diff --git a/vwowrla.core/src/vwowrla/core/encounters/analysis.clj b/vwowrla.core/src/vwowrla/core/encounters/analysis.clj
index bd9155f..c859c9a 100644
--- a/vwowrla.core/src/vwowrla/core/encounters/analysis.clj
+++ b/vwowrla.core/src/vwowrla/core/encounters/analysis.clj
@@ -144,6 +144,9 @@
         (finalize-entities))))
 
 (s/defn count-currently-dead :- s/Num
+  "returns the number of dead entities by the given name. this takes into account any
+   resurrections that the entity may have received after prior deaths to attempt to
+   determine the current proper entity state (alive or dead)"
   [encounter   :- Encounter
    entity-name :- s/Str]
   (if-let [entity (get-in encounter [:entities entity-name])]
@@ -152,6 +155,14 @@
       (- num-deaths num-resurrects))
     0))
 
+(s/defn count-deaths :- s/Num
+  "returns the number of times the given entity died during the encounter."
+  [encounter :- Encounter
+   entity-name :- s/Str]
+  (if-let [entity (get-in encounter [:entities entity-name])]
+    (count (:deaths entity))
+    0))
+
 ;; damage
 
 (s/defn update-damage-averages :- DamageStatistics
diff --git a/vwowrla.core/src/vwowrla/core/encounters/detection.clj b/vwowrla.core/src/vwowrla/core/encounters/detection.clj
index 8df4a12..d5b4c85 100644
--- a/vwowrla.core/src/vwowrla/core/encounters/detection.clj
+++ b/vwowrla.core/src/vwowrla/core/encounters/detection.clj
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   (:require
     [clojure.tools.logging :refer [info warn error]]
     [schema.core :as s]
-    [vwowrla.core.encounters.analysis :refer [count-currently-dead get-entity-last-activity]])
+    [vwowrla.core.encounters.analysis :refer [count-deaths get-entity-last-activity]])
   (:use
     vwowrla.core.encounters.core
     vwowrla.core.schemas
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
           ; if there is no entity count specified then there is no specific
           ; kill requirement of this entity for the encounter to end
           (if-not (nil? count)
-            (let [count-dead (count-currently-dead encounter entity-name)]
+            (let [count-dead (count-deaths encounter entity-name)]
               (>= count-dead count))
             true))
         trigger-entites)