Just went down, which is fine, but I have an effect on death that my DM and I are disagreeing about the requirements for. /u/Aepokk DnD: Roll for Initiative!

So, I’m a 12th level warlock with the Undead patron. There’s a 10th level feature that allows me to do a burst of necrotic damage when I go down. However, I was not transformed into Form Of Dread at the time. I think the phrasing and the separation of the paragraphs implies I can do it innately, whereas my DM and other party members believe it implies Form Of Dread is a prerequisite. I need some outside perspective to settle this for next time. Here’s the phrasing:

“You have resistance to necrotic damage and while you’re transformed using Form of Dread, you are immune to necrotic damage.

In addition, if you are reduced to 0 HP, you can use your reaction to drop to 1 HP instead and deal necrotic damage to each creature of your choice within 30 ft. of you equal to 2d10+12.

You gain 1 level of exhaustion and can’t use this again for 1d4 long rests.”

I think “in addition” just means an effect that’s listed separately from the necrotic resistance/immunity, and that resistance/immunity is listed together because it’s the same topic. The others read it as “while in form of dread… in addition,” aka a prerequisite.

So, I’m a 12th level warlock with the Undead patron. There’s a 10th level feature that allows me to do a burst of necrotic damage when I go down. However, I was not transformed into Form Of Dread at the time. I think the phrasing and the separation of the paragraphs implies I can do it innately, whereas my DM and other party members believe it implies Form Of Dread is a prerequisite. I need some outside perspective to settle this for next time. Here’s the phrasing:

“You have resistance to necrotic damage and while you’re transformed using Form of Dread, you are immune to necrotic damage.

In addition, if you are reduced to 0 HP, you can use your reaction to drop to 1 HP instead and deal necrotic damage to each creature of your choice within 30 ft. of you equal to 2d10+12.

You gain 1 level of exhaustion and can’t use this again for 1d4 long rests.”

I think “in addition” just means an effect that’s listed separately from the necrotic resistance/immunity, and that resistance/immunity is listed together because it’s the same topic. The others read it as “while in form of dread… in addition,” aka a prerequisite.