 11
Onset 10 minutes; Frequency 1/minute for 4 minutes
Effect 1d3 Wis damage and 1 Int damage; Cure 1 save
Tears of Death
Type poison, contact; SaveFortitude DC 22
Onset 1 minute; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d6 Con damage and paralyzed for 1 minute
Type poison, contact; SaveFortitude DC 16
Onset 1 minute; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d3 Dex damage; Cure 1 save
Ungol Dust
Type poison, inhaled; SaveFortitude DC 15
Frequency 1/round for 4 rounds
Initial Effect 1 Cha drain; Secondary Effect 1d2 Cha damage; Cure 1 save
Wolfsbane
Type poison, ingested; SaveFortitude DC 16
Onset 10 minute; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d3 Con damage; Cure 1 save
Wyvern Poison
Type poison, injury; SaveFortitude DC 17
Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect 1d4 Con damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves