Questions tagged [attack]

For questions about attacks. An attack is generally defined as an action to cause damage or some other debilitation, though specific RPGs may define the term more specifically.

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What does upper-case-A-Attack action vs. lower-case-a-attack mean?

What exactly is the difference between Attack action and attack? It seems each time a question regarding this pops up, there's always somebody arguing they are not different. I feel there should be a ...
Exempt-Medic's user avatar
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What counts as an attack?

I was looking over the class feature of the 'fiend' patron warlock in 5e. I'm a bit confused on what actions the player needs to take before they can use the 'Hurl Through Hell' ability on an enemy. ...
pbuchheit's user avatar
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33 votes
4 answers
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Can you break up your Attack action for a bonus action?

You can do it to move: If you take an action that includes more than one weapon attack, you can break up your movement even further by moving between those attacks. For example, a fighter who can ...
András's user avatar
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68 votes
13 answers
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How should I handle players wanting to aim their attacks at specific body parts?

My players have been asking to improvise specific combat actions, mostly the archer wanting to aim at specific body parts. I haven't been able to find anything in the DMG or the PHB on the subject so ...
ArtaSoral's user avatar
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34 votes
5 answers
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How do I figure the dice and bonuses for attack rolls and damage rolls?

I'm building my character, a Half-Elf Ranger, and I'm a little confused about how to work out the attack bonus and the damage bonus. So, please tell me if I've got this right: I'm proficient with a ...
Jamie Brace's user avatar
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37 votes
8 answers
41k views

Does Mirror Image affect spells that have no attack roll?

I have two questions concerning the mirror image spell. If I am under the effect of mirror image and was targeted by a spell like blight, do I roll a 1d20 to determine whether myself or an image was ...
suzeff's user avatar
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23 votes
2 answers
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Is a melee spell attack also a melee attack?

The absorb elements spell says: The spell captures some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect on you and storing it for your next melee attack. You have resistance to the triggering damage ...
Voromir Kadien's user avatar
20 votes
5 answers
149k views

How do multiple natural attacks work?

Okay, I need some clarification. The Pathfinder Core Rules state this about natural attacks: You do not receive additional natural attacks for a high base attack bonus. Instead, you receive ...
Myorp's user avatar
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27 votes
5 answers
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Are getting hit and taking damage simultaneous events?

I'm unsure whether getting hit and taking damage happen at the same or different times. The armor of Agathys spell is an example of when this doesn't matter as it states: If a creature hits you ...
Exempt-Medic's user avatar
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50 votes
2 answers
148k views

How many attacks can a fighter with two-weapon fighting make at 5th level?

I have a 5th level fighter with the Two-Weapon Fighting fighting style. What is the number of attacks I can make? I say 4 attacks, but others say 3 because they say the rule on page 72 states that ...
Clancey's user avatar
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Does a zero-damage attack still count as a hit?

Does an attack roll that 'hits' according to an the attack roll, but deals zero damage (perhaps through damage reduction or through poor rolls and resistances, as in this question about raging ...
Pilchard123's user avatar
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2 answers
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Do you have to cast Shield prior to your opponent's attack roll?

The entry for Shield says that the reaction is triggered by being hit by an attack, which would tend to imply that you can wait to see if your opponent actually succeeds on their attack roll (...
Dyndrilliac's user avatar
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29 votes
13 answers
155k views

What is the most damage that can be done in a single melee attack?

So, I was attempting to theory-craft a character that could deliver a massive amount of damage in a single melee attack. I know that there are builds to deliver a massive amount of damage in a single ...
Jay Kay's user avatar
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31 votes
6 answers
13k views

Can someone decide to be hit?

In this question, I asked about whether a character could willingly not use their shield or Dex bonus on certain attacks due to wanting to be hit. This raises the greater question- Can someone decide ...
zanman60's user avatar
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3 answers
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Does grappling count as a hit?

Grappling is described as a "special melee attack" that replaces a single attack in the Attack action. There are a number of features and abilities that may be activated when one combatant hits ...
Disillusioned's user avatar
40 votes
4 answers
60k views

Do you get to use the additional attack from the Extra Attack feature as well when you Ready an Attack action?

Do you get to use the additional attack from the Extra Attack feature as well when you Ready an Attack action? One of my players, a monk, decided to Ready an action as an earth elemental was about to ...
Feldragoon's user avatar
28 votes
5 answers
22k views

Can monk move between his extra and bonus attacks?

There are clean rules for moving between actions and between attacks granted by those action (e.g. a fighter with four attacks can move between them freely). But the monk's Flurry of Blows feature is ...
Tangente's user avatar
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24 votes
1 answer
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If a monk reduces damage to 0 using Deflect Missiles, does the attack still hit?

If a monk catches an arrow, does the attack still hit? The monk's feature Deflect Missiles says: you can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile when you are hit by a ranged weapon ...
David Coffron's user avatar
22 votes
6 answers
15k views

Can you attack with different weapons using Extra Attack?

The fighter's Extra Attack feature (PHB, p. 72) says: Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Assuming I am holding two ...
vonBoomslang's user avatar
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18 votes
2 answers
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Haste spell: what does "one weapon attack only" mean?

While making a Bladesinger Wizard, I wondered if I would be able to use Booming Blade twice while hasted. Booming Blade: As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a melee attack ...
Tijnkwan's user avatar
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41 votes
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What is a "Melee Spell Attack" and how does it differ from a regular spell?

In 5e a lot of the spells in both the Monster Manual and PHB talk about a spell being a "melee spell attack". Is this simply to do with the range of the spell or are there additional rules to rolling? ...
Bigern's user avatar
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1 answer
149k views

Can a familiar use a Help action to grant advantage on an attack to a near by ally?

Can a familiar use a Help action to grant advantage on an Attack to a near by ally? As I understand it, a familiar can aid in any action it can take itself. But by the spell Find Familiar, a normal ...
Imaginary's user avatar
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Can a hidden character make an attack with the Spiritual Weapon spell and still remain hidden?

If my multi-classed Rogue (4)/Warlock (5) casts Spiritual Weapon, and then Hides... Can he continue to control the Spiritual Weapon on his subsequent turns and remain Hidden? Or does attacking the ...
Narston's user avatar
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19 votes
1 answer
21k views

How can I attack an enemy's weapon?

I want to hit enemy's axe to break it. How this is properly played in D&D 5e? And what about shield or armor? Can I attack these items to break it?
drlexa's user avatar
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4 answers
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Is "Shove" an attack?

This question is prompted by reading this answer to a question about using the Polearm Master feat's bonus action after a Shove and halberd Attack In the section "Making an Attack" (PHB, page 194): ...
user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
13k views

Must a monk's Flurry of Blows attacks occur after the initial (and extra) attack from the Attack action?

Looking at the wording of Flurry of Blows, I may be overthinking it, but the description of the feature (PHB, p. 78) says: Immediately after you take the Attack action on your turn, you can spend 1 ...
General Anders's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
14k views

Can I make a melee attack with a ranged weapon?

Are there any rules that preclude this action? I know weapons with the Ammunition property are treated as improvised weapons per this line and this question: If you use a weapon that has the ...
David Coffron's user avatar
24 votes
3 answers
4k views

If an attack causes additional damage after a saving throw, is it counted as a separate source of damage for the purpose of failed death saves?

If an attack causes additional damage after a saving throw, is it counted as a separate source of damage for the purpose of failed death saving throws? In other words, does it cause another failed ...
V2Blast's user avatar
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20 votes
2 answers
18k views

Does a Grapple or Shove count as a "melee attack" for the third benefit of the Mobile feat?

The third benefit of the Mobile feat (PHB, p. 168) enables you to not provoke opportunity attacks by creatures you try to make a melee attack against. Does it still apply if the attack you made was a ...
Gael L's user avatar
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16 votes
0 answers
13k views

Can you attack with more than one weapon when using Extra Attack? [duplicate]

When one uses the Extra Attack class feature, must it be done with only one weapon? If I had, for example, one throwing axe and sword, couldn't I throw the axe and attack with the sword as part of ...
Renard's user avatar
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14 votes
3 answers
1k views

What is the attacker for Spiritual Weapon? The caster or the weapon?

Background This question was prompted by this question about the relation to the rogue's uncanny dodge feature and being able to see the attacker when spiritual weapon is used. Question When a ...
GcL's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Does it matter which weapon I attack with first when two-weapon fighting?

The PHB on p. 195 (or the corresponding section of the basic rules) says: When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you’re holding in one hand, you can use a bonus ...
Brian's user avatar
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22 votes
1 answer
42k views

Can I cast a spell and attack in the same turn?

Specifically I am asking as a level 1 Half-elf Bard. As far as I know he doesn't have any dual wielding capabilities yet, or anything that states he has a bonus action to attack. So I'm wondering if ...
DrZoddiak's user avatar
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19 votes
4 answers
9k views

How many attacks does using a net let you have?

I was reading over some of the weapons in the rules today when I came across the net: When you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to attack with a net, you can make only one attack regardless ...
Tiax The Mighty's user avatar
14 votes
10 answers
103k views

Can you combo attacks with the Booming Blade cantrip?

I understand that so long as conditions are met, you can Sneak Attack as part of the melee attack from the Booming Blade cantrip. Can you dual wield and attack with both weapons after casting Booming ...
Jhyarelle Silver's user avatar
30 votes
2 answers
5k views

Can I Two-Weapon fight after Two-Handed-Weapon fighting?

Pick a class that has access to the Extra Attack feature. For my example, I'll use my standby, Fighter McFighterson. Let us say that McFighterson is 20th level, and possesses the Dual Wielder feat. ...
goodguy5's user avatar
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28 votes
3 answers
5k views

Can you move between the separate attacks of a spell?

Some spells (Eldritch Blast, Scorching Ray) involve making multiple attacks, in that they require multiple attack rolls. Under the movement section of the PHB, the "Moving Between Attacks" reads (PHB ...
user avatar
26 votes
6 answers
38k views

Is an attack a check, or only similar to a check?

The Barbarian's Rage ability gives advantage on Strength checks and saving throws. Does this mean that the Barbarian gets advantage to attack rolls as well? Is an attack a check, or since saving ...
GMNoob's user avatar
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26 votes
2 answers
123k views

Does the Thrown property mean I can attack with my DEX?

On page 194 in the PHB for D&D 5e, it says: The ability modifier used for melee weapon attack is Strength, and the ability modifier used for ranged weapon attack is Dexterity. Weapons that ...
Anton's user avatar
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24 votes
8 answers
13k views

When attacking with Spiritual Weapon, what must be concealed from the target for me to gain advantage?

Spiritual weapon claims that you make a melee spell attack against a target adjacent to your spiritual weapon. The rules for attacking while being unseen state that if the target cannot see you, you ...
Man_Over_Game's user avatar
23 votes
2 answers
4k views

Is the Hunter ranger's Volley feature considered a single attack or multiple attacks?

The Hunter ranger's 11th-level Multiattack feature has two options. One of them is Volley: You can use your action to make a ranged attack against any number of creatures within 10 feet of a point ...
David Coffron's user avatar
20 votes
1 answer
4k views

Do you know the value of an attack or damage roll on you before the hit is resolved?

In D+D 5e, there are many effects that enable AC, attack rolls, or damage rolls to be modified after being rolled but before the hit is resolves. Examples are the Shield spell and the "Parry" Battle ...
Alex319's user avatar
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19 votes
2 answers
3k views

If an enemy is just below a 10-foot-high ceiling, are they in melee range of a creature on the ground?

We encountered a Vampire Spawn in the 10-foot-high basement of an old church. The first strike was mine, after which the creature attacked my ally and retreated onto the ceiling as the thundering roar ...
Syzygy's user avatar
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18 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can you use a bonus action between the separate attacks of a spell?

Similar to my recent question about moving between a spell's attacks I am curious about whether RAW you can use a bonus action between a spells attacks. Unlike in the case of movement, bonus actions ...
user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
4k views

Can the additional attack action granted by Haste be used to shove a creature?

Shoving (PHB p. 195) states: Using the Attack action, you can make a special melee attack to shove a creature Can the additional attack action granted by the haste spell also be used to shove a ...
orcorco's user avatar
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16 votes
1 answer
4k views

How do Death Saves interact with Actions that have multiple Attacks?

Inspired by the efforts to kill a Vampire, the GM in me got in a fight with the engineer. Per the text from Death Saves, taking damage while you have 0 hit points will cause a death saving throw ...
Drunk Cynic's user avatar
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15 votes
4 answers
3k views

Is there any way to "hit with an attack" without making an attack roll?

The PH is clear about what counts as an attack: 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 ...
enkryptor's user avatar
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15 votes
3 answers
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Can the reaction attack from the third benefit of the Sentinel feat interrupt the triggering attack by the enemy?

The third benefit of the Sentinel feat (PHB, p. 169-170) allows a melee attack when an enemy within 5 feet of you makes an attack against a target other than you (that doesn't have the feat). If you ...
Skyler's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
8k views

Can I attack an object that is being worn or carried by a creature during combat?

Some enemies depend heavily on an object they wear or carry to be an effective combatant and so it may be advantageous to attack and destroy the object first, but I can't tell whether this is allowed. ...
Ruse's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can I use the same weapon for a normal attack and Two-Weapon Fighting in the same turn?

Two-weapon fighting rules, per the Player's Handbook (page 195): When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to ...
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