This should probably be on a thread of its own (mainly for discoverability), but I suppose it's fine to answer here.
Deflect Missiles mentions that it can be used "when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack". Fire Bolt is a ranged spell attack, so it is incompatible with it, even if what it throws might seem convenient enough to hold.
This is true for things like Acid Arrow too, which is pretty straightforward at shooting a "shimmering green arrow". It is still a spell attack, so the monk can't deflect it.
it only needs to be catchable if you can fully reduce the damage to zero, which RAW, is a max of 36 damage, rolling a 10 with a level 20 monk with a 22 in dex. A giants boulder isnt going to be catchable but they can still use deflect missiles to negate some of the impact. Thats why it is called DEFLECT missiles not catch missiles.
it only needs to be catchable if you can fully reduce the damage to zero, which RAW, is a max of 36 damage, rolling a 10 with a level 20 monk with a 22 in dex. A giants boulder isnt going to be catchable but they can still use deflect missiles to negate some of the impact. Thats why it is called DEFLECT missiles not catch missiles.
Why 22? If you're only using ASIs the max is 20. If you're including the manual of quickness of action the maximum is 30, because 30 is the maximum possible in the system for an attribute.
An easy "rule" of mine, is wheter or not the missile is "catchable". if it is, deflect missiles apply. if it is not, like giant boulders...it better to dogde.
You can certainly "catch" the boulder...That doesn't mean it stops moving.
"You successfully catch the boulder, you and the boulder slam into the wall! You are now mush!"
The boulder will still slam you even when you reduce it's damage to zero? The minimum damage for the boulder is 1+1+1+1+6 =10, so with as luck as hell even a level one monk can reduce this damage to zero, and by my interpretation it stopped moving.
You're not catching the boulder - you're deflecting it. That's why it's called Deflect Missiles. You haven't stopped the boulder from moving, but you managed to ever-so-slightly redirect it to reduce the amount of damage you take. If you're able to reduce the damage from the ranged attack to 0 and the missile is small enough to be caught with one hand and you have a hand free with which to catch it, then you can do a Deflect Missile Attack.
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"We're the perfect combination of expendable and unkillable!"
So this question seems to fit the thread. A fellow party member is an aarakocra monk and while flying through the air, a giant threw a giant boulder at him. Now, he was able to reduce the damage of the boulder to zero using deflect missile, but the attack also stated that if the attack hits, the target has to make a strength save or be knocked prone. If he reduced the damage to zero does he still have to make the Str save to keep from falling out of the air?
So this question seems to fit the thread. A fellow party member is an aarakocra monk and while flying through the air, a giant threw a giant boulder at him. Now, he was able to reduce the damage of the boulder to zero using deflect missile, but the attack also stated that if the attack hits, the target has to make a strength save or be knocked prone. If he reduced the damage to zero does he still have to make the Str save to keep from falling out of the air?
I'd say yes. Especially since he's most likely using one of the limbs required for flying to deflect the boulder.
Just a thought, if you’re equipped with your longbow, you technically don’t have a free hand to catch the missile right?
I’m currently playing a Kensei monk and have been grappling with this.
Two-handed weapons only require two hands when you're making attacks. Since you're using a longbow, you don't need to worry about having your weapon in both hands to be ready for opportunity attacks. This means you're free to catch enemy arrows and, if you have available ki, throw them back. Or, if you'd rather save the ki, load them into the bow and return to sender (or whoever) on your next turn.
Just a thought, if you’re equipped with your longbow, you technically don’t have a free hand to catch the missile right?
I’m currently playing a Kensei monk and have been grappling with this.
Two-handed weapons only require two hands when you're making attacks. Since you're using a longbow, you don't need to worry about having your weapon in both hands to be ready for opportunity attacks. This means you're free to catch enemy arrows and, if you have available ki, throw them back. Or, if you'd rather save the ki, load them into the bow and return to sender (or whoever) on your next turn.
100% this. That's one of the major benefits of choosing two-handed weapons over 1h, 1h/shield, dual-wield, etc. You've always got a "free hand" when you're holding a two-handed weapon; you only need both when you're making an attack roll. ;-)
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I don't know if this has been covered, but what is the feeling on sneak attacks? I was hit by a hidden rogue and my DM ruled that as I hadn't seen the attacker, I couldn't deflect. However, the rules state "when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack" so I wonder whether RAW would allow it?
The DM ruling does make sense, it just hurt quite a lot!
I don't know if this has been covered, but what is the feeling on sneak attacks? I was hit by a hidden rogue and my DM ruled that as I hadn't seen the attacker, I couldn't deflect. However, the rules state "when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack" so I wonder whether RAW would allow it?
The DM ruling does make sense, it just hurt quite a lot!
Sneak Attack has absolutely zero impact on Deflect Missiles, and your DM ruled incorrectly. You do not need to see your attacker. You don't have to see anything.
Deflect Missiles
Starting at 3rd level, you can use your reaction to deflect or catch the missile when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack. When you do so, the damage you take from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your monk level.
If you reduce the damage to 0, you can catch the missile if it is small enough for you to hold in one hand and you have at least one hand free. If you catch a missile in this way, you can spend 1 ki point to make a ranged attack with the weapon or piece of ammunition you just caught, as part of the same reaction. You make this attack with proficiency, regardless of your weapon proficiencies, and the missile counts as a monk weapon for the attack, which has a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet.
You are correct that the only requirement for this feature is to have been hit by a ranged weapon attack, full stop.
The only situation(s) in which you cannot use your feature is one in which you are unable to use your reaction. That's all.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
You are correct that the only requirement for this feature is to have been hit by a ranged weapon attack, full stop.
The only situation(s) in which you cannot use your feature is one in which you are unable to use your reaction. That's all.
I thought this was the case. I'm not overly bothered as it kinda makes sense, and it already happened so I'll leave it as it is. But if it happens again, I'll probably make a point of it.
Anyone know about additional damage from a poison? I would assume you would have to reduce the additional damage included via the poison, but I just think the rule works weirdly in this situation.
I get how the rule works for damage accounting for how fast and powerful an arrow may be, and how that may make it more difficult to catch. However, an applied poison wouldn't make something more difficult to catch would it? Is there some rule I'm overlooking in regards to this?
The whole dealing damage on an attack that may not even hit is confusing me on this one tbh. Especially if poisons should only deal damage if it hits, and it has technically, but at the same time, it may not have.
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This should probably be on a thread of its own (mainly for discoverability), but I suppose it's fine to answer here.
Deflect Missiles mentions that it can be used "when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack". Fire Bolt is a ranged spell attack, so it is incompatible with it, even if what it throws might seem convenient enough to hold.
This is true for things like Acid Arrow too, which is pretty straightforward at shooting a "shimmering green arrow". It is still a spell attack, so the monk can't deflect it.
People also seem to be confusing Deflect Missiles with catching missiles.
it only needs to be catchable if you can fully reduce the damage to zero, which RAW, is a max of 36 damage, rolling a 10 with a level 20 monk with a 22 in dex. A giants boulder isnt going to be catchable but they can still use deflect missiles to negate some of the impact. Thats why it is called DEFLECT missiles not catch missiles.
Why 22? If you're only using ASIs the max is 20. If you're including the manual of quickness of action the maximum is 30, because 30 is the maximum possible in the system for an attribute.
The boulder will still slam you even when you reduce it's damage to zero? The minimum damage for the boulder is 1+1+1+1+6 =10, so with as luck as hell even a level one monk can reduce this damage to zero, and by my interpretation it stopped moving.
You're not catching the boulder - you're deflecting it. That's why it's called Deflect Missiles. You haven't stopped the boulder from moving, but you managed to ever-so-slightly redirect it to reduce the amount of damage you take. If you're able to reduce the damage from the ranged attack to 0 and the missile is small enough to be caught with one hand and you have a hand free with which to catch it, then you can do a Deflect Missile Attack.
"We're the perfect combination of expendable and unkillable!"
So this question seems to fit the thread. A fellow party member is an aarakocra monk and while flying through the air, a giant threw a giant boulder at him. Now, he was able to reduce the damage of the boulder to zero using deflect missile, but the attack also stated that if the attack hits, the target has to make a strength save or be knocked prone. If he reduced the damage to zero does he still have to make the Str save to keep from falling out of the air?
I'd say yes. Especially since he's most likely using one of the limbs required for flying to deflect the boulder.
Talking from experience? Lol
I have a question. Is it possible to use Deflect Missiles on missiles activated by traps etc?
RAW? No, since traps usually use saving throws and not attacks. You could use your 7th level Evasion, though.
If the trap makes a weapon attack roll, then you can deflect it. If uses a saving throw, you cannot.
Just a thought, if you’re equipped with your longbow, you technically don’t have a free hand to catch the missile right?
I’m currently playing a Kensei monk and have been grappling with this.
Just take a hand off the Longbow after you use your attacks. Then you'll have an empty hand when it matters.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Two-handed weapons only require two hands when you're making attacks. Since you're using a longbow, you don't need to worry about having your weapon in both hands to be ready for opportunity attacks. This means you're free to catch enemy arrows and, if you have available ki, throw them back. Or, if you'd rather save the ki, load them into the bow and return to sender (or whoever) on your next turn.
100% this. That's one of the major benefits of choosing two-handed weapons over 1h, 1h/shield, dual-wield, etc. You've always got a "free hand" when you're holding a two-handed weapon; you only need both when you're making an attack roll. ;-)
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I don't know if this has been covered, but what is the feeling on sneak attacks? I was hit by a hidden rogue and my DM ruled that as I hadn't seen the attacker, I couldn't deflect. However, the rules state "when you are hit by a ranged weapon attack" so I wonder whether RAW would allow it?
The DM ruling does make sense, it just hurt quite a lot!
Sneak Attack has absolutely zero impact on Deflect Missiles, and your DM ruled incorrectly. You do not need to see your attacker. You don't have to see anything.
You are correct that the only requirement for this feature is to have been hit by a ranged weapon attack, full stop.
The only situation(s) in which you cannot use your feature is one in which you are unable to use your reaction. That's all.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I thought this was the case. I'm not overly bothered as it kinda makes sense, and it already happened so I'll leave it as it is. But if it happens again, I'll probably make a point of it.
Thanks.
Anyone know about additional damage from a poison? I would assume you would have to reduce the additional damage included via the poison, but I just think the rule works weirdly in this situation.
I get how the rule works for damage accounting for how fast and powerful an arrow may be, and how that may make it more difficult to catch. However, an applied poison wouldn't make something more difficult to catch would it? Is there some rule I'm overlooking in regards to this?
The whole dealing damage on an attack that may not even hit is confusing me on this one tbh. Especially if poisons should only deal damage if it hits, and it has technically, but at the same time, it may not have.