I'm actually preparing for campaign 2024 and i never saw a D&D version with so few rules to clarified. But this one is something :) Si here's my text for interpretation :
Part 3: Stealth & Invisibility Clarification
Understanding Stealth in D&D
Stealth in Dungeons & Dragons primarily serves three purposes:
Surprise & Initiative Advantage – Grants a potential surprise round and advantage on the first attack (weakened in the 2024 rules updates; you cannot attack twice in a row like in 2014).
Reconnaissance – Allows for gathering information undetected.
Infiltration – Enables movement toward a target without detection.
Stealth Now Gives the Invisible Condition
The Invisible condition explicitly provides the following benefits:
- Surprise: If you are Invisible when rolling Initiative, you gain Advantage on the roll (and if the target is surprised, they roll Initiative with Disadvantage).
- Concealment: You cannot be targeted by effects requiring the caster to see you unless they have a way to bypass invisibility (e.g., Truesight). Your equipment is also concealed.
- Attack Interactions:
- Attack rolls against you have Disadvantage.
- Your own attack rolls have Advantage unless the target can see you; wirth theses considerations :
Melee attack vs. Ranged attack when trying to sneak
If you are hidden, and you decide to move out in the open to hit a target, you are not hidden anymore because you give your position away. You retain the benefit of being hidden if you make the attack within range and, in making the attack, you are still unseen and unheard. That is quite important when you decide to make a sneak attack with a melee or ranged attack. Although, about this, there can be some circumstances in which the DM might allow to sneak upon the target (movement included)
Ways to Gain the Invisible Condition
Hiding (Stealth)
- The Hide action allows you to attempt to conceal yourself, granting the Invisible condition upon success.
IMPORTANT : the DM decides if the circumstances are good for hiding. (Phb pg 19) It’s usually almost impossible while in combat.
- Requires a DC 15 Dexterity (Stealth) check.
- Must be in Heavy Obscurity, behind Three-Quarters Cover or Total Cover, and out of the enemy's line of sight.
- If successful, you gain the Invisible condition.
- Your Stealth check total becomes the DC for enemies attempting to detect you (via a Wisdom [Perception] check using the Search action).
The condition ends if:
- You make a sound louder than a whisper.
- An enemy actively finds you.
- You make an attack roll (you still have advantage before the enemy's turn).
- You cast a spell with a verbal component.
The Invisibility Spell
- Grants the Invisible condition.
- Ends if you attack, cast a spell, or deal damage.
The Greater Invisibility Spell
- Grants the Invisible condition.
- Does not end when attacking or casting spells—only ends if concentration is broken.
Stealth Mechanics: Hiding vs. Moving Quietly
Stealth consists of two distinct mechanics:
Hiding – Remaining out of sight.
Moving Quietly – Avoiding noise detection.
Hiding Mechanics
- If you are under the effects of Invisibility, you are automatically hidden while stationary.
- If not Invisible, you must make a DC 15 Stealth check while Heavily Obscured or behind Cover and out of line of sight.
- If an enemy suspects your presence, they must take the Search action to locate you; with theses considerations :
Passive perception vs. Active perception
The passive perception score represents the minimum, the baseline, of your awareness. So anything or anyone trying to Stealth check upon you has always to overcome your passive perception score. Even when you decide to make an active Perception check, and that roll + modifier is lower than your Passive Perception score, the Passive Perception score still counts as the DC to overcome for a Stealth check. Making an active Perception check means that you want to try to "beat" your Passive Perception score, and hence try to increase the DC for a Stealth check.
This is true for both combat and non-combat situations.
- If they pass near you, the DM may allow a Passive Perception check to notice you.
Moving Quietly Mechanics
- Footsteps and displaced air generate noise, making Stealth checks dependent on both sight and sound.
- If Invisible by stealthing or by spell, you must beat the Passive Perception of all creatures who can hear you.
- Invisibility spells do not grant automatic Stealth—they only remove sight-based detection.
DM Discretion: Stealth and Passive Perception
The DM can always give Advantage or Disadvantage on Stealth or Passive Perception.
Example: Following someone in a crowded street at night…
Stealth Limitations & Counters
Certain abilities, spells, and senses completely bypass Invisibility:
- Blindsight – Creatures with this sense can detect you without sight.
- Tremorsense – Creatures can feel your movement on the ground. (pinpoint target so bypass stealth but not invisibility, if the stealth creature is in contact with the same surface that you have contact)
- Truesight – Sees magically Invisible creatures.
- See Invisibility – Sees magically Invisible creatures.
If Detected While Invisible:
- You still retain the benefits of the Invisible condition until you become visible to the target(s).
- If undetected and attacking first, you are almost guaranteed to win Initiative due to your Advantage and the Disadvantage of the surprised target.
- Greater Invisibility allows sustained attacks without breaking the condition.
Challenges of Stealth
- Passive Perception is often 15+, making Hiding difficult without bonuses. Also, anybody that move slowly, like in guard duty, have advantage to perception, so +5 to passive !
- Without Invisibility, Pass Without Trace, high Dexterity, or Expertise, you will likely be found.
- Noise travel: Sounds typically carry 10–60 feet, making complete silence difficult.
- Being Stealthy makes you Invisible, but being Invisible does not make you Stealthy.
- If you are in a team, the lowest Stealth roll will always be the first detected.
- Low-level magic (Alarm, See Invisibility) can counter Stealth easily.
- A Bat familiar can see Invisible creatures (blindsight) up to 60 ft—a perfect anti-Stealth tool.
Darkvision & Light Conditions
- Without Darkvision, Stealth without the Invisibility spell is significantly harder.
- Dim Light is necessary for non-Darkvision users to see where they go while being stealthy.
- However, creatures with Darkvision see in Dim Light as Bright Light, negating the advantage.
Spells vs. Expertise for Stealth
Certain spells are almost mandatory for the best Stealth builds:
Top-tier Stealth spells:
- Invisibility (removes sight-based detection).
- Pass Without Trace (+10 Stealth).
- Enhance Ability (Cat’s Grace: Advantage on Stealth checks).
Alternative reconnaissance spells:
- Arcane Eye (scouting tool).
- Scrying (long-range intelligence gathering).
- Even Find Familiar can help significantly with less risk.
Final Thoughts
The best Stealth strategies combine significant team design and magic skills.
When an attacker is invisible and their target is surprised, the DM usually uses the Initiative Core Rule (DMG):
Surprised side: Rolls 5 + Dexterity bonus for initiative.
Invisible side: Rolls 15 + Dexterity bonus for initiative.
House rule to explore in that case : give automatic initiative to the first attacker (roll for the rest of his team and the target(s)) and the target cannot use a reaction for that first attack.
I look at all the treads in this forum about this topic and i think my resume is OK. Just find 2 more things that i add in the appropriates sections :
Passive perception vs. Active perception
The passive perception score represents the minimum, the baseline, of your awareness. So anything or anyone trying to Stealth check upon you has always to overcome your passive perception score. Even when you decide to make an active Perception check, and that roll + modifier is lower than your Passive Perception score, the Passive Perception score still counts as the DC to overcome for a Stealth check. Making an active Perception check means that you want to try to "beat" your Passive Perception score, and hence try to increase the DC for a Stealth check.
This is true for both combat and non-combat situations.
Melee attack vs. Ranged attack when trying to sneak
If you are hidden, and you decide to move out in the open to hit a target, you are not hidden anymore because you give your position away. You retain the benefit of being hidden if you make the attack within range and, in making the attack, you are still unseen and unheard. That is quite important when you decide to make a sneak attack with a melee or ranged attack. Although, about this, there can be some circumstances in which the DM might allow to sneak upon the target (movement included)
I'm actually preparing for campaign 2024 and i never saw a D&D version with so few rules to clarified. But this one is something :) Si here's my text for interpretation :
Part 3: Stealth & Invisibility Clarification
Understanding Stealth in D&D
Stealth in Dungeons & Dragons primarily serves three purposes:
Stealth Now Gives the Invisible Condition
The Invisible condition explicitly provides the following benefits:
- Surprise: If you are Invisible when rolling Initiative, you gain Advantage on the roll (and if the target is surprised, they roll Initiative with Disadvantage).
- Concealment: You cannot be targeted by effects requiring the caster to see you unless they have a way to bypass invisibility (e.g., Truesight). Your equipment is also concealed.
- Attack Interactions:
- Attack rolls against you have Disadvantage.
- Your own attack rolls have Advantage unless the target can see you; wirth theses considerations :
Melee attack vs. Ranged attack when trying to sneak
If you are hidden, and you decide to move out in the open to hit a target, you are not hidden anymore because you give your position away. You retain the benefit of being hidden if you make the attack within range and, in making the attack, you are still unseen and unheard. That is quite important when you decide to make a sneak attack with a melee or ranged attack. Although, about this, there can be some circumstances in which the DM might allow to sneak upon the target (movement included)
Ways to Gain the Invisible Condition
- The Hide action allows you to attempt to conceal yourself, granting the Invisible condition upon success.
IMPORTANT : the DM decides if the circumstances are good for hiding. (Phb pg 19) It’s usually almost impossible while in combat.
- Requires a DC 15 Dexterity (Stealth) check.
- Must be in Heavy Obscurity, behind Three-Quarters Cover or Total Cover, and out of the enemy's line of sight.
- If successful, you gain the Invisible condition.
- Your Stealth check total becomes the DC for enemies attempting to detect you (via a Wisdom [Perception] check using the Search action).
The condition ends if:
- You make a sound louder than a whisper.
- An enemy actively finds you.
- You make an attack roll (you still have advantage before the enemy's turn).
- You cast a spell with a verbal component.
- Grants the Invisible condition.
- Ends if you attack, cast a spell, or deal damage.
- Grants the Invisible condition.
- Does not end when attacking or casting spells—only ends if concentration is broken.
Stealth Mechanics: Hiding vs. Moving Quietly
Stealth consists of two distinct mechanics:
Hiding Mechanics
- If you are under the effects of Invisibility, you are automatically hidden while stationary.
- If not Invisible, you must make a DC 15 Stealth check while Heavily Obscured or behind Cover and out of line of sight.
- If an enemy suspects your presence, they must take the Search action to locate you; with theses considerations :
Passive perception vs. Active perception
The passive perception score represents the minimum, the baseline, of your awareness. So anything or anyone trying to Stealth check upon you has always to overcome your passive perception score. Even when you decide to make an active Perception check, and that roll + modifier is lower than your Passive Perception score, the Passive Perception score still counts as the DC to overcome for a Stealth check. Making an active Perception check means that you want to try to "beat" your Passive Perception score, and hence try to increase the DC for a Stealth check.
This is true for both combat and non-combat situations.
- If they pass near you, the DM may allow a Passive Perception check to notice you.
Moving Quietly Mechanics
- Footsteps and displaced air generate noise, making Stealth checks dependent on both sight and sound.
- If Invisible by stealthing or by spell, you must beat the Passive Perception of all creatures who can hear you.
- Invisibility spells do not grant automatic Stealth—they only remove sight-based detection.
DM Discretion: Stealth and Passive Perception
The DM can always give Advantage or Disadvantage on Stealth or Passive Perception.
Example: Following someone in a crowded street at night…
Stealth Limitations & Counters
Certain abilities, spells, and senses completely bypass Invisibility:
- Blindsight – Creatures with this sense can detect you without sight.
- Tremorsense – Creatures can feel your movement on the ground. (pinpoint target so bypass stealth but not invisibility, if the stealth creature is in contact with the same surface that you have contact)
- Truesight – Sees magically Invisible creatures.
- See Invisibility – Sees magically Invisible creatures.
If Detected While Invisible:
- You still retain the benefits of the Invisible condition until you become visible to the target(s).
- If undetected and attacking first, you are almost guaranteed to win Initiative due to your Advantage and the Disadvantage of the surprised target.
- Greater Invisibility allows sustained attacks without breaking the condition.
Challenges of Stealth
- Passive Perception is often 15+, making Hiding difficult without bonuses. Also, anybody that move slowly, like in guard duty, have advantage to perception, so +5 to passive !
- Without Invisibility, Pass Without Trace, high Dexterity, or Expertise, you will likely be found.
- Noise travel: Sounds typically carry 10–60 feet, making complete silence difficult.
- Being Stealthy makes you Invisible, but being Invisible does not make you Stealthy.
- If you are in a team, the lowest Stealth roll will always be the first detected.
- Low-level magic (Alarm, See Invisibility) can counter Stealth easily.
- A Bat familiar can see Invisible creatures (blindsight) up to 60 ft—a perfect anti-Stealth tool.
Darkvision & Light Conditions
- Without Darkvision, Stealth without the Invisibility spell is significantly harder.
- Dim Light is necessary for non-Darkvision users to see where they go while being stealthy.
- However, creatures with Darkvision see in Dim Light as Bright Light, negating the advantage.
Spells vs. Expertise for Stealth
Certain spells are almost mandatory for the best Stealth builds:
Top-tier Stealth spells:
- Invisibility (removes sight-based detection).
- Pass Without Trace (+10 Stealth).
- Enhance Ability (Cat’s Grace: Advantage on Stealth checks).
Alternative reconnaissance spells:
- Arcane Eye (scouting tool).
- Scrying (long-range intelligence gathering).
- Even Find Familiar can help significantly with less risk.
Final Thoughts
The best Stealth strategies combine significant team design and magic skills.
When an attacker is invisible and their target is surprised, the DM usually uses the Initiative Core Rule (DMG):
House rule to explore in that case : give automatic initiative to the first attacker (roll for the rest of his team and the target(s)) and the target cannot use a reaction for that first attack.
Noted!
Hey! I make (what I believe to be, could use some feedback) good homebrew!
Click here!
Please tell me what you think!
I look at all the treads in this forum about this topic and i think my resume is OK. Just find 2 more things that i add in the appropriates sections :
Passive perception vs. Active perception
The passive perception score represents the minimum, the baseline, of your awareness. So anything or anyone trying to Stealth check upon you has always to overcome your passive perception score. Even when you decide to make an active Perception check, and that roll + modifier is lower than your Passive Perception score, the Passive Perception score still counts as the DC to overcome for a Stealth check. Making an active Perception check means that you want to try to "beat" your Passive Perception score, and hence try to increase the DC for a Stealth check.
This is true for both combat and non-combat situations.
Melee attack vs. Ranged attack when trying to sneak
If you are hidden, and you decide to move out in the open to hit a target, you are not hidden anymore because you give your position away. You retain the benefit of being hidden if you make the attack within range and, in making the attack, you are still unseen and unheard. That is quite important when you decide to make a sneak attack with a melee or ranged attack. Although, about this, there can be some circumstances in which the DM might allow to sneak upon the target (movement included)