I have a question regarding the redirecting of attacks that the Mounted Combatant feat is able to provide. As a reminder, the wording goes as follows: "You can force an attack targeted at your mount to target you instead."
My question here is whether or not this would apply to non-aoe save spells, such as Toll the Dead and Sacred Flame, or would this benefit only apply to attack rolls. If the latter is the correct interpretation, then how is one meant to keep the mount alive (Assuming it's one of the non-magical basic options, such as horses)?
Attack rolls only. Another part of the feat does grant them evasion on Dex Saves.
To truly be a mounted warrior, you need one of the abilities to summon mounts, such as those given by the paladin spell Find Steed/Find Greater Steed or the ranger subclass abilities.
Whether you're striking with a melee weapon, firing a weapon at range, or making an attack roll as part of a spell, an attack has a simple structure.
1. Choose a target. Pick a target within your attack's range: a creature, an object, or a location.
2. Determine modifiers. The DM determines whether the target has cover and whether you have advantage or disadvantage against the target. In addition, spells, special abilities, and other effects can apply penalties or bonuses to your attack roll.
3. Resolve the attack. You make the attack roll. On a hit, you roll damage, unless the particular attack has rules that specify otherwise. Some attacks cause special effects in addition to or instead of damage.
If there's ever any question whether something you're doing counts as an attack, the rule is simple: if you're making an attack roll, you're making an attack.
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I started playing D&D from the basic box set in 1979.
If the latter is the correct interpretation, then how is one meant to keep the mount alive (Assuming it's one of the non-magical basic options, such as horses)?
Standard mounts don’t stay alive for long, is the unfortunate answer. Especially after you hit tier 2. If you’re trying to use them in combat, they’re just too fragile. Even with the feat (which I don’t like, but that’s another story) they lack the saves and hp. Maybe they’re ok against dex saves, but there’s plenty of con save out there, or wisdom saves, or aura effects. Mounts are good for traveling and getting places faster, but dismount before the fight if you want it to live.
If you have a kind DM, you could see about using sidekick rules, or letting their hit points scale with your level, similar to a drakewarden ranger or the like.
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Hello,
I have a question regarding the redirecting of attacks that the Mounted Combatant feat is able to provide. As a reminder, the wording goes as follows: "You can force an attack targeted at your mount to target you instead."
My question here is whether or not this would apply to non-aoe save spells, such as Toll the Dead and Sacred Flame, or would this benefit only apply to attack rolls. If the latter is the correct interpretation, then how is one meant to keep the mount alive (Assuming it's one of the non-magical basic options, such as horses)?
Attack rolls only. Another part of the feat does grant them evasion on Dex Saves.
To truly be a mounted warrior, you need one of the abilities to summon mounts, such as those given by the paladin spell Find Steed/Find Greater Steed or the ranger subclass abilities.
Thanks for the clarification!
Making an Attack
Whether you're striking with a melee weapon, firing a weapon at range, or making an attack roll as part of a spell, an attack has a simple structure.
1. Choose a target. Pick a target within your attack's range: a creature, an object, or a location.
2. Determine modifiers. The DM determines whether the target has cover and whether you have advantage or disadvantage against the target. In addition, spells, special abilities, and other effects can apply penalties or bonuses to your attack roll.
3. Resolve the attack. You make the attack roll. On a hit, you roll damage, unless the particular attack has rules that specify otherwise. Some attacks cause special effects in addition to or instead of damage.
If there's ever any question whether something you're doing counts as an attack, the rule is simple: if you're making an attack roll, you're making an attack.
I started playing D&D from the basic box set in 1979.
Standard mounts don’t stay alive for long, is the unfortunate answer. Especially after you hit tier 2. If you’re trying to use them in combat, they’re just too fragile. Even with the feat (which I don’t like, but that’s another story) they lack the saves and hp. Maybe they’re ok against dex saves, but there’s plenty of con save out there, or wisdom saves, or aura effects. Mounts are good for traveling and getting places faster, but dismount before the fight if you want it to live.
If you have a kind DM, you could see about using sidekick rules, or letting their hit points scale with your level, similar to a drakewarden ranger or the like.