C++ Object parameter question

I think that the alternative tactic you described (with an array of elements/statuses that the spell has) would be faster. I think you would probably only have one or zero elements/statuses to compare on most weapons/spells, except for weird things like Bad Breath, so I would guess that would require less comparisons. I'm not exactly an expert in C++, but that's my reasoning anyways. I can't think of anything else offhand.