I've come across a few 5e monsters with one or more legendary actions with the note "costs two actions." (Example: Vampire) I've been interpreting this to mean it costs two legendary actions, meaning the monster doesn't get a legendary action during the next round. The MM doesn't mention this, at least not in the section on legendary actions, so I'm wondering if others interpret this the same way or if I'm missing something obvious.
Legendary creatures typically have 3 legendary actions to spend each round (I've yet to see one with a different number.) If an option costs 2 actions, that means using that option costs 2 points instead of 1. Assuming they haven't taken any other legendary actions that round, they'd have 1 left.
Wow. I have been reading that wrong. I was reading "Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn." to mean one per round. Thanks! That clears it up! I'm glad I asked.
A round is what happens when every one takes a turn.
It's an important distinction for rogues as well, they can only sneak attack once per turn. Which means that the first time they hit on their turn, they can sneak attack. Then, is an enemy provokes an attack of opportunity from the rogue, he can sneak attack again, because it's a different turn, even though it might be the same round.
If you think about it, you always ask "whose turn is it", not "what round is it", so that's easy to remember ;)
I've come across a few 5e monsters with one or more legendary actions with the note "costs two actions." (Example: Vampire) I've been interpreting this to mean it costs two legendary actions, meaning the monster doesn't get a legendary action during the next round. The MM doesn't mention this, at least not in the section on legendary actions, so I'm wondering if others interpret this the same way or if I'm missing something obvious.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.
If it helps, think of the Legendary Actions as "points", kinda like a Monk's Ki Points. Let's take your Vampire example. They get 3 "points", any spend points regenerate at the start of the vampire's turn. At the end of any other creature's turn, the Vampire has an opportunity to spend points to perform one of the actions specified. Each of the actions by default costs one point, some actions specify that they cost two points. So let's say the Vampire has taken its turn, and has 3 points available. After you take your turn, it uses 2 points to make a bite attack. After that your companion takes their turn. After their turn, the Vampire could use its remaining point to move without drawing Opportunity Attacks, or it could make an Unarmed Strike, but it couldn't make another Bite attack because it only has one point left and Bite requires two. When the Vampire's next turn starts, it goes back to having 3 points, regardless of how many it still had remaining from the previous round.
Sorry to necro this post, but does this mean an Adult Red Dragon can do 3 tail attacks, followed by their standard multiattack of 1 bite and 2 claws, tail*, frightful presence or fire breath?
Sorry to necro this post, but does this mean an Adult Red Dragon can do 3 tail attacks, followed by their standard multiattack of 1 bite and 2 claws, tail*, frightful presence or fire breath?
Not all in one turn. On its turn it can multiattack, use a breath weapon, use frightful presence, or hypothetically make a single tail attack (though the tail attack exists almost exclusively for the LE’s). Then, at the end of the next three turns, it could make one additional tail attack.
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I've come across a few 5e monsters with one or more legendary actions with the note "costs two actions." (Example: Vampire) I've been interpreting this to mean it costs two legendary actions, meaning the monster doesn't get a legendary action during the next round. The MM doesn't mention this, at least not in the section on legendary actions, so I'm wondering if others interpret this the same way or if I'm missing something obvious.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.
Recently returned to D&D after 20+ years.
Unapologetic.
Legendary creatures typically have 3 legendary actions to spend each round (I've yet to see one with a different number.) If an option costs 2 actions, that means using that option costs 2 points instead of 1. Assuming they haven't taken any other legendary actions that round, they'd have 1 left.
Wow. I have been reading that wrong. I was reading "Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn." to mean one per round. Thanks! That clears it up! I'm glad I asked.
I appreciate it.
Recently returned to D&D after 20+ years.
Unapologetic.
A round is what happens when every one takes a turn.
It's an important distinction for rogues as well, they can only sneak attack once per turn. Which means that the first time they hit on their turn, they can sneak attack. Then, is an enemy provokes an attack of opportunity from the rogue, he can sneak attack again, because it's a different turn, even though it might be the same round.
If you think about it, you always ask "whose turn is it", not "what round is it", so that's easy to remember ;)
Click to learn to put cool-looking tooltips in your messages!
If it helps, think of the Legendary Actions as "points", kinda like a Monk's Ki Points. Let's take your Vampire example. They get 3 "points", any spend points regenerate at the start of the vampire's turn. At the end of any other creature's turn, the Vampire has an opportunity to spend points to perform one of the actions specified. Each of the actions by default costs one point, some actions specify that they cost two points. So let's say the Vampire has taken its turn, and has 3 points available. After you take your turn, it uses 2 points to make a bite attack. After that your companion takes their turn. After their turn, the Vampire could use its remaining point to move without drawing Opportunity Attacks, or it could make an Unarmed Strike, but it couldn't make another Bite attack because it only has one point left and Bite requires two. When the Vampire's next turn starts, it goes back to having 3 points, regardless of how many it still had remaining from the previous round.
Sorry to necro this post, but does this mean an Adult Red Dragon can do 3 tail attacks, followed by their standard multiattack of 1 bite and 2 claws, tail*, frightful presence or fire breath?
Not all in one turn. On its turn it can multiattack, use a breath weapon, use frightful presence, or hypothetically make a single tail attack (though the tail attack exists almost exclusively for the LE’s). Then, at the end of the next three turns, it could make one additional tail attack.