Paralyzed

Conditions

A paralyzed creature is frozen in place — it cannot move or act at all. It is helpless and completely vulnerable to melee attackers who can attempt a coup de grâce.

Effects

  • The creature is frozen — it cannot move, take actions of any type, or speak (unless the paralysis only affects the body, not the voice).
  • The creature is helpless: effective Dexterity is 0 (–5 to AC); melee attackers gain +4 on attack rolls.
  • Adjacent melee attackers may attempt a coup de grâce (full-round action; auto-critical hit; Fort DC 10 + damage or die).
  • The creature retains mental awareness — it can perceive the world around it, but cannot communicate or react physically.
Spellcasting while paralyzed. A paralyzed creature cannot cast any spell — somatic components are impossible and most verbal components require controlled breathing. Spells with purely mental triggers (e.g., some psionic effects) may still be possible at GM discretion, but this is an edge case not covered by core rules.

Ending the Condition

  • Paralysis with a limited duration ends when that duration expires.
  • Remove paralysis (2nd-level spell) ends paralysis on up to four creatures.
  • Break enchantment can end magically-induced paralysis.
  • Heal and restoration remove ongoing paralysis.
  • Paralysis from a ghoul's touch requires a new Fortitude save each round at the start of the paralyzed creature's turn to end early.

Related Conditions

  • Helpless — paralyzed creatures are always helpless; all helpless effects apply.
  • Stunned — also prevents actions and causes dropped items and AC loss, but is temporary (usually 1 round) and not fully helpless.
  • Petrified — similar immobility but the creature is turned to stone; has additional properties (hardness, broken condition risk).

Common Sources

Ghoul and ghast touch attacks (Fort save or paralyzed 1d4+1 rounds; elves are immune); hold person / hold monster; command undead (paralyzed as a secondary); symbol of paralysis; certain poisons (Sassone leaf residue, carrion crawler extract); the Medusa's Wrath feat (does not paralyze directly but note the ghoul connection); some higher-CR undead auras. Elves have immunity to ghoul paralysis specifically. Undead and constructs are immune to paralysis entirely.