Stalker’s Flurry: Unleashing Unexpected Speed in Combat
Stalker’s Flurry is a powerful ability that allows a character to transform a missed attack into another chance to strike. Specifically, once on each of your turns, when you miss with a weapon attack, you can immediately make another weapon attack as part of the same action. This feature, often associated with the Gloom Stalker Ranger subclass, grants a tactical advantage by mitigating the frustration of missed attacks, and enhancing combat effectiveness. Let’s dive deeper into how this ability functions, its synergy with other skills, and how to make the most of it on the battlefield.
Understanding Stalker’s Flurry
The core of Stalker’s Flurry lies in its simplicity and immediate impact. It is triggered by a missed weapon attack during your turn, and allows for another attack immediately as part of that same action. There are several key points to understand:
Trigger Condition:
- The ability activates only when a weapon attack misses the intended target.
- The attack must be part of your Attack action, not from a bonus action attack.
Timing:
- The second attack granted by Stalker’s Flurry is an immediate consequence of the missed attack. It’s part of the same action.
- The flurry attack doesn’t interrupt the action, rather adds to it.
Limitations:
- It can only be used once per turn. Missing multiple times will not trigger additional flurry attacks.
- It specifically requires a weapon attack. Spells or unarmed strikes will not activate this feature.
Synergy with Extra Attack:
- Stalker’s Flurry can be used in conjunction with the Extra Attack feature that many martial classes get. So if you make two attacks as part of your normal attack action, and one misses, you can launch another attack from Stalker’s Flurry.
The Strategic Advantage
Stalker’s Flurry provides a crucial advantage in combat scenarios:
- Mitigating Missed Attacks: It significantly reduces the impact of a missed attack. Instead of losing an action entirely, you have another chance to strike and possibly hit. This increases your damage output and overall combat efficiency.
- Reliability: The ability enhances the reliability of your attacks. It lessens the impact of low attack rolls or the target’s high AC.
- Combos and Tactics: It can be combined with other combat abilities for effective combos. For instance, if your first attack sets up a target for a powerful attack, your Stalker’s Flurry attack has a better chance of hitting hard.
Using Stalker’s Flurry Effectively
To effectively use Stalker’s Flurry, consider the following tips:
- Plan Your Attacks: When making your attacks, consider focusing on your best opportunity for hitting. If that attack misses, that second chance may just land.
- Positioning: Position yourself to maximize your attack potential. Utilize cover and angles that give you better hit chances.
- Maximize Damage Potential: Make sure to have the weapon that does the most damage ready, just in case a missed attack lands you another chance to strike.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify how Stalker’s Flurry works, and its connection with related mechanics.
1. Can Stalker’s Flurry be triggered by a bonus action attack?
No, Stalker’s Flurry is explicitly tied to the Attack action. Bonus action attacks cannot trigger the ability.
2. Does Stalker’s Flurry work with unarmed strikes?
No, it requires a weapon attack. Unarmed strikes do not qualify.
3. Can I use Stalker’s Flurry multiple times per turn if I miss multiple attacks?
No, you can only use Stalker’s Flurry once per turn. Multiple misses will not grant you additional attacks.
4. If I use Stalker’s Flurry, does it count as one of my attacks for extra attack?
No, Stalker’s Flurry is a completely separate attack. The extra attack feature lets you make two attacks as a part of the attack action, Stalker’s Flurry is granted on a miss. They do not use the same counter.
5. Does Stalker’s Flurry apply to attacks of opportunity?
No, Stalker’s Flurry only works when you use the Attack action on your turn. Attacks of opportunity are a reaction to a foe moving.
6. Can Stalker’s Flurry be combined with Dread Ambusher?
Yes, absolutely! The Dread Ambusher feature grants an extra attack on the first turn of combat, while Stalker’s Flurry allows a follow-up attack if a weapon attack misses. These can work together on the first turn.
7. If my first attack hits, but my extra attack from my attack action misses, can I still use Stalker’s Flurry?
Yes, Stalker’s Flurry is triggered on the missed attack, regardless if any prior attacks hit. The missed attack that triggers it must occur on your turn, using the Attack Action.
8. How does Stalker’s Flurry interact with Action Surge?
Action Surge gives you an additional action, which you could use to attack again, if one of those attacks misses you could use Stalker’s Flurry again. However, you can only use Stalker’s Flurry once per turn, regardless of whether you are using a standard attack action, or an action granted by action surge.
9. Does Stalker’s Flurry stack with other abilities that give extra attacks?
Yes, Stalker’s Flurry does not use the same resource as the extra attack action. The only time it does not trigger is on a hit. If you miss an attack with a normal action, or action surge, you are granted the opportunity for another strike.
10. Is there a limit to the weapon types I can use with Stalker’s Flurry?
No, Stalker’s Flurry can be used with any weapon as long as it is part of a weapon attack. There are no type restrictions.
11. If I miss multiple attacks using a spell attack, does this trigger Stalker’s Flurry?
No, Stalker’s Flurry only triggers on missed weapon attacks not magical ones.
12. Does being invisible grant you advantage when using stalkers flurry?
The gloom stalker’s invisibility ability does not allow you to use stalkers flurry. The condition for stalkers flurry is a missed weapon attack, not that you are invisible. Being invisible does give you advantage on attacks made against creatures that can’t see you.
13. How do the gloomstalkers fit into this ability?
Gloom stalkers have a similar ability to stalkers flurry. However, the ability of stalkers flurry has wider applications, and the feature of gloom stalkers is more specific.
14. Does Action Surge give you 2 extra attacks?
Action Surge gives you an additional action that you can use to make more attacks. However, the number of attacks per action depends on your extra attack feature. At level 5, a fighter would get 2 extra attacks with an action, and would get another action from action surge, so the two actions would result in 4 attacks.
15. Can you grapple twice with Multiattack?
Yes, a grapple or shove count as an attack. When you take the attack action, you can grapple twice, shove twice, grapple and attack, or grapple and shove.
Conclusion
Stalker’s Flurry is a remarkable ability that adds a layer of dynamic strategy to combat encounters. Its simple trigger mechanism and powerful impact make it a valued asset for any character that possesses this skill. By understanding the rules and limitations of this ability, you can fully maximize its potential, turning missed attacks into opportunities for success. With Stalker’s Flurry, even a misstep in combat can pave the way for victory.