Explain Stealth attacks to Me

[hoot hoot]

I don't understand this game's stealth system in combat. Primarily, why is it I can have a character in stealth and not seen by any enemy, yet I cannot use "Sneak Attack"? The game says I "cannot have disadvantage against an enemy", yet there is no disadvantage displayed and I don't know why I can't use the attack?

Additionally, how does the Assassin and Gloomstalker's abilities work? The descriptions seem to suggest I can attack from stealth and then attack again when combat starts, yet this doesn't always seem to be the case. I don't understand why.

EDIT: Figured it out, partially. I did have disadvantage. "Outside normal Range" was the issue, but you don't get that disadvantage indicator unless you target the enemy with the regular ranged attack. Bug or oversight, it's kind of annoying.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE:

Explain Stealth attacks to Me
I don't understand this game's stealth system in combat. Primarily, why is it I can have a character in stealth and not seen by any enemy, yet I cannot use "Sneak Attack"? The game says I "cannot have disadvantage against an enemy", yet there is no disadvantage displayed and I don't know why I can't use the attack?

Additionally, how does the Assassin and Gloomstalker's abilities work? The descriptions seem to suggest I can attack from stealth and then attack again when combat starts, yet this doesn't always seem to be the case. I don't understand why.

Stealth gives you advantage. If you do not get advantage the stealth failed, which could be because the target has the alert feat. Special stealth attacks are basically attacks which requires advantage and put special modifiers on top.

The moment you execute an attack is the moment you entered combat at the first turn after you used your action. That means if it is applicable you can still use bonus actions like e.g. offhand attack.

[zombygunner]

yeah you cant hide and think the act of hiding is the advantage to get a sneak attack. In other words you cant just pull up and get a sneak attack

[Noctoculus]

Originally posted by SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE:

Additionally, how does the Assassin and Gloomstalker's abilities work? The descriptions seem to suggest I can attack from stealth and then attack again when combat starts, yet this doesn't always seem to be the case. I don't understand why.

This part might be bugged occasionally. Some people say the stealthed Rogue has to initiate combat from stealth, as in not be sneaking around after another party member already rolls initiative.

I've seen this both work and not work at times. I've also had other classes initiate combat and get their actions refunded on their first turn. So... who knows.

[cfehunter]

This normally means they have high ground or they're too far away. To sneak attack you need advantage, which hiding gives you, but it'll be cancelled out by disadvantage.
You get disadvantage for being out of normal range or being on low ground compared to your target.

[zombygunner]

not true in my case at all. i could be invisible and sneaking outside of the red circle and still not be able to get a sneak attack until after battle already starts

[zombygunner]

then i get the attack

[party 4 u]

It's pretty unlikely you'll ever get Sneak Attack off by just hiding in combat. I recommend using the feature of having an ally in melee range to use Sneak Attack or giving yourself a way to get advantage such as blinding them.

[Noctoculus]

Originally posted by Nod if Top:

It's pretty unlikely you'll ever get Sneak Attack off by just hiding in combat. I recommend using the feature of having an ally in melee range to use Sneak Attack or giving yourself a way to get advantage such as blinding them.

Rogues can hide as a bonus action and as long as they are partially obscured, you can easily hide right in front of enemies.

[Wither]

Do press "Shift" before try to enter sneak.
Don't sneak in red zone, it is enemy view range, unless you feel competence enough or have free bonus action to spare. You cannot see unreveal/hiding enemy view range.

[zombygunner]

yup you just cant sneak attack them when ever you want to is the thing this isnt skyrim where you you can sneak and it auto counts as advantage to sneak attack right?

[zombygunner]

so hide in the red circle...got it thanks

[zombygunner]

lol

[guard65]

One useful combat method, is when facing one enemy (possible with but much harder with more) in close quarters events. Have your tank on one side of an enemy attack then use your rogue on the other side to bonus action 'hide' since they are looking the other way, then sneak attack from behind. Rinse and repeat.

[party 4 u]

Originally posted by Noctoculus:

Originally posted by Nod if Top:

It's pretty unlikely you'll ever get Sneak Attack off by just hiding in combat. I recommend using the feature of having an ally in melee range to use Sneak Attack or giving yourself a way to get advantage such as blinding them.

Rogues can hide as a bonus action and as long as they are partially obscured, you can easily hide right in front of enemies.

Just takes one unlucky sneak roll to mess up your whole turn. While you *can* hide it's often just more reliable to do the other ways to enable sneak attack most of the time.