Sneak Attacks
Quick guide and rules summary
How Sneak Attack works
In specific situations, on a successful hit - add your Sneak Attack Damage to your weapon damage
When can you Sneak Attack?
-
When you have advantage to attack
-
When your target has another enemy within 5', that enemy isn't incapacitated and you don't have disadvantage
-
In archetype-specific situations
Damage
Sneak Attack Damage
| Level | Damage |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | 1d6 |
| 3-4 | 2d6 |
| 5-6 | 3d6 |
| 7-8 | 4d6 |
| 9-10 | 5d6 |
| Level | Damage |
|---|---|
| 11-12 | 6d6 |
| 13-14 | 7d6 |
| 15-16 | 8d6 |
| 17-18 | 9d6 |
| 19-20 | 10d6 |
What about critical damage?
If you score a critical hit:
Roll your Weapon damage twice and your Sneak Attack
damage twice, then add your ability modifier
For example, at 3rd level with a dagger:
2d4 + 4d6 + Dex modifier
Limitations
-
You must be using a Finesse or Ranged weapon
-
You can't sneak attack if you have disadvantage
-
You can sneak attack 1x per turn
Sneak Attack Weapons
Finesse Weapons
- Dagger
- Dart
- Rapier
- Shortsword
- *Scimitar
- *Whip
Ranged Weapons
- Crossbow, light
- Crossbow, hand
- Dart
- Shortbow
- Sling
- *Blowgun
- *Crossbow, heavy
- *Longbow
* These weapons are not Rogue Weapons, but may be usable
(provided you are proficient), if you take a feat or are
multiclassed
Disadvantage
If you have disadvantage, you can't sneak attack
Keep in mind - advantage and disadvantage cancel each other
Once per Turn
If you have multiple attacks on your turn, you can only
Sneak Attack on one of them
You can also Sneak Attack on another creature's turn
(i.e. Attack of Opportunity)
You must still meet the conditions for Sneak Attack
Specific Situations
Target has another enemy within 5'
This is your bread and butter and the most common way to
sneak attack, so when you can, choose targets that are busy
with an enemy
You can use a melee or ranged attack, but be careful targeting
a creature that is behind another creature
(See optional DMG pg 272 rule - Hitting Cover)
- The enemy of your target need not be your ally
- The enemy of your target can't be incapacitated
- This won't work if you have disadvantage
When You have Advantage to attack
If your target isn't preoccupied with another enemy,
you'll generally need to attack with advantage
Attacking While They Can't See You
Any time you can see your target and they can't see you, you
attack with advantage
If you can't see your target, you attack with disadvantage,
negating any advantage you might have
Hiding
Hiding and attacking isn't as common, or easy, as it might
seem at first glance.
Hiding from a Creature:
- The DM determines if the situation and terrain is appropriate for hiding (e.g. you are in a heavily obscured area or behind enough cover)
- You then use your action to Hide, or your bonus action if using Cunning Action
- Make a Dex (Stealth) check - write this # down
The DM then determines if you are hidden
Typically, if your check is greater than the the
creature's passive perception, you are hidden
If they actively look for you, they get to make a
Wis (Perception) check - if greater than the number
you wrote down, they find you
You can't hide from a creature that can clearly see you
Attacking While Hidden:
If you are hiding and can see your target, but they
can't see you, you attack with advantage
This will usually be a ranged attack
If you pop out of hiding to attack, you are no longer
hidden
The DM may allow you to leave cover and remain
hidden, perhaps sneaking up on the creature, if the
circumstances allow (such as the creature being
sufficiently distracted)
Once you make an attack, hit or miss, you are no
longer hidden
Lightfoot Halflings - can hide behind larger creatures
Wood Elves - can hide when lightly obscured by natural
phenomena (foliage, heavy rain, mist, etc.)
Skulker Feat - allows you to hide when lightly obscured
Also - if you attack and miss, your location is not revealed
Invisibility and Darkness
Invisibility - if you are Invisible, you get advantage to attack
Darkness - is heavily obscuring so you can hide in it
If you are in Darkness and you can see your target but they
can't see you, you get advantage
(e.g. you have Darkvision, or they are in an area of light)
Receiving Help
If a companion or familiar uses the Help action, you get
advantage to attack
Conditions That Give Advantage
Blinded - get advantage to attack blinded creatures
Paralyzed - get advantage to attack paralyzed creatures
If you are within 5' - you also critical hit
Petrified - get advantage to attack petrified creatures
Prone - if within 5', get advantage to attack prone creatures
If further than 5', you suffer disadvantage instead
Restrained - get advantage to attack restrained creatures
Stunned - get advantage to attack stunned creatures
Unconscious - get advantage to attack unconscious creatures
If you are within 5', you also critical hit
Spells
Many spells give advantage or cause conditions that give
advantage (see below)
Spells That Give Advantage
Direct Advantage
Cantrips
True Strike - get advantage to your next attack
1st level
*Faerie Fire - get advantage to attack outlined creatures
*Guiding Bolt - get advantage on your next attack against the
same target
*Zephyr Strike - get advantage to 1 weapon attack
2nd level
Invisibility - get advantage to attack when invisible
Shadow Blade - get advantage if target is in dim light or dark
4th level
Greater Invisibility - get advantage to attack when invisible
Advantage from Conditions
1st level
Color Spray - blinded
Earth Tremor - prone
*Ensnaring Strike - restrained
*Entangle - restrained
Grease - prone
Sleep - unconscious
Snare - restrained
Tasha's Hideous Laughter - prone
*Thunderous Smite - prone
2nd level
Blindness/Deafness - blinded
Hold Person - paralyzed
Maximillion's Earthen Grasp - restrained
Pyrotechnics - blinded
Web - restrained
3rd level
*Blinding Smite - blinded
Tidal Wave - prone
4th level
Evard's Black Tentacles - restrained
* Not on the Arcane Trickster spell list
(available with a feat or through multiclassing)
Archetypes
Some Roguish Archetypes grant specialized ways to gain
advantage or Sneak Attack
Archetype Features
Assassin
Assassinate (3rd level)
Get advantage to attack a creature that hasn't taken a turn
If that creature is surprised - a hit does critical damage
Arcane Trickster
You can cast spells that give you advantage
Versatile Trickster (13th level)
Your mage hand can give you advantage on an attack
Inquisitive
Insightful Fighting (3rd level)
For 1 min - you can Sneak Attack 1 target without advantage
Doesn't work if you have disadvantage
Scout
Ambush Master (13th level)
When you hit a creature on the first round of combat,
additional attacks are done with advantage until the start of
your next turn
This could apply to Opportunity Attacks, if you are dual
wielding, or if you are multiclassed
Sudden Strike (17th level)
When you make your bonus action attack, it can be a Sneak
Attack, even if you've already done so that turn
However, you can't Sneak Attack the same target more than
once per turn
Swashbuckler
Rakish Audacity (3rd level)
You can Sneak Attack when:
- you are within 5' of your target
- no other creatures are within 5' of you
- you don't have disadvantage