Invisibility and Concealment in Pathfinder: A Deep Dive
Yes, invisibility in Pathfinder does grant concealment. This is a fundamental aspect of how the condition functions within the game’s rules. However, it’s crucial to understand how it grants concealment and the nuances surrounding that effect, as the game is full of exceptions and specific situations where the interaction shifts. Invisibility provides total concealment, which confers a significant advantage to the invisible creature. Total concealment means that enemies have a 50% miss chance when attacking the invisible creature.
Understanding Concealment in Pathfinder
Before we dive deeper into invisibility, let’s establish what concealment means mechanically. In Pathfinder, concealment represents a barrier to clear sight. This could be anything from fog and darkness to magical effects. The level of concealment affects the difficulty of hitting a target. There are two degrees of concealment: concealment (20% miss chance) and total concealment (50% miss chance). Invisibility specifically grants total concealment.
How Invisibility Grants Total Concealment
When a creature is invisible, it is, by definition, unseen. This lack of sight translates into total concealment. Opponents attacking an invisible creature are forced to guess at the invisible creature’s location, represented by that 50% miss chance.
The Stealth Aspect of Invisibility
It’s critical to differentiate between the concealment granted by invisibility and the Stealth skill checks used in conjunction with it. Invisibility doesn’t automatically make a creature undetectable. A creature can still be heard, smelled, or sensed in other ways. To become truly hidden, an invisible creature typically uses the Stealth skill.
The Invisibility spell grants a substantial bonus to Stealth checks: a +20 bonus when moving and a whopping +40 bonus when immobile. This reflects the inherent difficulty in pinpointing an invisible and silent target. However, if an opponent successfully Perceives the invisible creature (beats the Stealth check), the creature no longer benefits from the +20 or +40 bonus to Stealth checks. They are still invisible and retain their concealment.
Counteracting Invisibility and Concealment
While invisibility and the resulting concealment are powerful, they are not insurmountable. Several spells, abilities, and conditions can counteract or negate these effects.
- See Invisibility: This spell allows the caster to visually perceive invisible creatures and objects. However, it’s important to note that See Invisibility does not negate the concealing effect. The attacker can see the invisible creature, but the 50% miss chance still applies!
- True Seeing: This more potent spell allows the caster to see through all illusions and magical deceptions, including invisibility and displacement. Like See Invisibility, it does not negate natural concealment or the effects of someone using Stealth to hide.
- Blindsight and Tremorsense: Creatures with these senses can perceive creatures without relying on sight. Invisibility becomes largely irrelevant against blindsight or tremorsense. But, a character can still attempt to Hide from a creature with Blindsight.
- Glitterdust: This spell coats creatures and objects in glittering dust, negating invisibility for as long as the dust remains. This removes the total concealment provided by invisibility.
Important Considerations and Caveats
- Attacking Breaks Invisibility: The Invisibility spell (and similar effects) typically ends immediately if the subject attacks any creature. This means the first attack benefits from the total concealment and any Stealth bonuses, but subsequent attacks do not, unless the creature becomes invisible again. This is not the case with Greater Invisibility.
- Area Effects: Area-of-effect spells and abilities don’t require targeting a specific creature, so invisibility doesn’t prevent them from being used effectively.
- Scent: Creatures with a heightened sense of smell can still attempt to track or locate invisible creatures via scent.
- Sound: Invisible creatures aren’t necessarily silent. Noise can give away their position and allow opponents to make Perception checks to pinpoint their location.
- Grease: While casting Grease on the ground near an invisible creature won’t break the invisibility, casting Grease directly on an attended weapon will break the invisibility spell, as it’s considered a direct attack.
Invisibility vs. Greater Invisibility
Understanding the difference between the Invisibility and Greater Invisibility spells is crucial. Invisibility ends upon attacking. Greater Invisibility does not end when the caster attacks. This makes it a significantly more powerful option for combat.
Strategic Implications
Invisibility is a versatile tool for both offense and defense. It allows for ambushes, infiltration, and escape. Properly utilizing the Stealth skill in conjunction with invisibility can make a character incredibly difficult to detect and engage. For those interested in exploring game mechanics and their impact on gameplay, consider visiting Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does See Invisibility negate concealment?
No, See Invisibility allows you to see invisible creatures, but the 50% miss chance associated with total concealment still applies.
2. Does True Seeing negate concealment?
True Seeing allows you to see through all illusions, including invisibility, but it does not negate natural concealment (like fog) or the effects of a successful Stealth check to Hide.
3. Does Blindsight bypass invisibility?
Yes, blindsight allows a creature to perceive its surroundings without relying on sight, rendering invisibility irrelevant. However, the invisible creature may still attempt to Hide, using the Stealth Skill, from a creature with Blindsight.
4. Can an invisible creature grant flanking?
Generally, yes. If an invisible creature is positioned in such a way that it would normally grant flanking to an ally (opposite an enemy), it still does so, even though the enemy can’t see it.
5. How does invisibility affect Stealth checks?
Invisibility grants a +20 bonus to Stealth checks if moving and a +40 bonus to Stealth checks if immobile.
6. What happens if an enemy spots an invisible creature?
If an enemy successfully spots an invisible creature (beats their Stealth check with a Perception check), the invisible creature no longer gains the +20 or +40 bonus to Stealth. They are still invisible and retain their concealment.
7. Does attacking break Greater Invisibility?
No, attacking does not break Greater Invisibility.
8. Can you target an invisible creature with a spell?
You can’t target an invisible creature you cannot see with a targeted spell. If you can touch them (they are grappled for example), then yes, you can target them with the spell.
9. Does invisibility prevent opportunity attacks?
Yes, because opportunity attacks are triggered when a creature you can see leaves your reach. You can’t see an invisible creature, so they don’t trigger opportunity attacks.
10. What happens if you throw glitterdust at an invisible creature?
Glitterdust removes the invisibility and thus negates the total concealment. Everyone can then see the creature normally.
11. What provides concealment other than invisibility?
Concealment can be provided by fog, darkness, smoke, foliage, and other environmental factors.
12. Does invisibility grant advantage on attack rolls?
The Invisibility spell grants advantage on the first attack, but the spell ends immediately after the attack is made. Greater Invisibility grants advantage on attack rolls, and the spell does not end.
13. What is the difference between cover and concealment?
Cover physically blocks an attack. Concealment obscures the target, making it harder to hit, but doesn’t necessarily provide a physical barrier.
14. Can an invisible creature hide behind total cover?
Yes, invisibility and total cover are independent effects. An invisible creature can still benefit from total cover to further enhance their defenses.
15. Does the size of a creature affect its Stealth check?
Yes, smaller creatures get bonuses and larger creatures get penalties. Fine +16, Diminutive +12, Tiny +8, Small +4, Medium +0, Large -4, Huge -8, Gargantuan -12, Colossal -16.