With ease. Dread Ambusher benefits don't actually require anything other than you taking your first turn in combat.
Despite the name, Dread Ambusher has little to do with actually ambushing anyone. It helps your initiative count and it helps your first turn in combat. That's it.
So if I get the Dread Ambusher feature right, it is the only "additional attack as part of the attack action" that stacks right?
So a ranger/fighter multiclass can only benefit once from any other multi attack feature but DA stacks on top of these. Or did I get something confused? What would happen if you use action surge in your first round? Would DA trigger twice?
Wow I have been using my DA ability all wrong and neither me or my DM have realized because I've been using my DA extra attack every turn but only doing 1d8 of damage and only found this thread when I was looking up why DA wasn't giving me my extra 10ft of movement on my DDB character sheet 😂. So I'm going to throw in my 2 cents 😉 if you paired up DA with the Alert feat you can have an insane initiative mine is currently +13(Dex+3 Alert+5 Wis+5)😎
I think I understand most of it I'm just wondering if I use a longbow to attack then do I have to use the longbow again for dread ambusher or can I switch weapons?
I think I understand most of it I'm just wondering if I use a longbow to attack then do I have to attack with the same weapon for dread ambusher or can I switch weapons?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Switching a weapon takes multiple free actions and you only get 1. If you were wielding a shortsword and a dagger, you can attack with either for any attack you can make - since they're in your hand. But if you attack with a bow you'd need to drop it/put it away and also draw a different weapon, since bows take two hands. That's a bit much. And being able to switch melee and ranged instantly , attacking with both, without penalty would be a bit broken.
I think I understand most of it I'm just wondering if I use a longbow to attack then do I have to use the longbow again for dread ambusher or can I switch weapons?
The added attack is not limited to any specific weapon (neither are the attacks from any "Extra Attack" feature) but switching weapons is somewhat difficult due to the number of actions it takes to equip/unequip weapons.
What you can do however is attack with the Longbow and then hold it in 1 hand and use your object interaction to draw a sword (or any 1-handed weapon) and then do the DA attack with that. Bows only use 2-hands when you are making a attack with them, not when you are just holding them.
Two-Handed. This weapon requires two hands when you attack with it. This property is relevant only when you attack with the weapon, not when you simply hold it.
I think I understand most of it I'm just wondering if I use a longbow to attack then do I have to use the longbow again for dread ambusher or can I switch weapons?
The added attack is not limited to any specific weapon (neither are the attacks from any "Extra Attack" feature) but switching weapons is somewhat difficult due to the number of actions it takes to equip/unequip weapons.
What you can do however is attack with the Longbow and then hold it in 1 hand and use your object interaction to draw a sword (or any 1-handed weapon) and then do the DA attack with that. Bows only use 2-hands when you are making a attack with them, not when you are just holding them.
Two-Handed. This weapon requires two hands when you attack with it. This property is relevant only when you attack with the weapon, not when you simply hold it.
Yes.As mentioned, you could hold the bow in one hand and use your object interaction to draw a one handed weapon.
You could also choose to drop the bow on the ground and draw a different weapon. Most DMs do not consider dropping a held item to use your object interaction and will count the drawing of the alternate weapon as your object interaction.
In either case, you could use the weapon you just pulled out to make any attacks remaining in the attack action whether provided by the extra attack feature or by dread ambusher.
I have a question re the dread ambusher, re damage type. I know it states weapon's damage type. I am just after clarification, insight on if the weapon does multiply different types of damage?
e.g. Short sword with +1d6 fire damage - So 1d6 piercing + 1d6 fire + ability mod + 1d8(DA) damage type? fire or piecing??
Thanks in advance and sorry if this is already covered
I have a question re the dread ambusher, re damage type. I know it states weapon's damage type. I am just after clarification, insight on if the weapon does multiply different types of damage?
e.g. Short sword with +1d6 fire damage - So 1d6 piercing + 1d6 fire + ability mod + 1d8(DA) damage type? fire or piecing??
Thanks in advance and sorry if this is already covered
There's no RAW on this and never has been, even though we've always needed it - e.g. the same question comes up with Rogue sneak attack. Thanks to Twitter, we know JC's RAI is that the PC simply chooses 1 of the weapon's damage types.
I have a query about DA and the surprise round...If I am surprised do I then lose the DA because I was surprised for my "first turn" in the combat round?
Surprise: If you're surprised, you can't move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can't take a reaction until that turn ends.
Dread Ambusher: At the start of your first turn of each combat, your walking speed increases by 10 feet, which lasts until the end of that turn. If you take the Attack action on that turn, you can make one additional weapon attack as part of that action.
The dread ambusher feat grants bonuses to movement and the attack action. Unfortunately, if the ranger is surprised during their first turn of combat, they will not be able to move or take an action that turn. And when they can, it will no longer be their first turn of that combat, so being surprised ruins the feature for them. Do your best not to be surprised :)
How can one dread ambush a target if it sees you?
With ease. Dread Ambusher benefits don't actually require anything other than you taking your first turn in combat.
Despite the name, Dread Ambusher has little to do with actually ambushing anyone. It helps your initiative count and it helps your first turn in combat. That's it.
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"Gloom stalker initial combat round" should have been the subtitle
The same way you Sneak Attack the guy standing in front of you the whole fight.
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Just stand there talking to them, suddenly stab them. They weren't expecting it, so it qualifies. That way it also qualifies for sneak attack.
So if I get the Dread Ambusher feature right, it is the only "additional attack as part of the attack action" that stacks right?
So a ranger/fighter multiclass can only benefit once from any other multi attack feature but DA stacks on top of these. Or did I get something confused? What would happen if you use action surge in your first round? Would DA trigger twice?
Yes - but only if you use the both actions for the Attack action - because it triggers once per Attack action.
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Wow I have been using my DA ability all wrong and neither me or my DM have realized because I've been using my DA extra attack every turn but only doing 1d8 of damage and only found this thread when I was looking up why DA wasn't giving me my extra 10ft of movement on my DDB character sheet 😂. So I'm going to throw in my 2 cents 😉 if you paired up DA with the Alert feat you can have an insane initiative mine is currently +13(Dex+3 Alert+5 Wis+5)😎
I think I understand most of it I'm just wondering if I use a longbow to attack then do I have to use the longbow again for dread ambusher or can I switch weapons?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Switching a weapon takes multiple free actions and you only get 1. If you were wielding a shortsword and a dagger, you can attack with either for any attack you can make - since they're in your hand. But if you attack with a bow you'd need to drop it/put it away and also draw a different weapon, since bows take two hands. That's a bit much. And being able to switch melee and ranged instantly , attacking with both, without penalty would be a bit broken.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
The added attack is not limited to any specific weapon (neither are the attacks from any "Extra Attack" feature) but switching weapons is somewhat difficult due to the number of actions it takes to equip/unequip weapons.
What you can do however is attack with the Longbow and then hold it in 1 hand and use your object interaction to draw a sword (or any 1-handed weapon) and then do the DA attack with that. Bows only use 2-hands when you are making a attack with them, not when you are just holding them.
Yes.As mentioned, you could hold the bow in one hand and use your object interaction to draw a one handed weapon.
You could also choose to drop the bow on the ground and draw a different weapon. Most DMs do not consider dropping a held item to use your object interaction and will count the drawing of the alternate weapon as your object interaction.
In either case, you could use the weapon you just pulled out to make any attacks remaining in the attack action whether provided by the extra attack feature or by dread ambusher.
Hey All,
I have a question re the dread ambusher, re damage type. I know it states weapon's damage type. I am just after clarification, insight on if the weapon does multiply different types of damage?
e.g. Short sword with +1d6 fire damage - So 1d6 piercing + 1d6 fire + ability mod + 1d8(DA) damage type? fire or piecing??
Thanks in advance and sorry if this is already covered
There's no RAW on this and never has been, even though we've always needed it - e.g. the same question comes up with Rogue sneak attack. Thanks to Twitter, we know JC's RAI is that the PC simply chooses 1 of the weapon's damage types.
It's basically a free crit
I have a query about DA and the surprise round...If I am surprised do I then lose the DA because I was surprised for my "first turn" in the combat round?
Surprise: If you're surprised, you can't move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can't take a reaction until that turn ends.
Dread Ambusher: At the start of your first turn of each combat, your walking speed increases by 10 feet, which lasts until the end of that turn. If you take the Attack action on that turn, you can make one additional weapon attack as part of that action.
The dread ambusher feat grants bonuses to movement and the attack action. Unfortunately, if the ranger is surprised during their first turn of combat, they will not be able to move or take an action that turn. And when they can, it will no longer be their first turn of that combat, so being surprised ruins the feature for them. Do your best not to be surprised :)
"Not all those who wander are lost"
It states your first turn, not the entity that is surprising. DA is not negated.