Questions tagged [reactions]
For questions about reactions - an action taken by an entity in response to a trigger happening.
191
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Can you use reaction class features when receiving excess damage from polymorph ending?
Is it possible to use a reaction from your class when your polymorphed form is reduced to 0 hit points and the excess carries over to you?
For example, let's say you're playing a rogue and your ...
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1answer
602 views
What is the appropriate way to account for readied-action movement time and time to attack when trying to utilise Pack Tactics?
Context
I want to play a character that is a Kobold race and make good use of their Pack Tactics.
Pack Tactics. You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies ...
3
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1answer
97 views
Can you use free action(s) as part of a Ready Action?
The most obvious example of this, which came up in regards to another question's answer, is Quickened Casting Metamagic, but there may be other Free Actions that modify following actions or might ...
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1answer
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Does the Kuo-toa's Sticky Shield reaction work on natural weapons?
As the title says, the Kuo-toa creature has a reaction that can catch weapons. I'm curious if it works on natural weapons like bites and punches. Here is the text in question.
Sticky Shield. When a ...
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4answers
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Can a creature react to being targeted by a missile attack from a non-Hidden foe?
Making an attack has the following structure:
Choose a target.
Determine modifiers.
Resolve the attack (typically as a hit or miss)
Consider a creature, standing near an ally, who could potentially ...
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2answers
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What is the timing of a Rod of Absorption's spell-absorbing reaction?
Suppose I have a Rod of Absorption, which has this ability:
While holding this rod, you can use your reaction to absorb a spell that is targeting only you and not with an area of effect. The absorbed ...
4
votes
1answer
88 views
Does the Hunter Ranger's Giant Killer allow you to grapple or shove with the reaction?
The Hunter Ranger's Giant Killer feature says:
When a Large or larger creature within 5 feet of you hits or misses you with an attack, you can use your reaction to attack that creature immediately ...
2
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1answer
122 views
Can I cast Shield against an attack that hits me during a Time Stop? [duplicate]
Suppose an enemy casts Time Stop and then makes an attack against me, rolling a 20 to hit against my 16 AC. Normally, I could cast Shield to cause this attack to miss. And of course, this attack also ...
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1answer
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How does the Interception fighting style interact with Uncanny Dodge?
If an enemy hits a Rogue with an attack, the Rogue uses Uncanny Dodge as a reaction, and at the same time a Fighter uses their reaction to use Interception to lessen the damage the Rogue takes: which ...
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Can an Arcane Archer choose to activate arcane shot after it gets deflected?
Inspired by Can I use deflect missile if I get an ally to shoot me? and Can a monk catch and throw an Arcane Archer's active Arcane Shot back at them with Deflect Missiles?, can a (friendly) ...
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2answers
197 views
Shield spell - removing the special effects of a hit [duplicate]
Background
A Shield spell is cast as a reaction to an attack that hits. It applies its AC bonus even against the attack to which it is a reaction, meaning that it can make the attack that hit, ...
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1answer
190 views
Can reaction spells be cast without any trigger?
I've come across a few questions regarding the spell storing ring to which my question matters. Under spell storing ring it reads:
Any creature can Cast a Spell of 1st through 5th Level into the ring ...
4
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2answers
658 views
Shield Spell and triggering effects of damage not taken
A Shield spell is cast as a reaction to an attack that hits. It applies its AC bonus even against the attack to which it is a reaction, meaning that it can make that attack that hit, retroactively ...
8
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3answers
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In case a trigger for a readied action is someone else's reaction, what is resolved first?
I asked if you can ready an action with someone's reaction as a trigger. The answer is YES.
But I'm still not sure - in such a case (i.e. a trigger for reaction being another reaction) - which ...
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1answer
212 views
Can you Ready an action with someone's reaction as a trigger?
The rule for readied action says:
First, you decide what perceivable circumstance will trigger your
reaction.
Of course, it's rather hard to be ready for someone's else reactions, especially first-...
8
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1answer
423 views
If a humanoid or beast dies, can a Spores druid wait until their own turn to use the Fungal Infestation reaction feature to animate them as a zombie?
Circle of Spores druids gain the Fungal Infestation feature at 6th level. Its description states, in part (GGtR, p. 27):
If a beast or humanoid that is Small or Medium dies within 10 feet of you, you ...
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6answers
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Is there no way to have a single casting of the Feather Fall spell affect a whole group of people who decide to jump off a cliff during combat?
I couldn't find an answer to this in my reading of the source books nor on Stack Exchange.
My players were engaged in an encounter in which enemies were able to manipulate air to "gust" them ...
3
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1answer
618 views
Sentinel's last function. What comes first, the attack or the reaction? [duplicate]
Quick question of the order between enemy actions and friendly reactions.
Sentinel
When a creature within your reach makes an attack against a target other than you (and that target doesn't have ...
2
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1answer
179 views
Can a UA Unity Domain cleric use Channel Divinity: Shared Burden as a reaction when the cleric takes damage?
I’m currently working on a Unity Domain cleric build, and I believe the wording of the ability Shared Burden is intended to be different than the RAW wording.
The description of the Unity Domain ...
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4answers
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Allowing Disengage for free
I'm the DM, and I'm concerned that combat feels pretty static.
As I understand it in RAW:
Once you've reached melee range, moving further away will provoke an opportunity attack, unless you disengage
...
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0answers
376 views
Are these homebrew reactions balanced with each other? [closed]
I have been working on a homebrew reaction system so that each person can do more throughout the initiative than the very rare opportunity attack or counterspell. I feel as though reactions should be ...
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2answers
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Can I use Flash of Genius on an initiative roll?
The Artificer's Flash of Genius says:
When you or another creature you can see within 30 feet of you makes an ability check or a saving throw, you can use your reaction to add your Intelligence ...
14
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4answers
2k views
Do you lose concentration on a Readied spell when you use your reaction for something else?
The War Wizard gets the Durable Magic feature at 10th level which states:
[...] While you maintain concentration on a spell, you have a +2 bonus to AC and all saving throws.
The Ready action states:
...
11
votes
2answers
753 views
Is there a work around for Counterspell and Identifying a spell both using a reaction?
In order to Identify a spell being cast (XGtE p85)
a character can use their reaction to identify a spell as it's being cast,
This is a problem because Counterspell (PH p228) also requires a ...
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5answers
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Can a Readied Action be used multiple times in the same round if you have multiple reactions?
A Marilith picks up a Longbow to use in combat. It walks to a tower window overlooking a large battle with many creatures. It takes the Ready Action with a trigger of "when a creature moves or ...
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1answer
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NPC Knight ability “parry” - how often can it be used?
In the Monster Manual the Knight has a reaction ability called Parry:
Parry. The knight adds 2 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the knight must see the attacker and ...
4
votes
1answer
405 views
Can you move during your reaction in a ready action?
So let's say that the party or the baddies want to dive a target all at once, but they are far apart on the turn order. Can the divers all do a ready action and then all jump in at once?
Example:
...
4
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1answer
516 views
Can the Shield spell be cast in response to being hit by an invisible enemy?
Let's say I have a PC with the shield spell. I'm not surprised, and an invisible enemy hits me with an attack. My DM has not yet told me the attack roll number, so I am in a position to cast shield if ...
11
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1answer
1k views
Cutting Words timing when playing online
Lore Bard's Cutting Words feature states the following:
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence and competence of others. When a ...
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3answers
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Is Ready required on your turn in order to use reaction abilities in between turns?
Do you have to Ready a reaction to use it? Thus, you would have had to used Ready as your action on your turn and wait for the trigger to use the reaction.
Would it be correct to say that you cannot ...
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3answers
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If I were to cast a spell limiting reactions (shocking grasp), does that mean the target can't make a saving throw?
The shocking grasp cantrip states that the target can not take reactions until the start of its next turn. Therefore, the target should not be able to cast spells like absorb elements and shield.
...
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0answers
70 views
Can you react mid movement? [duplicate]
Alice and Belle are in combat, 30ft apart from each other.
Alice takes first turn, and readies an action; "If Belle comes within 25ft of me, I move my full speed directly away."
On Belle's turn, ...
9
votes
3answers
769 views
Does the 3rd part of Shield Master continue working against multiple, same-source effects?
If you use the 3rd part of the Shield Master Feat;
If you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you can use your reaction to take no ...
11
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1answer
675 views
Can the reaction attack from the third benefit of the Sentinel feat be triggered by a shove or grapple?
The third benefit of the Sentinel feat says (PHB, p. 169-170; emphasis mine):
When a creature within 5 feet of you makes an attack against a target other than you (and that target doesn't have ...
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0answers
72 views
Fire Shield and Shield interaction [duplicate]
An awakened cat with wizard levels has fire shield active, and is melee attacked by a goblin within 5 feet of it. The goblin hits the cat but exceeds the cats AC by 4 or less.
Fire shield states:
...
9
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2answers
728 views
Can the target of the Dissonant Whispers spell choose to use its reaction to move if it succeeds on the save?
The description of the dissonant whispers spell says (PHB, p. 234):
On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and doesn't have to move away.
Does this mean that the target can ...
2
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1answer
127 views
Entropic Ward Sneak Attack [closed]
Are you able to entropic ward an attack from stealth? Or would it just be assumed that you didn’t know it was coming therefore you can’t cast a reaction.
For reference the Great Old One Warlock gets ...
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5answers
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What are the balance ramifications of always preventing creatures from taking reactions before their first turn?
I've recently been toying with some rule modifications to 5e's Initiative rules in an attempt to resolve the rule/reality inconsistency where a player "gets the jump" on a monster, but the monster is ...
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1answer
2k views
When a Hexblade warlock uses the Accursed Specter feature on a slain creature but another character casts Soul Cage, which takes priority?
The Hexblade warlock's Accursed Specter feature does not have an action timing specified, and merely says (XGtE, p. 56; emphasis mine):
When you slay a humanoid, you can cause its spirit to rise ...
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1answer
3k views
What reactions are available to an artificer's homunculus servant?
The description of the artificer's homunculus servant states:
In combat, the homunculus shares your initiative count, but it takes
its turn immediately after yours. It can move and use its ...
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0answers
385 views
How does the reaction from rank I of the Heavy Gunner talent, Covering Fire, work with area-of-effect attacks?
Rank I of the Heavy Gunner talent, Covering Fire, is described on page 97 of the Lancer Core Book First Edition PDF as follows (emphasis mine):
As a quick action, choose a character within line of ...
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3answers
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Can you use Shield as a reaction against the damage from Fire Form?
This issue came up in a recent session:
A character used Shocking Grasp against a Fire Elemental. Due to the Fire Elemental's ability Fire Form, the attacking Character took damage. Can they use ...
8
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1answer
478 views
Does a successful Tumble Through trigger reactions?
The text of tumble through says:
You Stride up to your Speed. During this movement, you can try to move through the space of one enemy. Attempt an Acrobatics check against the enemy’s Reflex DC as ...
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4answers
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Is Absorb Elements cast before or after a save? Is it cast before or after damage?
I was wondering where on "the stack" I can cast Absorb Elements. Is it when I get targeted, when I get hit, after I fail a save, or after the damage is rolled?
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2answers
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RAW, can a 3rd level sword-and-board eldritch knight usefully cast Absorb Elements?
I often see Absorb Elements (AE) mentioned as a useful spell for an Eldritch Knight (EK), because it gives you temporary resistance to one type of damage and lets you add that type of damage to your ...
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1answer
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Does the Deflect Attack reaction of a Battle Smith artificer's Steel Defender impose disadvantage on all attacks from the chosen creature?
In Eberron: Rising from the Last War, the artificer's Battle Smith subclass grants you a Steel Defender that can use its reaction to give disadvantage on a creature's attack roll.
The Steel Defender ...
asked Nov 25 '19 at 20:12
Fernando Fuentes Martins
1,5783 gold badges13 silver badges32 bronze badges
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For the Artificer's Flash of Genius feature, do you activate the ability before or after the results of the roll?
The Artificer from Eberron: Rising from the Last War gets the Flash of Genius feature at 7th level (p. 57):
When you or another creature you can see within 30 feet of you makes an ability check or a ...
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2answers
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Can a Way of the Open Hand monk's Open Hand Technique prevent Legendary Action reactions?
Tiamat can take a Legendary Actions at the end of each turn, and I believe these were listed as reactions. Could an Open Hand Monk's Open Hand Technique prevent these legendary actions entirely?
Per ...
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1answer
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If I Ready an action, can I then use my reaction for something else?
Merle the Wizard is fighting enemies with his friends on a bridge. He wants to cast a spell on the BBEG, but they are currently out of range and so he uses his action to ready a spell for when the ...
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Can the Protection fighting style be used in this way?
One of the players in a party I DM is an Eldritch Knight and he uses "Protection " in every single battle. Here's what Protection is:
Protection
When a creature you can see attacks a target ...
