This is a direct follow-up to [this other question of mine](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/139253/what-are-the-mechanics-of-attacking-with-a-talisman-of-pure-good-ultimate-evi) and assumes that, indeed, one may wield a [Talisman of Pure Good](https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/talisman-of-pure-good) (or a [Talisman of Ultimate Evil](https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/talisman-of-ultimate-evil)) as an improvised weapon and apply both the regular melee damage from an improvised weapon plus the Talisman's radiant/necrotic damage if the creature is not of the right alignment.

The *Player's Handbook* states the following about [Knocking a Creature Ou](https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#KnockingaCreatureOut)t:

> 
> Sometimes an attacker wants to incapacitate a foe, rather than deal a killing blow. When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out. The attacker can make this choice the instant the damage is dealt. The creature falls unconscious and is stable.
> 
> 
> 

**Can one decide to strike a maligned foe non-lethally (and therefore knock them out instead of killing them) with a Talisman of Pure Good (or Ultimate Evil)?**

My hesitation relies on the fact that the radiant/necrotic damage from the Talisman does not directly come from the melee attack, but rather from the item. I think it might still work, but I am unsure.