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Questions tagged [reactions]

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For questions about reactions - an action taken by an entity in response to a trigger happening.

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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 ...
13
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3answers
2k views

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 ...
6
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1answer
71 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 ...
11
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4answers
1k views

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?
7
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1answer
284 views

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 ...
2
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1answer
369 views

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 ...
6
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2answers
1k views

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: When you or another creature you can see within 30 feet of you makes an ability check or a saving ...
6
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2answers
2k views

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 ...
13
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1answer
750 views

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 ...
21
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4answers
4k views

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 ...
6
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2answers
148 views

Does Cast a Spell trigger an Attack of Opportunity?

Attack of Opportunity (CRB, p142) does not list Cast a Spell as a trigger: Trigger A creature within your reach uses a manipulate action or a move action, makes a ranged attack, or leaves a square ...
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28 views

Does deflect missiles factor in damage resistances/immunities? [duplicate]

The Monk class gains the deflect missiles ability at level 3: Deflect Missiles Starting at 3rd level, you can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile when you are hit by a ranged ...
10
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3answers
214 views

If you fall prone during a Stride action, is the Stride action disrupted?

If you are Striding, and you trigger an attack of opportunity from an enemy wielding a flail, the flail's critical specialization can cause you to fall prone. If this happens, is your Stride action ...
11
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4answers
545 views

Can the Twinned Spell metamagic be used on a spell cast as a reaction from the War Caster feat?

I'm not sure if this interpretation of RAW is correct or if there is any RAI that would decide if twinning a warcast spell is valid. Is there anything that makes it explicit that a single target spell ...
3
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2answers
300 views

Is there a scenario where a gnoll flesh gnawer can move at least 45 feet during its Rampage bonus action?

The base movement speed of a gnoll flesh gnawer is 30 feet, and if it activates rampage by bringing a creature to 0 hit points, it can move an additional 15 feet for a total of 45 feet during "normal" ...
4
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2answers
177 views

Does preventing a creature from taking actions also prevent reactions? [duplicate]

I'm slightly confused by the use of the word "action" in the text. The section on "Reactions" states: Certain special abilities, spells, and situations allow you to take a special action called a ...
3
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1answer
132 views

Are there limitations on what spells a creature can cast while holding a readied spell?

Are there limitations on what spells a creature can cast while holding a readied spell? To give an example, say that a cleric uses their action to cast, and hold, a sacred flame, with some arbitrary ...
7
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1answer
216 views

Can a character use multiple reactions in response to the same trigger?

Let's say you're a fighter with Combat Reflexes, and Boundless Reprisals. This means that on a given turn, you will have up to 3 reactions to use: Two normal reactions, and one additional reaction ...
8
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2answers
2k views

When, exactly, does the Rogue Scout get to use their Skirmisher ability?

As written, a Scout Rogue "can move up to half your speed as a reaction when an enemy ends its turn within 5 feet of you." What exactly constitutes when an enemy "ends its turn"? Does this mean the ...
6
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1answer
516 views

Can you cast bonus action and reaction spells while already casting a spell with a casting time longer than a turn?

Can a bonus action or reaction spell be cast while already casting a spell with a casting time of more than a turn? (If the bonus action or reaction spell is not a concentration spell.) I found this ...
7
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1answer
219 views

What comes first: A Berserker Barbarian's Retaliation attack or a Concentration Check?

Let us assume there is a Berserker Barbarian who is currently concentrating on a smite spell such as wrathful smite. Because they are concentrating on a spell the following applies: Whenever you ...
10
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1answer
715 views

Some concentration spells give you a special action. Does the War Caster feat let these be used instead of opportunity attacks?

Some concentration spells give you a special action. Does the War Caster feat (PHB, p. 170) let these be used instead of opportunity attacks? For a specific example, the dragon's breath (XGtE, p. 154)...
7
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1answer
207 views

Can a creature targeted by the Glamour bard's Mantle of Inspiration use its reaction to move if it already had temporary hit points previously?

The College of Glamour bard's Mantle of Inspiration feature (XGtE, p. 14) is worded this way: As a bonus action, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to grant yourself a wondrous ...
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2answers
293 views

Do I have to take the Ready action to make an opportunity attack?

So, a friend and I are in a debate right now about how an opportunity attack works. From what I understand after reading the handbook, you can only perform an opportunity attack if you use an action ...
8
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1answer
987 views

What happens if you cast Dissonant Whispers on a Hydra?

A Hydra gets extra reactions which "can be used only for opportunity attacks". The Dissonant Whispers spell forces a creature to consume its reaction to do stuff one cannot ordinarily do with a ...
7
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1answer
632 views

Is it possible to chain the Dissonant Whispers spell if multiple characters have the War Caster feat?

The Dissonant Whispers spell description (PHB, p. 234) states: The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 3d6 psychic damage and must immediately use its reaction, if ...
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0answers
36 views

Does the effect of the Command spell take place immediately if cast on the target's turn? [duplicate]

The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or follow the command on its next turn. If you were to cast Command as a reaction (e.g. readied action or war caster opportunity) on the turn of the ...
6
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1answer
206 views

If a caster wants to use a spell scroll as a reaction, do they need to already be holding it in their hand?

If a caster wants to use a spell scroll as a reaction (casting a spell that has a reaction casting time), do they need to already be holding it in their hand? What if they have the War Caster feat?
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2answers
1k views

Can you use a reaction to affect initiative rolls?

Expanding upon this question in a tweet at Jeremy Crawford who confirms once again that Initiative is a skill check and can be modified by things that modify ability checks. Cutting Words states ...
3
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3answers
747 views

When does a character's reaction reset, per turn or per round?

When does a character's reaction reset, per turn or per round? This happened last game and I'm just looking for clarification. My group has been playing (a 5e homebrew campaign) with an unspoken ...
12
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1answer
2k views

If I have the War Caster feat, can I use the Thorn Whip cantrip to stop an enemy caster from escaping using the Dimension Door spell?

Assume I am playing a druid or warlock with the War Caster feat, which allows me to cast single target spells in place of using a melee attack of opportunity. I also know the thorn whip cantrip. A ...
6
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0answers
102 views

Reaction while holding a readied action? [duplicate]

So when you hold an action using the Ready action you use your reaction to act when the trigger happens. however you're able to ignore the trigger. So while you are using the Ready action, are you ...
12
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1answer
2k views

What is the highest number of sneak attacks that a Pure/High Level Rogue (Level 17+) can make in one round?

Rogues only get one sneak attack per turn. Which means that they can only get it once on their turn and once with their reaction (through Sentinel or a Battle Master's Commander's Strike or an Attack ...
9
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2answers
564 views

If my Scout rogue has used his full movement on his turn, can he later use the reaction from the Skirmisher feature to move again?

Here is the situation I am wondering about: My Rogue is in melee with an opponent. On his turn he disengages, and moves his full movement away from his opponent. The opponent, on their turn, uses ...
19
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2answers
489 views

Can I cast reaction spells like Shield or Counterspell when I'm in the middle of casting a spell with a long casting time and don't stop casting it?

Can I use reaction spells like shield or counterspell when I'm in the middle of casting a spell with a long casting time and don't stop casting it? The Sage Advice Compendium says: Can you cast a ...
14
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1answer
581 views

Can I change my movement/action in the middle of the turn after an enemy's reaction?

Imagine I'm a rogue and I see an opponent 50' away. In my turn I want to use my movement and my Dash bonus action (Cunning Action) to approach it and use my Action to attack. Then, after moving just ...
6
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2answers
257 views

How can the PCs use a reaction to avoid this effect in the season 8 epic, Stardock Under Siege?

Stardock Under Siege (DDEP08-02) concludes with all of the tables in the Epic boarding skiffs and facing off against a massive mothership. The PCs are tasked with destroying the mothership before time ...
5
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1answer
132 views

Can you make multiple attacks with a net or a weapon with the loading property if you have multiple individual actions or reactions?

The net item has a special property which says: When you use an action, bonus action, or reaction to attack with a net, you can make only one attack regardless of the number of attacks you can ...
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6answers
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What to do when surprise and a high initiative roll conflict with the narrative?

Consider the following situation. Two creatures A and B sneak up on a creature X, successfully remaining unnoticed by it. Without signalling this to B in any way, A then throws a dagger at X from its ...
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1answer
2k views

Can a character with the War Caster feat call a bolt with Call Lightning instead of making an opportunity attack?

One of my players has a 6th level druid character, and he asked me if, as long as he had the War Caster feat, he could invoke an active Call Lightning spell and use a reaction to call down a new bolt ...
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1answer
240 views

If a projectile attack at a monk misses, can the monk use Deflect Missiles to catch the projectiles and throw them back? [duplicate]

Say there are projectiles aimed at a monk that don’t quite beat the AC, leading to a missed attack, but the roll was close to hitting (only falling short by 3-5). Can monk use Deflect Missiles to ...
3
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1answer
348 views

If a dagger thrown at a monk splits into multiple daggers mid-air, each with their own attack and damage rolls, can Deflect Missiles deflect them all?

Situation: A dagger is thrown at a monk. On that attack, the dagger multiplies into 2 or 3 daggers in mid-air, each dagger with its own rolls for attack and damage. The daggers move one after another ...
10
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1answer
211 views

Does a spell cast instead of an opportunity attack still observe the timing of an opportunity attack?

The War Caster feat (PHB, p. 170) states that: When a hostile creature's movement provokes an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to cast a spell at the creature, instead of ...
10
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2answers
2k views

Is this part of the description of the Archfey warlock's Misty Escape feature redundant?

From the Archfey warlock patron feature Misty Escape (PHB, p. 109). When you take damage, you can use your reaction to turn invisible and teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. ...
9
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1answer
110 views

Take Reactions on your own turn?

In regards to Reaction based effects. Is there any way someone can use them on their own turn? Or is it invariably necessary for it to occur as a Reaction to something? For instance, if a character ...
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0answers
58 views

Does lightning bolt trigger wrath of the storm? [duplicate]

A enemy wizard cast lightning bolt while within five feet of a tempest domain cleric. The cleric inquired if the lightning bolt triggers the wrath of the storm feature since the enemy wizard was "...
9
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4answers
2k views

How does the Open Hand monk's ability to prevent a target hit by Flurry of Blows from taking reactions work?

The Way of the Open Hand monk's Open Hand Technique states: Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can manipulate your enemy’s ki when you harness your own. Whenever you hit a ...
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2answers
1k views

For the Circle of Spores druid's Halo of Spores feature, is your reaction used regardless of whether the other creature succeeds on the saving throw?

The Circle of Spores druid's Halo of Spores feature (Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica, p. 27) states the following: When a creature you can see moves into a space within 10 feet of you or starts its ...
20
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4answers
3k views

Can a Hydra make multiple opportunity attacks at once?

A normal creature only has one reaction that may be used as a single attack of opportunity. A Hydra, though, has one of these reactions per head. My question would be: may several reactions be ...
3
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1answer
722 views

Can a character take a reaction before their turn? [duplicate]

Can a character use his reaction in the first round of combat before their turn? There is no surprise involved here.

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