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Questions tagged [critical-hit]

For questions about critical hits, a mechanic used to indicate an extraordinary hit that is generally rewarded with an increase in damage dealt.

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How can an Investigator get critical specialization effects on unarmed attacks?

Investigators don't seem to get crit effects on level 5 like most martials. With various Weapon Familiarity feats you can get it for weapons, but it does not work even for ancestral attacks. I found ...
András's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can a Vorpal Sword instakill Vecna with a natural 20 on the attack roll?

According to the instakill effect of a vorpal sword (emphasis mine): A creature is immune to this effect if it is immune to slashing damage, doesn't have or need a head, has legendary actions, or the ...
Aria Doherty's user avatar
14 votes
6 answers
4k views

Do characters understand the concept of a "Critical hit"?

Can characters/NPCs understand what a crit (Nat 20) is? If so, can they tell that Adamantine Armor negates crits? Context: I'm trying to figure out if there's any good reason Tier 4 PCs wouldn't bring ...
User 23415's user avatar
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18 votes
1 answer
2k views

Does Adamantine Armor protect your silver cord on the Astral Plane?

When using the spell astral projection, you gain a vulnerability: If your silver cord is severed, you die: If the cord is cut--something that can happen only when an effect specifically states that ...
User 23415's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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In dnd 5e, can the Charger feat's bonus damage crit? [duplicate]

The wording in the feat's description is "gain a +5 to the attack's damage roll", while for crits we "roll all of the attack’s damage dice twice". This suggests to me that the ...
oliver.c's user avatar
  • 379
4 votes
1 answer
881 views

Total damage from a critical hit with a fatal + striking eidolon unarmed attack

The summoner in our party has an eidolon with a 1d6 (fatal d10) primary attack. Primary Attack: Choose from the following statistics for the more flexible primary attack. 1d8 damage (disarm, ...
Kiernan Nicholls's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

How do I calculate the probability for a critical hit, with an expanded critical range, and advantage/disadvantage?

I know the critical hit probability for normal critical range (natural 20) is: normal: 0.05 advantage: 0.0975 disadvantage: 0.0025 But I don't know how to actually calculate this, and consequently, ...
Jacco's user avatar
  • 453
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Does the Bloodshed Blade hit dice damage double on a crit?

Just clarifying for my own sake, but on page 111 in Bigby's, there's the Bloodshed Blade, which allows you to spend hit dice to add to the damage. Invoking the Rune. When you target a creature with ...
Electroboa's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
147 views

As a half-orc barbarian, how can you increase your chance of getting a critical hit? [duplicate]

I noticed that barbarians have a Brutal Critical feature, and half-orcs also have a similar trait (Savage Attacks). As a half-orc barbarian, how can you increase your crit chance? I'm looking for ...
Eithan Tipton's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
643 views

Over time, how does doubling dice on a crit compare vs having another action? [closed]

Basic 5e rules for crits say that you double the values rolled on dice. I'm playing with a homebrew idea where instead of doubling the damage dice you instead get another action, which can also crit. ...
Orionox's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
567 views

Would spiritual weapon (or similar) automatically critically hit a paralyzed target? [duplicate]

The paralyzed condition has the clause that Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature. Suppose I move a spiritual weapon (or Tentacle of ...
vonBoomslang's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
64 views

Does the magic damage on swords double for a nat 20 [duplicate]

my barbarian has a frost brand longsword that does the common 1d8 and 1d6 of cold damage. Me and my friends are new to d&d so we may be playing it be wrong but for the campaign I'm playing when ...
drplaga049's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
540 views

Critical Hits on Oath of glory paladin Inspiring Smite is dice doubled?

When rolling a critical hit does all the dice associated with that attack double or just damage from the attack? Inspiring Smite. Immediately after you deal damage to a creature with your Divine ...
Troommate's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Does Fatal and/or Deadly apply when attacking a critical hit-immune target?

Critical hit immunity specifies Immunity to critical hits works a little differently. When a creature immune to critical hits is critically hit by a Strike or other attack that deals damage, it takes ...
Ifusaso 'he-him''s user avatar
18 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can I choose not to multiply my damage on a critical hit?

I am a Rogue with a -4 Strength modifier. For those attacks that add strength on damage, this is highly inconvenient. Currently, one of my natural attacks deals 1d2-4 damage. Since Sneak attack is ...
Gloweye's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
839 views

How do I resolve a critical hit on an attack with a spell that doesn't do direct damage?

I mean spells like Ray of Enfeeblement - what happens if someone rolls critical to attack with them? It doesn't do damage and instead forces target to pass a fortitude save to place condition on ...
Sarge's user avatar
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8 votes
4 answers
1k views

How could I lower the rate of critical successes?

I'm trying to create my own RPG, to play with friends. To be honest, I never played published RPGs before, only home-brewed ones, but I don't feel like spending money on a thing that I may never use, ...
Nolann Boyere's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

Alchemist's Fire and Burn it! Critical damage

I am aware that there were quite a few questions about the interaction between Alchemist's Fire splash damage and Burn it! feat. However I think one thing remains without an answer: what about ...
zen'nav's user avatar
  • 61
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Statistically, when should you wait to use Sneak Attack on a second attack with advantage?

Assume you have a Fighter/Rogue with one Extra Attack and attack advantage. Your first attack hits, but doesn't crit. Should you apply Sneak Attack, or save it for the second attack which may crit but ...
Ralyx's user avatar
  • 141
7 votes
5 answers
2k views

How does the critical hit positive feedback loop affect average damage?

In the One D&D Character Origins UA, it mentions that rolling a nat 20 on an attack roll grants inspiration. This can then be used to give the PC advantage on their next attack, giving them a ...
user avatar
8 votes
5 answers
3k views

Can monsters perform critical hits?

In Unearthed Arcana 2022 - Character Origins, the "Critical Hits" section on p. 19 of the PDF states (emphasis mine): Weapons and Unarmed Strikes* have a special feature for player ...
Olivier Grégoire's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

How do the "Vorpal" and "Merciful" magic weapon special abilities interact on a crit?

Say someone manages to either find or create a +1 merciful vorpal weapon and confirms a crit – what happens? I personally see 2 possible outcomes: Merciful takes effect and stops vorpal from ...
Pacattack's user avatar
  • 573
10 votes
6 answers
6k views

How to calculate the added expected damage from critical hits?

When optimizing character builds, it is common to use the average expected damage to estimate damage output. Calculating the average of a single die is simple, fixed modifiers are then added to it to ...
Nobody the Hobgoblin's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
411 views

Can you threaten a crit on a 2? [duplicate]

There's a fair number of feats and features which increase a weapon's range to threaten a critical hit in 3.5. Off the cuff, a Fighter with a falchion and the Improved Critical feat threatens a crit ...
Pyrotechnical's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the wording to determine whether extra damage is or is not multiplied on a critical hit?

I am trying to figure out some hard and fast, or at least unambiguous ways to specify how extra damage interacts with a critical hit. Consider the following effect: When you hit a marked creature ...
vonBoomslang's user avatar
  • 8,151
6 votes
2 answers
713 views

Does a single critical hit trigger both Wounding and Bloodthirsty?

I have a weapon with Wounding and Bloodthirsty. I attack a target (that is not taking any persistent bleed damage) with the weapon and score a critical hit. Wounding will cause the attack to deal an ...
Linus's user avatar
  • 1,256
4 votes
3 answers
728 views

What's the closest I can get to simulating critical hits with a dice pool, without relying on the total sum?

I'm making a game that uses a dice pool rolling system (for my purpose it's always a d12 and no other dice), and I wanted to figure out if making a 'critical hit' mechanic was possible, that is ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
4 votes
5 answers
639 views

Can touch spells (with attack rolls) auto crit on Paralyzed/Helpless targets?

Suppose a player character has vampiric touch or scorching ray and is about to attack a paralyzed goblin. Will the vampiric touch or scorching ray auto crit against it?
Niko Ilayan's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
729 views

Simultaneous fear and saving throw

I'm considering taking the Fearsome Rune on a weapon, and have feats or other runes which impose a saving throw on a hit/crit. Does the fear effect get applied before the saving throw, or after? That ...
Nin's user avatar
  • 310
4 votes
2 answers
9k views

Does the barbarian's 9th-level Brutal Critical feature deal one extra die of damage on a critical hit, or two extra dice?

Does the barbarian deal one more die of damage with the 9th-level Brutal Critical feature, or two? I had a massive fight with GM over this – him going for the one extra die of damage, me for two. The ...
Cezaryx's user avatar
  • 3,251
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Does a natural 20 on an attack roll still crit if it was forced to be rerolled?

Does a natural 20 on an attack roll still crit if it was forced to be rerolled? Say a creature attacks me, and gets a nat. 20 on the attack roll (which would be a critical hit). However, I use the ...
Nil Nox's user avatar
  • 173
10 votes
2 answers
825 views

Does Sticky Bomb persistent damage crit?

Alchemist can take Sticky Bombs, an Additive that allows you to cause persistent damage when you hit with a bomb. You mix in an additive to make your bomb’s contents adhere to the target and continue ...
Ifusaso 'he-him''s user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
241 views

Spells with secondary damage effects and critical damage [duplicate]

Spells like like Booming Blade and Green-Flame Blade has secondary damage effects. Booming Blade deals an extra 1d8 thunder damage if the creature hit with the spell's initial melee attack requirement ...
Jhyarelle Silver's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
5k views

Criticals and Piercer Feat

Piercer feat from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything states that on critical attack roll you add an additional weapon damage die to the damage roll. Does this extra dice also double on a critical hit? Ex: ...
Jhyarelle Silver's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
796 views

If an Echo Knight fighter makes an attack from their echo's space and hits a paralyzed enemy, is it automatically a critical hit?

The Manifest Echo feature lets the Echo Knight fighter create an echo, and attack from the echo's space (EGtW, p. 183): When you take the Attack action on your turn, any attack you make with that ...
Guillaume F.'s user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
4k views

Can the Grave Domain Cleric's "Sentinel at deaths door" cancel the autocrit from hitting an unconscious person?

The Grave Domain Cleric's Sentinel at Death's Door class feature has the following wording: At 6th level, you gain the ability to impede death’s progress. As a reaction when you or an ally that you ...
TheMineKeeper's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
650 views

Critical hit with Acid Splash: how much damage?

Telekinetic Projectile does list that it does double damage on a critical hit. Compare this to Acid Splash: On a critical success, the target also takes 1 persistent acid damage. Should this "...
András's user avatar
  • 65.3k
2 votes
1 answer
289 views

Can a Constructed Pugilist's Vicious Blades modification be affected by the Keen enchantment?

From Constructed Pugilist: Vicious Blades: Razor-sharp blades on the surface of the limb cause it to deal bludgeoning and slashing damage and increase its critical threat range to 19–20. A ...
hamburgerpls's user avatar
  • 1,708
4 votes
1 answer
795 views

Does Absorb Elements' additional 1d6 get doubled on a critical hit? [duplicate]

Absorb Elements, as part of its effects, has this line. [T]he first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell ends....
vonBoomslang's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
2k views

How does the Artillerist's Arcane Firearm d8 bonus work with Crits? [duplicate]

When you cast an artificer spell through the firearm, roll a d8, and you gain a bonus to one of the spell's damage rolls equal to the number rolled. It reads like it's adding to an existing roll, and ...
bonfire's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is a natural 20 always a critical hit? [duplicate]

Critical Hits agree: When you make an attack and succeed with a natural 20 (the number on the die is 20), or if the result of your attack exceeds the target's AC by 10, you achieve a critical success ...
András's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
6k views

Is there a magic item in 5e dnd that increases crit range and if not would it be op? [closed]

I’m very new to 5e but I’ve played pathfinder and 3.5 for quite a while so I was wondering is there an item that increases crit range for melee or ranged weapons and if not how powerful would a magic ...
Icctracia 42's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
3k views

Are there creatures that are immune to critical hits?

My thinking behind this is to do with the property of Adamantine Armour which states that "While you're wearing it, any critical hit against you becomes a normal hit" (DMG, p.150). I ...
Senmurv's user avatar
  • 9,915
0 votes
1 answer
928 views

How exactly Power Attack and critical hit works together for 2-hand fighter?

I tried to follow the rules and check FAQs but now I need a help: I got a 13° liv THF (two-hand fighter) and 6° liv Aegis (BAB=19) and 5° Mithic tier, with Power Attack and Mithic Power Attack (but ...
alemayo's user avatar
  • 882
6 votes
1 answer
555 views

When extra damage dice are listed in a critical effect, do they apply to crit-immune targets?

In the immunity rules, we read: Immunity to critical hits works a little differently. When a creature immune to critical hits is critically hit by a Strike or other attack that deals damage, it takes ...
David Gay's user avatar
  • 1,091
5 votes
5 answers
2k views

Can you choose not to add your proficiency bonus to an attack roll?

I'm building a very gimmicky multiclass crit-confirmation paladin, and as a part of my build I have a feature that lets me reroll a failed attack roll as a reaction. The idea is that I want to fail at ...
Moxie Riles's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
720 views

What's the highest critical hit damage a level 1 character can do?

What's the highest critical hit damage a level 1 character can do? Rules: The character must be level 1 The character cannot have any magical items The character's starting equipment must be ...
ESCE's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
923 views

Is the Blood Fury Tattoo's damage doubled on a critical hit? [duplicate]

The question is as the title says, is the 4d6 necrotic damage doubled if you critted the attack that you then use the item's ability on. The item text in question is below. When you hit a creature ...
ThatOne's user avatar
  • 63
8 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is the Psi Warrior's Psionic Strike ability affected by critical hits?

The new Psi Warrior Fighter subclass has the feature Psionic Power which has the following option: Psionic Strike. You can propel your weapons with psionic force. Once on each of your turns, ...
user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
3k views

Do players know if a hit from a monster is a critical hit?

There are a few different abilities that PCs can get where once they are hit with an attack they can decide to use to potentially turn the hit into a miss. Examples include the spell Shield or a ...
MonkeezOnFire's user avatar

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