So, we have been playing a campaign where the party has not faced too many enemies all at once. I want to understand if my character a rogue can easily flank in these situations and gain advantage. So, when me and another member are engaging a monster in front of us. I believe my rogue can disengage - with no attack of opportunity (bonus action) run behind the monster (movement) and attack with advantage and sneak attack (flanking)?
Do I have this right? Basically, the danger is when there are multiple monsters that would then flank me?
You don't need to disengage to move around a monster to get into flanking position. Opportunity attacks only trigger when you leave a creatures reach. If you move around a creature from in front of it to flanking position without leaving its reach, you won't get opportunity attacked.
Additionally, rogues don't need advantage to get sneak attack, they can also get it under the following circumstances:
You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
So standing in front of the enemy next to your ally would also give you sneak attack.
awesome! thanks. the last time, i played was 3.5 in high school
I think the key point which Saga mentioned is that flanking is an optional rule only present in the DMG in 5e. Most DMs I know don't play with it since it makes combat more deadly since advantage becomes much more frequent. This can be bad for the party since opponents will also be able to flank and in some encounters the PCs will be outnumbered. Flanking also tends to reduce the significance of features like pack tactics. So, check with your DM if they use the flanking rules.
I think the key point which Saga mentioned is that flanking is an optional rule only present in the DMG in 5e. Most DMs I know don't play with it since it makes combat more deadly since advantage becomes much more frequent. This can be bad for the party since opponents will also be able to flank and in some encounters the PCs will be outnumbered. Flanking also tends to reduce the significance of features like pack tactics. So, check with your DM if they use the flanking rules.
Every game I have ever played has used it. It would be interesting to play a game without it and see if advantage on attack rolls truly happens a lot less often and what that does to the way combat works.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Not all those who wander are lost"
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So, we have been playing a campaign where the party has not faced too many enemies all at once. I want to understand if my character a rogue can easily flank in these situations and gain advantage. So, when me and another member are engaging a monster in front of us. I believe my rogue can disengage - with no attack of opportunity (bonus action) run behind the monster (movement) and attack with advantage and sneak attack (flanking)?
Do I have this right? Basically, the danger is when there are multiple monsters that would then flank me?
thanks
You don't need to disengage to move around a monster to get into flanking position. Opportunity attacks only trigger when you leave a creatures reach. If you move around a creature from in front of it to flanking position without leaving its reach, you won't get opportunity attacked.
Additionally, rogues don't need advantage to get sneak attack, they can also get it under the following circumstances:
So standing in front of the enemy next to your ally would also give you sneak attack.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Also realize that flanking is an optional rule and that your DM may not use it.
Very true. You should determine this upfront so that you know whether to find a different group to play with or not.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
awesome! thanks. the last time, i played was 3.5 in high school
I think the key point which Saga mentioned is that flanking is an optional rule only present in the DMG in 5e. Most DMs I know don't play with it since it makes combat more deadly since advantage becomes much more frequent. This can be bad for the party since opponents will also be able to flank and in some encounters the PCs will be outnumbered. Flanking also tends to reduce the significance of features like pack tactics. So, check with your DM if they use the flanking rules.
Every game I have ever played has used it. It would be interesting to play a game without it and see if advantage on attack rolls truly happens a lot less often and what that does to the way combat works.
"Not all those who wander are lost"