Attack Roll

An attack roll is a roll to determine whether an attack made by a character or creature is successful in hitting its intended target. When a character or creature declares it is making an attack, the following steps typically occur:

1. Determine the possibility of attacking:

When you make an attack, the attack must:

• Be within range.
• Have a targetable concealment level.

When you make an attack, whether by weapon or spell, the target must be within a specified range. For melee attacks this range is usually between 1 to 3 meter, decided by their size (Light & One-Handed = 1 meter, Two-Handed = 2 meters, Great = 3 meters), while ranged attacks either has a specified maximum range, or two ranges. When an attack has two ranges, the lower number is the normal range and the higher number is the long range. Any attack at long range is done at disadvantage, and you are unable to attack above the long range or maximum range. Any ranged attack made within 2 meters of an opponent is made with disadvantage, as long as the creature is able to sense and target you, see concealment, and doesn't have disadvantage against you if they were to make an attack.

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, you automatically miss, but the GM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.

When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it. If you are hidden--both unseen and unheard--when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.

1. Roll a d20:

The attacker rolls a twenty-sided die.

• Advantage. If the attacker has one advantage or three advantages on the attack roll, the attacker rolls two or three d20s respectively, and takes the higher of the two or three.
• Disadvantage. If the attacker has one disadvantage or three disadvantages on the attack roll, the attacker rolls two or three d20s respectively, and takes the lower of the two or three.

2. Modifiers:

To the result of the d20 roll, the attacker adds relevant modifiers. These modifiers include:

• Proficiency Bonus. The character or creature adds their proficiency bonus if applicable. Spellcasting always adds their proficiency bonus.
• Ability Modifiers. Their relevant ability modifier (e.g., Strength for melee attacks, Dexterity for ranged attacks, or a spellcasting modifier for spell attacks).
• Bonus Modifiers. Any additional bonuses from magical weapons, class features, or other situational effects.
• Multiple Advantages. At your 2nd, 4th

The defender adds relevant temporary bonuses or situational effects to their AL, for example cover bonuses.

• Cover Bonus. There are three degrees of cover. If a target is behind multiple sources of cover, only the most protective degree of cover applies; the degrees aren't added together. For example, if a target is behind a creature that gives half cover and a tree trunk that gives three-quarters cover, the target has three-quarters cover.

Type of Covers

Cover	Details
Half Cover	+2 bonus to AL and Reflex saving throws. A target has half cover if an obstacle blocks at least half of its body. The obstacle might be a low wall, a large piece of furniture, a narrow tree trunk, or a creature, whether that creature is an enemy or a friend.
Three-quarters Cover	+5 bonus to AL and Reflex saving throws. A target has three-quarters cover if about three-quarters of it is covered by an obstacle. The obstacle might be a portcullis, an arrow slit, or a thick tree trunk.
Total Cover	Can't be targeted directly by an attack or a spell, although some spells can reach such a target by including it in an area of effect. A target has total cover if it is completely concealed by an obstacle.

3. Compare the Total to the target's Armor Level (AL)

The total result is compared to the Armor Level of the target. If the attacker's total is equal to or greater than the target's AC, the attack hits. If it's lower, the attack misses.

• Critical Success & Critical Failure

  If the attack exceeds or fails the DL by 10 or more, the attack is affected by either a critical success or a critical failure. Additionally, when rolling a natural 20 or a natural 1, the attack results in an increased or decreased degree of success or failure respectively. This usually results in a critical success or critical failure.

4. Roll for Damage

If the attack hits, the attacker typically rolls dice to determine the amount of damage dealt. The type and number of dice rolled depend on the weapon, spell, or attack being used.

• Critical Success & Critical Failure

  If the attack is a critical success, i.e. a critical hit, the damage is doubled after all positive modifiers have been applied.

An example might be a warrior trying to hit an enemy goblin with a sword. The player would roll a d20, add their proficiency bonus and Strength modifier (if it's a melee attack), and compare the total to the goblin's AC. If the result is equal to or greater than the goblin's AC, the attack is successful, and the player would then roll damage dice to determine how much damage is dealt to the goblin.

Melee Attacks PHB p195 [–] Used in hand-to-hand combat, a melee attack allows you to attack a foe within your reach. A melee attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee attack.

Most creatures have a 5-foot reach and can thus attack targets within 5 feet of them when making a melee attack. Certain creatures (typically those larger than Medium) have melee attacks with a greater reach than 5 feet, as noted in their descriptions.

Instead of using a weapon to make a melee weapon attack, you can use an unarmed strike: a punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow (none of which count as weapons). On a hit, an unarmed strike deals bludgeoning damage equal to 1 + your Strength modifier. You are proficient with your unarmed strikes.

Contests in Combat PHB p195 [–] Battle often involves pitting your prowess against that of your foe. Such a challenge is represented by a contest. This section includes the most common contests that require an action in combat: grappling and shoving a creature. The DM can use these contests as models for improvising others.

Common Modifiers

• Ability Modifier.
  • Strength is used for melee cleaving, splitting and bludgeoning attack and damage rolls.
    Dexterity is used for melee slashing and piercing attack and damage rolls, as well as ranged attack rolls (including throwing).
  • Draw strength determines the added ranged damage for drawn and loaded weapons, while the melee ability modifier (Strength or Dexterity) determines the thrown weapons added damage (i.e. a thrown bludgeoning weapon uses strength, while a piercing dagger will use Dexterity).
  • The ability modifier used for a spells depends on the Spellcasting ability of the spellcaster.
• Proficiency Bonus. You add your proficiency bonus to your attack roll when you attack using a weapon with which you have proficiency, as well as when you attack with a spell.
• Cover. Walls, trees, creatures, and other obstacles can provide cover during combat, making a target more difficult to harm. A target can benefit from cover only when an attack or other effect originates on the opposite side of the cover.