Special Abilities

Main Game Concept, Journeys in the Dark

I - Rules

(see JITD, p. 22)

Some special abilities have ranks (e.g., Fear 2 or Blast 1). The effects of these ranks are always explained in the ability description. If a hero or monster gains a given special ability from more than one source, any ranks the ability has are added together. For example, if a hero gains Blast 1 and Blast 2 from two different items, the hero gains Blast 3 on appropriate attacks.

Personnal Interpretation

The rules are not always clear about ranks for special abilities, but I consider that if a special ability has never been seen with a rank next to it on any card of the game and the description of the special ability in the rulebooks doesn't mention anything about ranks, the effect cannot stack.

II - References

Here is the complete list of special abilities in Descent.

Special Ability	Expansion	Has Ranks / Effect Stacks
Aura	JITD	Yes. Ex.: Shiver.
Bash	AOD	No.
Berserk	AOD	Yes, in RTL only. Ex.: Blood Apes in RTL.
Black Curse	AOD	No.
Blast	JITD	Yes. Ex.: Lava Beetles.
Bleed	WOD	No.
Bolt	WOD	No.
Breath	JITD	No.
Burn	JITD	No.
Command	JITD	Yes. Ex.: Master Beastmen in RTL.
Constrict	SOB	No.
Dark Prayer	AOD	No.
Daze	WOD	No.
Fear	JITD	Yes. Ex.: Dragons.
Fly	JITD	No.
Frost	AOD	No.
Ghost	TOI	No.
Grapple	JITD	No.
Ironskin	WOD	No.
Knockback	JITD	No.
Leap	AOD	No.
Leech	WOD	No.
Morph	AOD	No.
Necromancy	AOD	No.
Pierce	JITD	Yes. Ex.: Skeletons.
Poison	JITD	No.
Reach	JITD	Yes (in RTL at least).
Regeneration	RTL	Yes. Ex.: Sir Alric Farrow.
Reinforce	RTL	No.
Quick Shot	JITD	No.
Shadowcloak	AOD	No.
Soar	RTL	No.
Sorcery	JITD	Yes. Ex.: Sorcerers.
Stealth	TOI	No.
Stun	JITD	No.
Swallow	TOI	No.
Swarm	WOD	No.
Sweep	JITD	No.
Swim	SOB	No.
Tentacle	SOB	Yes.
Tread Ice	TOI	No.
Trickster	WOD	Yes. Ex.: Master Kobolds in RTL.
Undying	JITD	No.
Unstoppable	WOD	No.
Web	JITD	No.