DnD 5e Flanking Explained
Have you ever been perplexed by what exactly “Flanking” means in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition? The Player’s Handbook explains the concept, but does it have implications for the rules of combat during a session?
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular role-playing game that requires creative thinking and strategy to win. One of the important concepts to understand is “flanking,” which can affect attack rolls during a battle or other conflict. It is explained in the Player’s Handbook, but understanding the implications of this concept can be difficult.
This article will explore what flanking means in DnD 5e and how it impacts different situations, such as melee attacks, ranged attacks, and saving throws. With this guide, understanding flanking will become less intimidating, and you’ll be able to become an adept strategist!
A Complete Guide To DnD 5e Flanking
Are you a new Dungeon Master (DM) eager to learn the nuances of the Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) 5th Edition combat system? If so, you may be familiar with one of its key gameplay mechanics – flanking. Flanking can be confusing at first glance, but once you’ve mastered it, your players are sure to enjoy this tactical addition to their playstyle and encounters! This will guide covers all the basics of flanking and how it works in DnD 5e.
1. Understand How Flanking Works in DnD 5e
In simple terms, flanking occurs whenever two or more opponents surround a creature allowing them to attack from opposite sides. In DnD 5e, flanking is done by threatening a creature’s opposite sides. This is called “flanking” because when multiple creatures are attacking from either side, they form the shape of a pincer or two wings of a bird that flies around its target – thus creating the term flanken, which means fly in German.
2. Identify What Counts as Flanking Position
For two creatures to qualify as “flanking” in D&D 5E, they must occupy opposite sides of the target creature, and both must have clear lines of sight AND movement to reach that opponent. Both flankers must have enough space diagonally behind them to move around both sides of a target to draw an imaginary line between themselves and end up back at their original location. They must also remain adjacent (5ft.) away from each other throughout this maneuver so that any enemy not already opposed by one attacker cannot gain an Advantage unless all three attackers simultaneously fit these conditions.
3. Know How Advantages & Disadvantage Play Into Flanking
When at least 2 creatures threaten an opponent while in flanking positions, they cause anyone not opposing either caster to gain advantage on their melee attack rolls against them until the flank ends (or until one attacker backs away). Opposing attackers do not need advantage for their melee attacks against flanked foes unless there are 3 or more active combatants which also meet all criteria for the said position–then advantage does become applicable for those cases where the defensive combatant was outnumbered from opposite directions at once.
On the flipside, this same condition causes a disadvantage for anyone actively defending against such beasts–allowing those primary combatants to pose greater threats due to elevated odds applied without fail even when contested by monsters too large for full opposition (_hint_ giants!).
4. Consider Special Effects/Reactions When Monsters Are Flanked
Besides normal advantaged/disadvantaged states applied when monsters got flanked, some monster types also apply special reactions when put into these predicaments: fleeing if backed into corner/footholds; roaring that gives nearby allies bonuses; rushing forward headlong with reckless abandon…. just name few possible examples depending on the situation at hand & who faces what kind enemies respectively! As always, DM discretion applies here… AND THIS IS the MOST IMPORTANT PART!
Flanking 5E: By the Book
Flanking is an optional rule in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition that allows characters to gain an advantage on an enemy without the help of a spell caster. This rule is only applicable in miniature-based campaigns, as it requires tracking of position. To flank, one must either have an ally on the opposite side of the target or be adjacent to two enemies in a grid-based map. Even large opponents can be flanked from the front or back, but getting an advantage on a target twice does not provide any additional benefit. Flanking also requires a certain degree of threat; allies who are actively helping in combat can provide a flanking bonus as long as they are not incapacitated. Only creatures with stat blocks can flank; spells and other non-creature entities cannot.
Flanking bonuses cannot be applied to ranged attacks, so ranged spell attacks do not benefit from flanking bonuses either.
Flanking on Squares
Flanking on squares is a tactic used in combat to gain an advantage over an enemy. It involves two allies being on opposite sides of the enemy, either on opposite sides of the square or opposite corners. This provides bonuses to melee attack rolls only and can be a great way to increase your chances of success in battle. To determine if two creatures flank an enemy, you must trace an imaginary line between their centers and check if it passes through opposite sides or corners of the enemy’s space. A diagram is provided to demonstrate this concept with a Large enemy and two Medium allies.
Flanking on squares can be a great way to gain an advantage in battle, but it requires careful planning and positioning. It’s important to remember that flanking only applies to melee attacks, so it may not always be the best option depending on the situation. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that both allies are on opposite sides or corners of the enemy’s space.
Flanking: Who Benefits?
Flanking is a bonus that can be used to great effect in combat. It applies to melee attack rolls and spells with a melee attack roll, but not ranged weapons or spells. Flanking does not require a melee weapon to be equipped; an ally can gain an advantage from the presence of an unarmed wizard. On a hex map, flanking can be replicated if the third character is adjacent to the second one and you count the hexes in the other direction. This means that even when your party is outnumbered, you can still gain an edge by positioning yourself correctly and taking advantage of flanking bonuses.
The benefits of flanking are twofold: it gives allies on either side of an enemy a bonus to their attack rolls, making them more likely to hit their target. Additionally, it gives allies on either side of an enemy disadvantage on their saving throws against spells cast by the wizard being harassed by the monster. This means that even when your party is outnumbered, you can
Warnings and Tips
Flanking is a great way to gain an advantage in combat, but it can also be dangerous if not planned out carefully. When attempting to flank an enemy, it is important to consider the type of creature you are facing. Depending on the GM’s discretion, invisible creatures may or may not benefit from flanking. Summoning spells and crowd control effects are great ways to get into flanking without putting party members in danger. Having at least two characters in your party that can take damage in the frontline is important when GMs allow flanking. Soaking attention from enemies is key to gaining an advantage, and having two characters allows you to flank enemies yourself.
When attempting a flanking maneuver, it is important to remember that there are risks involved. It is best to plan out your strategy ahead of time and make sure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities before engaging in combat. Make sure all party members understand the importance of staying together and working as a team.
The Conga Line
The Conga Line is a common tactic used in combat scenarios where two PCs flank a monster, and then another PC flanks that monster, and so on. This can effectively take down enemies quickly, but it requires active participation from the DM to corral enemies into this pattern. PCs should consider their positioning and be aware of potential reinforcements or hidden spellcasters. Even when lining up like this, there are penalties that come with it, such as being vulnerable to a single enemy being taken down quickly. GMs can avoid this by making sure monsters are not intelligent enough to make use of flanking or decide that positioning isn’t worth the danger.
Flanking is advantageous but not as effective as knocking out an opponent. For example, four goblins can take advantage of opportunity attacks to flank a soldier in one round; however, if they were able to knock out the soldier instead, they would have achieved their goal much faster. The conga-line flanking
Advantage Rarity
The advantage is a difficult commodity to obtain in the world of Dungeons and Dragons. It can be obtained through flanking, which involves attacking an enemy from two sides, but this comes with risks. Paladins and Clerics can use flanking to gain an advantage on critical rolls, but it is not always the best option. For example, Gnomes have access to the Fade Away ability which allows them to become invisible and gain an advantage. Other classes, such as Fighters and Barbarians, can take the Grappler feat, which allows them to grapple foes and attack with advantage using their Athletics skill. The Shield Master feat is another way for characters to gain an advantage in combat, but it requires shield proficiency and an attack action before using the bonus action shove. Rogues may find Steady Aim a better option than Shield Master as it does not require any additional actions or feats. Finally, Lucky feat does not grant an advantage, so that it won’t work for this purpose.
Do We Recommend Using Flanking 5E Rules?
Flanking is an optional rule in the 5E Dungeons and Dragons system that can add great excitement to combat. It allows allies who are actively helping in combat to gain a flanking bonus as long as they are not incapacitated. To successfully flank a creature, you must be adjacent to it. Creatures with stat blocks can flank, but spells like Spiritual Weapon do not provide any flanking bonuses. Additionally, ranged attacks cannot benefit from flanking bonuses.
When considering using the Flanking 5E rule, caution is essential due to its powerful effects. You may want to consider creating your own rules for flanking, such as not allowing summoned creatures to count for flanking or using the “Facing” optional rule. Ranged spell attacks do not benefit from flanking bonuses, but spells with a range of touch or melee spell attacks do. Ultimately, whether or not you decide to use this rule is up to you and your group.
