What exactly constitutes a "disadvantage"?

[Sciophyte]

Several times now my rogue was in hiding, had a height advantage, and was within normal range—but when I tried to launch a sneak attack at range, I got a message saying "Can't have a disadvantage over the target." What am I missing?

[doublejesus]

When you mouse over the enemy(during an attack) there will be various things listed under their name showing which variables are effecting the attack, the most common is "outside normal range". Basically theres a range where you can attack still but it's very far so your accuracy suffers, you need to move closer to fix this.

[Sciophyte]

Thanks... I think I noticed that one, but there seems to be some other condition that I might be overlooking.

[Ronin Gamer]

Sneak attack isn't based on advantage/disadvantage per say. You should be able to sneak attack so long as you are hiding and out of view of the opponent or one of your allies is next to the opponent engaged in combat, basically distracting them which gives you your opening.
I don't play rogue much so I may be missing a piece of that equation, but I think that's how it works.

[Sciophyte]

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

Sneak attack isn't based on advantage/disadvantage per say. You should be able to sneak attack so long as you are hiding and out of view of the opponent or one of your allies is next to the opponent engaged in combat, basically distracting them which gives you your opening.

Oh? Maybe that's what I'm missing... the game seems so much in favor of ranged combat that my melee allies rarely are next to the enemy—everybody is shooting (cross)bows or hurling spells...

[TripSin]

I haven't been using a rogue on my first playthrough so I'm not very familiar, but yes, sneak attack IS based on advantage and disadvantage - unless you are next to both the enemy and an ally, then you don't need advantage (don't know though if having disadvantage will negate the flanking bonus).

This is from a reddit post 3 years ago so they may not be still true:

Sources of disadvantage:
Making a ranged attack while an enemy is near you (called "Threatened" in BG3)

Attacking a prone enemy with a ranged attack

Attacking somebody affected by a spell like Blur

Attacking an enemy you can't see (in a fog cloud, darkness, or you are blind)

Attacking an enemy beyond the normal range of your ranged weapons. For example, a shortbow can attack enemies within 320 feet. But anything beyond 80 feet will have disadvantage

Using a heavy weapon (greatsword, heavy crossbow, etc.) as a small race (halfling, gnome). Dwarves are NOT a small race.

Not D&D 5e official but in the game: Attacking an enemy in dim light.

One good way to get around this is to use a cantrip like dancing lights in the area around your target covered in darkness

Not D&D 5e official but in the game: Making a ranged attack on an enemy who is higher up than you

[Ronin Gamer]

Originally posted by Sciophyte:

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

Sneak attack isn't based on advantage/disadvantage per say. You should be able to sneak attack so long as you are hiding and out of view of the opponent or one of your allies is next to the opponent engaged in combat, basically distracting them which gives you your opening.

Oh? Maybe that's what I'm missing... the game seems so much in favor of ranged combat that my melee allies rarely are next to the enemy.

yes, if you had a melee character next to an opponent so they were in each others attack of opp range then you should be able to perform a sneak attack on them.
Also being higher than your opponent doesn't give you advantage. It did at one point in EA, but now it just gives you a higher chance to hit on your hit dice.

[Sciophyte]

Thanks, TripSin... that ought to cover all scenarios.

[doublejesus]

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

Sneak attack isn't based on advantage/disadvantage per say. You should be able to sneak attack so long as you are hiding and out of view of the opponent or one of your allies is next to the opponent engaged in combat, basically distracting them which gives you your opening.
I don't play rogue much so I may be missing a piece of that equation, but I think that's how it works.

Nope sneak attack is literally based off advantage, you want easy sneak attack, have two martials in range of an enemy, automatic advantage without stealth.

[Sciophyte]

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

Originally posted by Sciophyte:

Oh? Maybe that's what I'm missing... the game seems so much in favor of ranged combat that my melee allies rarely are next to the enemy.

yes, if you had a melee character next to an opponent so they were in each others attack of opp range then you should be able to perform a sneak attack on them.
Also being higher than your opponent doesn't give you advantage. It did at one point in EA, but now it just gives you a higher chance to hit on your hit dice.

I'm pretty sure that's it, then. Thanks!

[Ronin Gamer]

Originally posted by doublejesus:

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

Sneak attack isn't based on advantage/disadvantage per say. You should be able to sneak attack so long as you are hiding and out of view of the opponent or one of your allies is next to the opponent engaged in combat, basically distracting them which gives you your opening.
I don't play rogue much so I may be missing a piece of that equation, but I think that's how it works.

Nope sneak attack is literally based off advantage, you want easy sneak attack, have two martials in range of an enemy, automatic advantage without stealth.

Then my mistake, apologies. Not a big rogue player. My guess is the OP was assuming you still got advantage from being higher than the opponent like the start of EA had it then.

[Sciophyte]

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

Originally posted by doublejesus:

Nope sneak attack is literally based off advantage, you want easy sneak attack, have two martials in range of an enemy, automatic advantage without stealth.

Then my mistake, apologies. Not a big rogue player. My guess is the OP was assuming you still got advantage from being higher than the opponent like the start of EA had it then.

Yes, I was. Or, more precisely, I didn't assume you could have a disadvantage being on higher ground.

[Korelis]

"Advantage" and "disadvantage" refer to a specific mechanic, where you roll two dice and take the better/worse value. Things like high ground give you a bonus, but that's distinct from the "advantage" mechanic. In early access I think high/low ground did give advantage/disadvantage, so you might see old posts talking about that, but that's not the case now.

When you look at the list of modifiers under the enemy health bar when targeting them, you'll see a green + next to high ground. Advantage/disadvantage will instead have an icon of two dice where that + is.

[Hobocop]

You can't have Disadvantage (red dice) AT ALL for Sneak Attack to function, even if you satisfy the other requirements, and simply having allies near the target won't negate this.

Having Advantage (green dice) at the same time will cancel out any Disadvantage you may have, though, giving you a straight roll, and at that point, adjacent allies threatening the target will satisfy the conditions for Sneak Attack.

[Sciophyte]

Originally posted by Korelis:

"Advantage" and "disadvantage" refer to a specific mechanic, where you roll two dice and take the better/worse value. Things like high ground give you a bonus, but that's distinct from the "advantage" mechanic. In early access I think high/low ground did give advantage/disadvantage, so you might see old posts talking about that, but that's not the case now.

When you look at the list of modifiers under the enemy health bar when targeting them, you'll see a green + next to high ground. Advantage/disadvantage will instead have an icon of two dice where that + is.

And the source of the disadvantage is the lack of allies engaging the enemy at close range? Am I getting this right?

[Korelis]

Originally posted by Sciophyte:

And the source of the disadvantage is the lack of allies engaging the enemy at close range? Am I getting this right?

No, allies at close range is unrelated to advantage or disadvantage, it's just an alternate way of allowing sneak attacks when you don't have advantage.

Disadvantage will also show up under the health bar when targeting enemies, the same icon of two dice, but in red instead of green.