How many times can I benefit from Advantage if I attack multiple times while not seen?

Question

A hidden ranger with Extra Attack attacks a surprised creature. Do both attacks benefit from Advantage, or just the first one?

If the ranger used Horde Breaker on another creature, would this attack benefit from Advantage?

Answer 1

From the PHB, page 195:

If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.

So, the first attack is rolled with Advantage, but it reveals the attacker's position, so all consecutive attacks lose the advantage.

Make note that the rule does not state that only the attacked creature notices the attacker. Instead, all creatures that are able to see or hear the attack notice the attacker when he makes his first attack. If they can't see the attacker directly because the line of sight is obstructed, they still know roughly where he is.

Arguably, if the Ranger is in a position to Hide again from his secondary target (e.g. the Ranger is hidden from him behind a tree), he could do that and once again attack with advantage. However, hiding requires its own action, so the Ranger would have to have a special ability to Hide on the same turn as it's attacking.

Answer 2

Based on the above answer, if you are unseen and unheard, then you have advantage. Normally making an attack reveals you. However, certain combinations of effects could negate this, such as being under the effects of greater invisibility, silence and mirror image all at the same time, because:

1. Greater Invisibility allows you to make the attack while remaining unseen.
2. Silence prevents creatures from detecting you with sound, as they are deafened, thus allowing you to attack while remaining unheard.
3. Finally, Mirror Image consistently changes your location, preventing them from determining your location by knowing where your attack came from. The combination of the three should prevent you from being located by virtue of the mechanics of mirror image and the other two fulfilling the requirements for being hidden. Based on the mechanics, you only have a 30% chance to be detected when you make a such an attack with three duplicates, and a 40% chance with two. This is slightly houserule, as the spell's rules do not cover shifting except when being attacked. However, perception checks to determine which one is real use the same mechanics normally, and this is a similar logical extension of the rules, as well as a worthwhile use of a 3rd-level spell and two 2nd-level spells.

Answer 3

You have advantage on all attacks made while unseen

The rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets clearly states:

When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.

Attacking while hidden does not mean people can see you

If you are hidden at the time, the rules add:

If you are hidden--both unseen and unheard--when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.

Having your location revealed does not mean you have been detected. There are many places in the rules that talk about the difference between being seen, detected, and having a known location, including the rules for unseen targets:

Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.

Being hidden, invisible, or in darkness do not cause you to stop being detectable with other senses, nor do they hide your location. For example a creature walking around with invisibility can be heard and their location is known.

It also contains different rules for attacking a target when you know or don't know their location:

When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.

The rules for Hiding also make a distinction:

You can't hide from a creature that can see you clearly, and you give away your position if you make noise, such as shouting a warning or knocking over a vase.

Making noise only gives away your position, it does not "break hiding" or let creatures automatically detect you. The rules for unseen attackers mirrors this wording. There is no uncertain terms, having your location revealed does not mean you are detected.

The Skulker feat also makes the same distinction:

When you are hidden from a creature and miss it with a ranged weapon attack, making the attack doesn't reveal your position.

When Hidden and using Extra Attack and Hordebreaker, you have advantage on all attacks

Here is the chain of events:

1. The Ranger finds a DM approved hiding spot and the DM calls for a Stealth Check
2. The DM determines of the Ranger beats the passive perception of the enemies, in this example they do
3. The Ranger attacks:
   • They are unseen and so have advantage.
   • They are hidden, so when the attack hits or misses, their location is revealed.
4. Repeat step 3 for Hordebreaker, and Extra Attack

At the end of this sequence, the Ranger has attacked 3 times with advantage, and has given away their location 3 times. They remain hidden, unseen, and unheard (although your DM may rule that their actions have made sufficient noise to reveal their location again).

The Ranger can now stealthily move away from their location since the enemy will likely attack that position. However enemies can try and guess the Ranger's new position, and they will most likely send someone to investigate the position by moving to gain line of sight, and also using the Search action.