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To give an example, if a PC was knocked unconscious and someone was to throw a fireball at them, they would automatically fail the Dex Saving throw and take full damage.
If the spell caster was within 5ft of the unconscious player and decided to throw a fireball (as unlikely as it would be), would that attack be a critical?
The Unconscious condition does state that (from the SRD p. 359, emphasis mine):
Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.
An "attack" is a well-defined term in the 5e rules that is different from the basic English meaning of what an attack is. The rules for what counts as an attack simply state (from the SRD p.94 "Making an Attack", emphasis mine):
If there's ever any question whether something you're doing counts as an attack, the rule is simple: if you're making an attack roll, you're making an attack
Since the fireball spell and other AoE spells usually do not involve making an attack roll they are not considered attacks and thus are not affected by this clause of the unconscious condition.
No (by RAW)
Only attacks that require an attack roll and therefore allow a roll of a natural 20 may 'crit'. This is indicated in the Player's Handbook pg 194 under the 'Attack rolls' heading
If the d20 roll for an attack is a 20, the attack hits regardless of any modifiers or the target's AC. In addition, the attack is a critical hit, as explained later in this chapter.
There is nothing in the rules that says that spells that require the opponents to make a saving throw can possibly crit, regardless of circumstances. Such spells are not 'attacks' in that they do not require an attack roll.
In essence, it makes no difference if an opponent takes full damage because he failed the saving throw while conscious (implying he failed to dodge or shield himself in time) or because he failed due to unconsciousness.
I found this from Jeremy Crawford on Twitter:
Spell attacks and weapon attacks both have a chance of scoring a critical hit.
So if you roll a spell attack roll then it can crit, if you don't then there can be no crit.
I'd say no, it wouldn't crit...
But, only because it is a spell -- and spells only do what they say they do. And, nowhere does it state that a spell like a Fireball has a chance to crit -- however, due to Unconsciousness, (which causes ALL DEX and STR saves to fail) they would automatically take FULL damage.
I would say unless it is an ATTACK ACTION (using something with a crit range), then I would disallow any crit chances. Spells are their own weird beast.
I believe that "if you're making an attack roll, you're making an attack roll" is misapplied to spells -- I believe that quote is supposed to refer to physical attacks/feats/special maneuvers --especially when you're improvising something on the fly.
I disagree with the assertions that just because spells don't have attack rolls, they are not attacks -- they are "Spell Attacks"...whose rules are different -- only going by their descriptions and if those descriptions forgo an attack roll, so be it (e.g. Magic Missile is an attack, even though it has no attack roll). That doesn't mean they aren't attacks -- if it causes damage, I would classify it as an attack -- though I would call it a "Spell Attack".
I'm going to say that Spells fall into a few general categories, Attack, Buffs/Debuffs, Healing, Utility, and Situational.
Attack spells cause damage and directly attack enemies.
Buffs/Debuffs either boost your or your teams abilities or disadvantage your foes (but don't necessarily cause damage)
Healing spells restore HP or functionality
Utility are those spells that do things that are useful but don't fit those other categories -- also some of the "ritual" capable spells.
Situational spells are a subcategory of Utility, ones that are useful only in certain situations where they're excellent.
