Can a cleric decline decapitation? /u/Murphaniel_J DnD: Roll for Initiative!

Got a very specific question here, so I’ll start with some context:

My party is about to fight a Molydeus in an upcoming session and we have a grave domain cleric in the party. The party is at 13th level (don’t worry, I’m aware that this is a fight that they won’t win) which means that this cleric has access to their 6th level ability Sentinel at Death’s Door.

So my question is what happens to the Molydeus’ attack if it’s become a target of this ability?

On the Molydeus’ statblock under its Demonic Weapon attackit states: “If the target has at least one head and the molydeus rolls a 20 on the attack roll, the target is decapitated and dies if it can’t live without its head.”

Now, on the cleric’s sheet, it says: “As a reaction when you or a creature you can see within 30 feet of you suffers a critical hit, you can turn that hit into a normal hit. Any effects triggered by a critical hit are canceled.” So the critical hit is negated, but if a 20 hits the AC the attack goes through.

But the thing is, it never says specifically that the decapitation effect happens on a critical hit, just that when a 20 is rolled. So does the decapitation happen?

I don’t want to be that DM that’s like “bleh I’m the DM so you die,” or argue with my party so help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Got a very specific question here, so I’ll start with some context:

My party is about to fight a Molydeus in an upcoming session and we have a grave domain cleric in the party. The party is at 13th level (don’t worry, I’m aware that this is a fight that they won’t win) which means that this cleric has access to their 6th level ability Sentinel at Death’s Door.

So my question is what happens to the Molydeus’ attack if it’s become a target of this ability?

On the Molydeus’ statblock under its Demonic Weapon attackit states: “If the target has at least one head and the molydeus rolls a 20 on the attack roll, the target is decapitated and dies if it can’t live without its head.”

Now, on the cleric’s sheet, it says: “As a reaction when you or a creature you can see within 30 feet of you suffers a critical hit, you can turn that hit into a normal hit. Any effects triggered by a critical hit are canceled.” So the critical hit is negated, but if a 20 hits the AC the attack goes through.

But the thing is, it never says specifically that the decapitation effect happens on a critical hit, just that when a 20 is rolled. So does the decapitation happen?

I don’t want to be that DM that’s like “bleh I’m the DM so you die,” or argue with my party so help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!