I always played magic classes, this is my first time with a fighter, can someone please explain how multiattack works? I have to spend my bonus to make it or it is just my main action that lets me do more than one strike?
To give you more of a breakdown and expand your options:
Extra Attack augments the Attack Action. So when you take the Attack Action, you make 2 attacks with that action.
Extra Attack does not stack with extra attack from other classes.
Extra Attack does not apply to attacks made other than as an Attack Action (for example when using booming blade which is a Cast a Spell Action).
Extra Attack does not apply to two weapon fighting, which is a Bonus Action, but nor does it prevent it.
Attacks with Extra Attack does not have to be with the same weapon. If you have 2 weapons, you can make 2 attacks with either weapon or an attack with each with the Attack Action. (You don't need the dual wielder feat or the two weapon fighting style in order to do normal damage with 2 non-light weapons either, as it does not use the two weapon fighting rules.)
I always played magic classes, this is my first time with a fighter, can someone please explain how multiattack works? I have to spend my bonus to make it or it is just my main action that lets me do more than one strike?
The written text of Extra Attack does spell it out pretty well, most folks just gloss over it though. The text reads something like this:
"When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can attack twice instead of once."
Later on you'll get an enhanced version that will say "three times" or "four times" instead of "twice". The reason the feature is explicit("you can attack twice") instead of additive("you can make an additional attack") is because Extra Attack abilities from two different classes don't stack. If you're a 10th level character who is Fighter5/Barbarian5, you still only get to attack twice, even though you got Extra Attack from both classes.
So:
WHEN it's your turn, and WHEN you take the Attack action, you get to attack more than once. That's all there is to it. Extra Attack places no restrictions on whether the attacks have to be with the same weapon, and you can still use two-weapon fighting to make another attack with your Bonus Action. The rule about using Light weapons still applies, and the rule about using a different weapon for the Bonus Action attack just means if you used the same weapon for all your main attacks, you have to use a different one for the bonus attack. If your two main attacks were with different weapons, you can use either one of them again for your bonus attack.
What you CAN'T do is:
Attack twice when making an Attack Of Opportunity(you're using your reaction, not the Attack action)
Attack twice if you've Readied an attack(you used the Ready action on your turn, not Attack, you aren't attacking on your turn, and you're using your Reaction to attack)
Attack twice when casting Booming Blade(you're not using the Attack action, you're using the Cast A Spell action)
Attack twice with any other attack using a Bonus Action(like the butt-end attack from Polearm Master), or Reaction(like with Sentinel)
Also a fun thing is a grapple or shove counts as an attack, so when you take the attack action you can shove twice, or grapple once and attack once, or shove someone and than grapple them etc.
Sucks you can't do GFB or BB with extra attack. Guess I have to save GFB for enemies that are vulnerable to fire...
It would make crazy DPS fighter if it did though since the cantrips scales per lvl and fighter can get up to 3 extra attack
I'll say. A level 20 EK could do 12d8 spell damage plus weapon damage ×4 (let's say 8d6+20) to 1 target, and 16d8 damage to second target with 1 action, no resources used.
Sucks you can't do GFB or BB with extra attack. Guess I have to save GFB for enemies that are vulnerable to fire...
It would make crazy DPS fighter if it did though since the cantrips scales per lvl and fighter can get up to 3 extra attack
I'll say. A level 20 EK could do 12d8 spell damage plus weapon damage ×4 (let's say 8d6+20) to 1 target, and 16d8 damage to second target with 1 action, no resources used.
102 damage to primary target, and 72 damage to secondary target, and if the fighter also Action Surged that would double and be 204 to primary and 144 to secondary... Dang, and people think Sorlock is OP, granted Sorlock doesn't involve breaking rules but still.
I always played magic classes, this is my first time with a fighter, can someone please explain how multiattack works? I have to spend my bonus to make it or it is just my main action that lets me do more than one strike?
The written text of Extra Attack does spell it out pretty well, most folks just gloss over it though. The text reads something like this:
"When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can attack twice instead of once."
Later on you'll get an enhanced version that will say "three times" or "four times" instead of "twice". The reason the feature is explicit("you can attack twice") instead of additive("you can make an additional attack") is because Extra Attack abilities from two different classes don't stack. If you're a 10th level character who is Fighter5/Barbarian5, you still only get to attack twice, even though you got Extra Attack from both classes.
So:
WHEN it's your turn, and WHEN you take the Attack action, you get to attack more than once. That's all there is to it. Extra Attack places no restrictions on whether the attacks have to be with the same weapon, and you can still use two-weapon fighting to make another attack with your Bonus Action. The rule about using Light weapons still applies, and the rule about using a different weapon for the Bonus Action attack just means if you used the same weapon for all your main attacks, you have to use a different one for the bonus attack. If your two main attacks were with different weapons, you can use either one of them again for your bonus attack.
What you CAN'T do is:
Attack twice when making an Attack Of Opportunity(you're using your reaction, not the Attack action)
Attack twice if you've Readied an attack(you used the Ready action on your turn, not Attack, you aren't attacking on your turn, and you're using your Reaction to attack)
Attack twice when casting Booming Blade(you're not using the Attack action, you're using the Cast A Spell action)
Attack twice with any other attack using a Bonus Action(like the butt-end attack from Polearm Master), or Reaction(like with Sentinel)
Thanks for the clarification, how about as a Dragonborn, use a weapon on one attack and breath weapon on the second? The physical mechanics would suggest yes, but game mechanics are cloudy for me and my DM.
What about monsters who have “multiattack?” Do you roll two attack rolls or one? Do they have to hit separate targets?
Each attack needs a separate attack roll (unless the text of a specific monster says otherwise).
As for whoo they can target, normally you/they choose for each attack separately but some monsters will have specific rules that override that. For example there are a few that does an attack that will auto-grab on a hit and then allows for a follow up to swallow the target, in such a case all three parts would be against one target.
What about monsters who have “multiattack?” Do you roll two attack rolls or one? Do they have to hit separate targets?
Multiattack is just a special action a monster has that does what it says and otherwise follows all other normal rules. If it lists 3 weapon attacks, it makes each of those attacks separately with their own attack and damage rolls as normal and can attack different targets and move between attacks.
In the case of a Lichen Lich from the stat block states, "Multiattack. The lich makes four attacks."
Does that mean the Lichen Lich can do any combination of Poisonous Touchwhich is a Melee Weapon Attackand/or Wither which is a Ranged Spell Attackas these are both "attacks"?
Follow-up question: Can a wizard counterspell the lich's Wither , and if so what level spell would Wither be considered?
In the case of a Lichen Lich from the stat block states, "Multiattack. The lich makes four attacks."
Does that mean the Lichen Lich can do any combination of Poisonous Touchwhich is a Melee Weapon Attackand/or Wither which is a Ranged Spell Attackas these are both "attacks"?
Yes. Exactly.
Follow-up question: Can a wizard counterspell the lich's Wither , and if so what level spell would Wither be considered?
No. Counterspell counters spells, not spell attacks. WotC didn't make the terminology easy by using the same word in different terms...
Horde Breaker: Once on each of your turns when you make a weapon Attack, you can make another Attack with the same weapon against a different creature that is within 5 feet of the original target and within range of your weapon.
Great Weapon Master: On your turn, when you score a critical hit with a melee weapon or reduce a creature to 0 hit points with one, you can make one melee weapon attack as a bonus action.
Can you choose which order to do your horde break? Let's say you are surrounded by 3 foes. 2 side by side and 1 behind you.
1 - In your first attack, you hit and kill one of the targets that were side by side (Within 5 feet of each other). Which triggers your horde break. So now there are only 2 foes standing.
2 - but instead of attacking with the same weapon against a different creature that is within 5 feet of the original target and within range of your weapon. You use your great weapon master ability to use your bonus action to attack the for that was behind you and not within 5 feet of another target.
3 - After the attack, the foe behind you and is not within 5 feet of another target, can you now choose to use your delayed horde break action on the other foe who during your first attack had another target beside them, but no longer does because you kill it with your first attack?
I would say that if you've declined to use your Horde Breaker ability when it's available, you've lost it; and that you would need to attack the foe within 5ft of the one you first hit in order to use it, prior to using the GWM ability.
I think of this ability in terms of swinging a mace and hitting two targets side by side, with the momentum of the weapon taking down two enemies. You couldn't hit one, put the mace away to attack another with a different weapon, then pull the mace out again and maintain momentum from the first swing. I believe this is why the Horde Breaker ability isn't classified as a bonus action or a second action - it's the same swing hitting two foes.
How I would potentially play this scenario as your DM would be to let you take the two attack rolls against the side-by-side foes. Then, if one was killed, allow you to take a bonus action to use GWM and make another attack.
Hm.. as long as I can remember we have always permitted the extra attack feature gained from multiclassing...they are after all spending the rest of their lifetime leveling up another class and their overall lvl is significantly higher..I'm having a hard time understanding why it would be prohibited.
Also, let's say a druid wildshapes into a creature with multi attack..the list of wildshape beasts is pretty weak and at higher levels is little more than an hp buffer. Taking 3 levels in fighter for extra attack wouldn't grant the wildshaped druid additional attacks? His bear form claws twice no matter what lvl... ew ..
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I always played magic classes, this is my first time with a fighter, can someone please explain how multiattack works? I have to spend my bonus to make it or it is just my main action that lets me do more than one strike?
Extra Attack (not Multiattack) lets you strike more than one time with your action only. Bonus action has nothing to do with it.
To give you more of a breakdown and expand your options:
I hope the info dump doesn't just confuse you.
The written text of Extra Attack does spell it out pretty well, most folks just gloss over it though. The text reads something like this:
"When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can attack twice instead of once."
Later on you'll get an enhanced version that will say "three times" or "four times" instead of "twice". The reason the feature is explicit("you can attack twice") instead of additive("you can make an additional attack") is because Extra Attack abilities from two different classes don't stack. If you're a 10th level character who is Fighter5/Barbarian5, you still only get to attack twice, even though you got Extra Attack from both classes.
So:
WHEN it's your turn, and WHEN you take the Attack action, you get to attack more than once. That's all there is to it. Extra Attack places no restrictions on whether the attacks have to be with the same weapon, and you can still use two-weapon fighting to make another attack with your Bonus Action. The rule about using Light weapons still applies, and the rule about using a different weapon for the Bonus Action attack just means if you used the same weapon for all your main attacks, you have to use a different one for the bonus attack. If your two main attacks were with different weapons, you can use either one of them again for your bonus attack.
What you CAN'T do is:
Attack twice when making an Attack Of Opportunity(you're using your reaction, not the Attack action)
Attack twice if you've Readied an attack(you used the Ready action on your turn, not Attack, you aren't attacking on your turn, and you're using your Reaction to attack)
Attack twice when casting Booming Blade(you're not using the Attack action, you're using the Cast A Spell action)
Attack twice with any other attack using a Bonus Action(like the butt-end attack from Polearm Master), or Reaction(like with Sentinel)
Also a fun thing is a grapple or shove counts as an attack, so when you take the attack action you can shove twice, or grapple once and attack once, or shove someone and than grapple them etc.
Sucks you can't do GFB or BB with extra attack. Guess I have to save GFB for enemies that are vulnerable to fire...
It would make crazy DPS fighter if it did though since the cantrips scales per lvl and fighter can get up to 3 extra attack
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
I'll say. A level 20 EK could do 12d8 spell damage plus weapon damage ×4 (let's say 8d6+20) to 1 target, and 16d8 damage to second target with 1 action, no resources used.
102 damage to primary target, and 72 damage to secondary target, and if the fighter also Action Surged that would double and be 204 to primary and 144 to secondary... Dang, and people think Sorlock is OP, granted Sorlock doesn't involve breaking rules but still.
Thanks for the clarification, how about as a Dragonborn, use a weapon on one attack and breath weapon on the second? The physical mechanics would suggest yes, but game mechanics are cloudy for me and my DM.
Your breath weapon uses your action so that would be no. You would attack or use your breath weapon.
What about monsters who have “multiattack?” Do you roll two attack rolls or one? Do they have to hit separate targets?
Each attack needs a separate attack roll (unless the text of a specific monster says otherwise).
As for whoo they can target, normally you/they choose for each attack separately but some monsters will have specific rules that override that. For example there are a few that does an attack that will auto-grab on a hit and then allows for a follow up to swallow the target, in such a case all three parts would be against one target.
Multiattack is just a special action a monster has that does what it says and otherwise follows all other normal rules. If it lists 3 weapon attacks, it makes each of those attacks separately with their own attack and damage rolls as normal and can attack different targets and move between attacks.
In the case of a Lichen Lich from the stat block states, "Multiattack. The lich makes four attacks."
Does that mean the Lichen Lich can do any combination of Poisonous Touch which is a Melee Weapon Attack and/or Wither which is a Ranged Spell Attack as these are both "attacks"?
Follow-up question: Can a wizard counterspell the lich's Wither , and if so what level spell would Wither be considered?
Yes. Exactly.
No. Counterspell counters spells, not spell attacks. WotC didn't make the terminology easy by using the same word in different terms...
Literally what I came here for
Didn't want to start a new thread as I was positive I wasn't the only person with this question 😅
Thanks for asking; needed the clarity as well
Hello
Horde Breaker: Once on each of your turns when you make a weapon Attack, you can make another Attack with the same weapon against a different creature that is within 5 feet of the original target and within range of your weapon.
Great Weapon Master: On your turn, when you score a critical hit with a melee weapon or reduce a creature to 0 hit points with one, you can make one melee weapon attack as a bonus action.
Can you choose which order to do your horde break? Let's say you are surrounded by 3 foes. 2 side by side and 1 behind you.
1 - In your first attack, you hit and kill one of the targets that were side by side (Within 5 feet of each other). Which triggers your horde break. So now there are only 2 foes standing.
2 - but instead of attacking with the same weapon against a different creature that is within 5 feet of the original target and within range of your weapon. You use your great weapon master ability to use your bonus action to attack the for that was behind you and not within 5 feet of another target.
3 - After the attack, the foe behind you and is not within 5 feet of another target, can you now choose to use your delayed horde break action on the other foe who during your first attack had another target beside them, but no longer does because you kill it with your first attack?
I hope I explained this correctly.
I would say that if you've declined to use your Horde Breaker ability when it's available, you've lost it; and that you would need to attack the foe within 5ft of the one you first hit in order to use it, prior to using the GWM ability.
I think of this ability in terms of swinging a mace and hitting two targets side by side, with the momentum of the weapon taking down two enemies. You couldn't hit one, put the mace away to attack another with a different weapon, then pull the mace out again and maintain momentum from the first swing. I believe this is why the Horde Breaker ability isn't classified as a bonus action or a second action - it's the same swing hitting two foes.
How I would potentially play this scenario as your DM would be to let you take the two attack rolls against the side-by-side foes. Then, if one was killed, allow you to take a bonus action to use GWM and make another attack.
Hm.. as long as I can remember we have always permitted the extra attack feature gained from multiclassing...they are after all spending the rest of their lifetime leveling up another class and their overall lvl is significantly higher..I'm having a hard time understanding why it would be prohibited.
Also, let's say a druid wildshapes into a creature with multi attack..the list of wildshape beasts is pretty weak and at higher levels is little more than an hp buffer. Taking 3 levels in fighter for extra attack wouldn't grant the wildshaped druid additional attacks? His bear form claws twice no matter what lvl... ew ..