before both diffusing combatants roll - Search

Fensir Devourer

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or have the prone condition. After the fensir throws the boulder, roll a d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType":"roll", "rollAction":"Boulder"}; on a roll

appearance. They retain prominent noses and a hint of green in their skin but otherwise resemble relatively small frost or stone giants. They use armor and weapons similar to what other combatants on Ysgard

Initiative Legacy

Rules

rolls for monsters.Surprise. If a combatant is surprised by combat starting, that combatant has Disadvantage on their Initiative roll. For example, if an ambusher starts combat while hidden from a

foe who is unaware that combat is starting, that foe is surprised.Initiative Order. A combatant's check total is called their Initiative count, or Initiative for short. The DM ranks the combatants, from

Initiative

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

Initiative Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. The combat rules in “Playing the Game” explain how to roll Initiative. Sometimes a DM might have combatants use their Initiative

Initiative

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

roll for an entire group of identical creatures, so each member of the group acts at the same time. The DM ranks the combatants in order from the one with the highest Dexterity check total to the one

can have the tied characters and monsters each roll a d20 to determine the order, highest roll going first.

Initiative

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

Initiative Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. The combat rules in chapter 1 explain how to roll Initiative. Sometimes a DM might have combatants use their Initiative scores

Initiative

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

roll for an entire group of identical creatures, so each member of the group acts at the same time. The DM ranks the combatants in order from the one with the highest Dexterity check total to the one

can have the tied characters and monsters each roll a d20 to determine the order, highest roll going first.

Strahd von Zarovich

Monsters Curse of Strahd

/Day). Strahd magically calls 2d4;{"diceNotation":"2d4","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Children of the Night"} swarm of bats;swarms of bats or swarm of rats;swarms of rats, provided that the sun isn

’t up. While outdoors, Strahd can call 3d6;{"diceNotation":"3d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Children of the Night"} wolf;wolves instead. The called creatures arrive in 1d4;{"diceNotation":"1d4

Unseen Attackers and Targets

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

Unseen Attackers and Targets Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness. When you attack a target that you can't see, you have

disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn't in the location you targeted

The Order of Combat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the DM figures out where the adversaries are--how far away and in what direction. 3. Roll initiative. Everyone involved in the combat

encounter rolls initiative, determining the order of combatants' turns. 4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in initiative order. 5. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends. Repeat step 4 until the fighting stops.

Handling Mobs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

forgoing attack rolls in favor of approximating the average number of hits a large group of monsters can inflict on a target. Instead of rolling an attack roll, determine the minimum d20 roll a creature

needs in order to hit a target by subtracting its attack bonus from the target’s AC. You’ll need to refer to the result throughout the battle, so it’s best to write it down. Look up the minimum d20 roll

Sahuagin Warrior

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

Sahuagin Warrior Sahuagin warriors are vicious combatants that savage their foes with webbed claws. Once sahuagin draw blood, they usually attack until either they or their foe is slain. Sahuagin

itself, using a special telepathy. Actions Multiattack. The sahuagin makes two Claw attacks. Claw. Melee Attack Roll: +3, reach 5 ft. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) Slashing damage. Bonus Actions Aquatic Charge. The sahuagin swims up to its Swim Speed straight toward an enemy it can see.

The Order of Combat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the DM figures out where the adversaries are — how far away and in what direction. Roll initiative. Everyone involved in the combat

encounter rolls initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in initiative order. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends. Repeat step 4 until the fighting stops.

Making an Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

chapter. If the d20 roll for an attack is a 1, the attack misses regardless of any modifiers or the target’s AC. Unseen Attackers and Targets Combatants often try to escape their foes’ notice by

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. Choose a target. Pick a

Arena Battles

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

the spectacle to come. Vocath acknowledges the throng from his private balcony. The characters have 1 minute to prepare before the first challenge begins. The characters roll initiative at the start

of each match, and they have no time to rest between matches. Victory in a match goes to the side that reduces all combatants on the other side to 0 hit points. Match 1: Thrasher and Gnasher Two

Keeping Combat Moving

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide

their foes, or it might join one side or the other. Each time one or more new combatants join the encounter, roll Initiative for them and weave them into the Initiative order. Change the Terrain Consider

changing a battle’s terrain to introduce a new element and give combatants reasons to move around. Perhaps a powerful attack or an explosive spell topples a column, shatters a wall, or breaks up the

The Order of Combat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

adversaries are—how far away and in what direction. Roll Initiative. Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls Initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns. Take Turns. Each participant in the

identical creatures, the DM makes a single roll, so each member of the group has the same Initiative. Surprise. If a combatant is surprised by combat starting, that combatant has Disadvantage on their

The Order of Combat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

adversaries are—how far away and in what direction. Roll Initiative. Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls Initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns. Take Turns. Each participant in the

identical creatures, the DM makes a single roll, so each member of the group has the same Initiative. Surprise. If a combatant is surprised by combat starting, that combatant has Disadvantage on their

Tracking Initiative

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

of paper behind a DM screen or a spreadsheet on a tablet computer. This method allows you to keep track of combatants who haven’t been revealed yet, and you can use the initiative list as a place to

’ index cards. Do the same when you roll the monsters’ initiative. Then arrange the cards in order from highest to lowest. Starting at the top, you move down through the stack. When you call out the name

Tavern Brawl

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

before you can see if blood is drawn, a crowd of spectators clusters around the brawl. What do you do? The human combatants are five members of the Xanathar Guild (CE human bandits). The one with

fights for her pride. Getting Involved If the characters choose to join the fray, have everyone roll initiative. But the fight is almost over by the time they push through the rowdy spectators

Death Knight

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

Death Knight Death knights are deadly combatants and domineering commanders with grim histories. Some strive to end the curses that doom them to undeath, though their selfish souls eternally shackle

three Dread Blade attacks. Dread Blade. Melee Attack Roll: +11, reach 5 ft. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) Slashing damage plus 13 (3d8) Necrotic damage. Hellfire Orb (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC

Action Options

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

ability to use. Disarm A creature can use a weapon attack to knock a weapon or another item from a target’s grasp. The attacker makes an attack roll contested by the target’s Strength (Athletics) check

or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect, but the defender drops the item. The attacker has disadvantage on its attack roll if

Battle of High Hill

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

-turning conflicts. At the edge of each mapped battlefield encounter and beyond is a region called the Fray. The Fray is an interpretation of the dangers of combat, from clashing combatants to

. The 15-foot-wide area marked by the design at the edge of the map represents dozens of clashing combatants. This area and the battlefield beyond the map are difficult terrain. A creature that enters

Attacking the Citadel

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

the start of the encounter. Given the number of ships and combatants on both sides, it is impractical to track everyone’s movements and actions. Instead, narrow the focus of the conflict to the

determine the political leanings of another star moth’s crew, roll a d6. On a roll of 1–3, the crew is loyal to Xeleth. On a roll of 4–6, the crew is loyal to Xedalli. Regardless of a crew’s loyalty, no ship

Combat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium

, initiative is rolled as normal. Then, the first round of combat starts, and the unsurprised combatants act in initiative order. A surprised creature can’t move or take an action or a reaction until its

sides. What happens with surprise when a third group of combatants sneaks up, hidden from the melee, and ambushes? The surprise rule is relevant only when a combat is starting. Any ambushes during the

Running Combat

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

only when—you say it does. Some characters have abilities that trigger on an Initiative roll; you, not the players, decide if and when Initiative is rolled. A high-level Barbarian can’t just punch their

Paladin friend and roll Initiative to regain expended uses of Rage. In any situation where a character’s actions initiate combat, you can give the acting character Advantage on their Initiative roll

Smuggler

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

often. You can roll on the following table to determine your claim or choose one that best fits your character. d6 Accomplishment 1 Spirit of the Whale. You smuggled stolen dwarven spirits in the

cart filled with stolen art through the middle of a battlefield while singing sea shanties to confuse the combatants. 3 The Recruit. You enlisted in another nation’s navy for the purpose of smuggling

Fensirs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

resemble relatively small frost or stone giants. They use armor and weapons similar to what other combatants on Ysgard use in the eternal battle. The transformation that created fensirs left them with an

throws the boulder, roll a d6; on a roll of 4 or lower, the fensir has no more boulders to throw. Fensir Skirmisher Fensir skirmishers boast great skill in battle, honed over centuries of endless

Military Force

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

rigidly ordered force or a blood-soaked throng. Roll or pick from the Military Force Types table to determine the general type of military patron you serve. Military Force Types d6 Military

responsible for your success or failure. Roll or pick from the Commanding Officer table to determine who assigns you missions. Commanding Officer d6 Officer 1 Tested Veteran. Your commander is a battle

Strahd von Zarovich

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

the most advantageous position. Strahd knows when he’s in over his head. If he begins taking more damage than he can regenerate, he moves beyond the reach of melee combatants and spellcasters, or he

appears in a location other than his tomb or the place indicated by the card reading, roll a d20 and consult the Strahd’s Minions table to determine what creatures he brings with him, if any. Strahd’s

Ooze Grottos

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5

the end of its next turn, and it can’t benefit from bonuses to speed during that time. If an ooze prod is used as a weapon, it breaks the first time a natural 1 is rolled on an attack roll with it

longer immune to being charmed. Augmentation Chambers The magic of these chambers allows Thayans to bestow glimmers of intelligence into living oozes, making them obedient and more capable combatants

Landro Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

yet, Glaive and one of her blade scout companions attack the characters from both ends of this narrow tunnel. After all combatants have taken a turn, the attackers flee into Landro and hide for another

from the pool. Drinking from it exposes a creature to graymatter fluid (see the “Graymatter Fluid” section earlier in this chapter). When a nonmagical item is dipped into the pool, roll on the

Duergar

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse

turns to take the Hide action. Duergar Soulblade Soulblades are duergar combatants whose mastery of psionics allows them to manifest blades of psychic energy to slice apart their foes. Duergar

available. Reactions Scouring Instruction. When an ally that the duergar can see makes a d20 roll, the duergar can roll a d6, and the ally can add the number rolled to the d20 by taking 3 (1d6) psychic

21. Azrok's Hold

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

emanating from within. Sleeping in a pile to the north are twelve goblins. Their weapons and shields lie in a heap to the south. The goblins are reluctant combatants, easily intimidated by shows of

trinket (roll on the Trinkets table in chapter 5 of the Player’s Handbook). 21p. Arch Gate to Level 6 Embedded in the west wall of this otherwise empty chamber is an arch gate to level 6 (see “Gates

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