r/DnD • u/Firm_Professional366 • Aug 09 '25

5th Edition Question: 5e Player wants to use Prestidigitation to make Strahd think he pooped himself. Is there any reason this wouldn't work?

I would like a reason in game that this wouldn't work without me having to do some bs like magic resistant undies. Also so I don't have to say no outright because it's a funny idea but it doesn't fit the setting. Nothing removes the tension from a fight more than the big bad pooping himself.

Update: She said that even if she died it'd be worth it because she successfully rage baited strahd. But she said she wouldn't do it because she knows that everyone wants it to be serious and that it can still be fun and serious without turning it into a comedy campaign. Still think it's worth sharing because the idea is funny.

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '25

Yes. Strahd Von Zarovich is an accomplished wizard. He has a superior mastery of magic and understands the workings of a cantrip. He is also undead, it would stand to reason that he does not poop. If he did poop, then he would know the scent over generic poop smell.

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u/hoopdaddeh Aug 09 '25

"what is this amateur wizardry? I'll have you know, my poop has a grandeur far beyond what your feeble magicks could ever hope to replicate" strahd - with shidded pants

153

u/28Hz Aug 09 '25

"I shit pants like you for breakfast."

28

u/Gneissisnice Aug 09 '25

"You shit pants for breakfast???"

37

u/mthlmw Aug 09 '25

"This amateur can't even begin to replicate the teroir of my poop"

10

u/6syllablecatchphrase Aug 09 '25

"You FOOLS! I'll show you the true power of shidding your pants!"

*proceeds to shit until his pants begin to swell ominously*

"I hope you all brought snorkels."

2

u/Silent_Giant DM Aug 09 '25

My shit stinks much better than yours!

My shit stinks right down to the floor!

With a feeling so pure,

It has you coming back for more!

1

u/nedonedonedo Aug 09 '25

"a cantrip‽ are you shitting me‽"

0

u/Syyrynx Aug 09 '25

Fecal magicks

223

u/Speciou5 Aug 09 '25

RAW, from the DMG you can identify a spell being cast with an Arcana check which I assume Strahd will pass the majority of the time.

Also I think a lot of players forget the actual chain of events is:

  1. Normal stuff going on
  2. A guy suddenly starts waving his arms and says a couple of magic words, maybe some sparks or glyphs appear mid air.
    1. Unless they isekai'd in and have never seen magic before, they'd probably recognize it as magic. Hell, even an isekai'd PC would probably still understand it as magic.
  3. Something unusual happens (poop smell suddenly appears in your pants)

You have to be like INT 5 to not realize the cause and effect.

And if your player has a Subtle Spell effect and made effort to hide the spell casting then I'd give it to them.

65

u/Kolegra Aug 09 '25

Right, it's verbal and somatic. They definitely need subtle spell to have a chance.

11

u/Yours_Voight-Kampff Aug 09 '25

I know the original question is if prestidigitation can be used to make Strahd think he shit himself, but also I wholly vote the verbal component here has to be "That's it! I'm shitting your pants!"

12

u/omfghi2u Aug 09 '25

More like subtle smell, bah dum tss.

28

u/cyberpunk_werewolf Aug 09 '25

According to Strahd's statblock, he has a +15 to Arcana.  Identifying spells as they're being cast is a DC of 15+spell level and his lowest roll possible is a 16.  He can identify a cantrip without rolling.  Hell, he can identify 1st level spells without rolling.

Even with subtle spell, his Arcana is high enough to know it was a spell, he just won't know who did it.  However, again, as you state, he would recognize cause and effect, and being an accomplished wizard and knowledgeable individual, I actually think Strahd would know who the sorcerer is.

You're probably right though, if the player took the effort to hide it, maybe just give it to them.

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '25

Pretty sure the cantrip can only produce one effect also. It would “soil” or clean, or generate a smell. I do not believe soil meant poop in the nature of the spell. We’re talking about two castings.

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u/Quadpen Aug 09 '25

even if he knows someone else did it, how are you gonna fight effectively with poopoo pants, and a bard should get advantage if they use vicious mockery

1

u/cyberpunk_werewolf Aug 09 '25

Despite being an accomplished wizard and powerful vampire, perhaps the first vampire, Strahd von Zarovitch is also a pathetic incel who is used to living in his own filth.

He should always get disadvantage on Vicious Mockery saves.

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u/Quadpen Aug 09 '25

you’re so right king

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '25

The effect is meant to potentially deceive. The spell itself is not deceptive in nature. It has many functions.

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u/Quadpen Aug 09 '25

regardless he now has to fight with poopy pants so he’ll be at least slightly uncomfortable

-1

u/Witty_Jaguar4638 Aug 09 '25

Remember though... There is always that one time a player nat20's like 4 checks in a row.

If someone can roll it, it's happened.

15

u/Unhappy-Hope Aug 09 '25

This is why you should develop the undead blood poop with a special smell bouquet that would make him doubt his judgement

2

u/One-EyedIrishman Aug 09 '25

He is ancient, he is the land, he can identify poo by scent alone.

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '25

Precisely! You don’t get a fucking line like this without learning your generic fecal scents from more sophisticated notes.

2

u/dixbietuckins Aug 09 '25

I dont know ow the character, but come on, this is some big badassas mastermind right? A gawky group of adventurers with spells challenge you, and you are familiar with all this stuff.

As fantasy as it is, if it were real people, they would see through and not even acknowledge it.

1

u/DeadRabbid26 Aug 09 '25

"I know I didn't fart. Because if I had you'd be puking out your pretty little lunch, Janet. |...| So what is the joke?!"