Can a Ranger Hide as a Bonus Action?
The short answer is: not inherently. A base Ranger in D&D 5th Edition does not automatically gain the ability to hide as a bonus action. This ability is primarily associated with the Rogue class, through their Cunning Action feature. However, there are specific circumstances and class features that can allow a Ranger to gain this capability, though it typically requires reaching higher levels or selecting specific subclasses. Let’s delve deeper into the nuances of this often-confused aspect of the Ranger class.
Hiding Mechanics in 5e
Before examining how a Ranger can achieve bonus action hiding, it’s crucial to understand the basic mechanics of the Hide action itself. In D&D 5e, the Hide action is a standard action. It requires a Dexterity (Stealth) check, and successful hiding depends on whether you are out of sight from your opponent. You must be in a place that provides cover, or obscured, to attempt hiding. If successful, you become unseen, gaining certain advantages in combat, like advantage on your next attack.
The Standard Hide Action:
- Action Economy: Typically requires a full action on your turn.
- Stealth Check: Necessitates a successful Dexterity (Stealth) check.
- Line of Sight: Requires the character to be out of the direct line of sight of the creature(s) they’re trying to hide from.
- Conditions for Hiding: In general, you can hide if you are in an area of cover, obscurement, or have an advantage in concealing yourself.
- Breaking Cover: The Hide is broken when the character is seen, makes an attack, or makes excessive noise.
Ranger Features and Bonus Action Hiding
A standard Ranger must use their action to Hide, similar to other classes, unless some other feature or magic is applied. There is no innate bonus action hide in the core ranger class features. The core ranger does have Favored Foe which can be used as a bonus action, but this has nothing to do with hiding. Here is the feature which allows a ranger to Hide as a bonus action:
The Gloom Stalker Subclass
The primary avenue for Rangers to acquire bonus action hiding is by choosing the Gloom Stalker subclass, introduced in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. At 14th level, the Gloom Stalker gains the Shadowy Dodge feature. A key benefit of this feature is:
- Shadowy Dodge: As a bonus action, you can take the Hide action on your turn. Additionally, creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against you until the start of your next turn.
This feature is the critical exception to the rule. It transforms the otherwise action-costing hide into a bonus action, making the Gloom Stalker Ranger a master of stealth and mobility in combat. It’s a powerful feature which allows the Ranger to repeatedly use this ability with the bonus action.
Other Potential Ways to Achieve Bonus Action Hide
While the Gloom Stalker’s Shadowy Dodge is the most reliable and accessible method, there are other, less direct ways a Ranger might gain bonus action hiding. These include:
- Multiclassing: A Ranger can multiclass into Rogue and at level 2 gain the Cunning Action feature, which allows you to Dash, Disengage, or Hide as a bonus action. However, this comes at the cost of slowing down your Ranger progression, which may not be desirable depending on your build goal.
- Magic Items: Specific magical items, though rare, could potentially grant the ability to hide as a bonus action. These might include a cloak or other item which allows that, at a limited amount per day.
- Feats: There are no feats directly granting Bonus Action Hiding, though some feats, like Skulker which provides benefits to hiding, can work well with a class or subclass that uses the hide action frequently.
- Spells: There are no spells which grant bonus action hiding directly.
Why is Bonus Action Hiding Useful?
Having the ability to hide as a bonus action is incredibly potent for specific playstyles. It allows characters, like the Gloom Stalker Ranger, to engage in hit-and-run tactics by attacking then immediately disappearing from plain sight to gain advantage on their next attack. This type of tactic provides several advantages:
- Improved Stealth: More frequent attempts to hide mean more opportunities to enter a stealthy state, thereby gaining advantages.
- Tactical Mobility: Characters can disengage, move, hide, and reposition more often, thereby being more difficult to pinpoint.
- Advantage on Attacks: Being unseen grants advantage on your attacks as a result of being hidden (as long as you remain hidden when you attack), thereby leading to higher chances to hit and potentially dealing more damage.
- Survival: Hiding in combat makes you a less obvious target, thereby increasing your survivability.
- Control: Hiding behind a melee ally gives an advantage for the Lightfoot halfling, or similar racial bonuses, giving more tactical control for your ranger.
Conclusion
In summary, while a standard Ranger does not have innate bonus action hiding, the Gloom Stalker subclass at level 14 gains it. Furthermore, multiclassing, specific magic items, or certain feats, might potentially provide the ability to hide as a bonus action. Bonus action hiding is a powerful tool, which opens up more tactical and mobility options in combat and increases survivability. It is a highly coveted ability for those looking to play a stealthy, elusive Ranger.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does the Hide action do in D&D 5e?
The Hide action allows a creature to attempt to conceal themselves from view. It requires a successful Dexterity (Stealth) check against the passive or active Wisdom (Perception) of potential observers, and the creature usually must be obscured or out of sight to attempt hiding.
2. Can any character hide as a bonus action?
No, not all characters have access to bonus action hiding. The Rogue class can use Cunning Action at level 2 to Dash, Disengage, or Hide as a bonus action. The Gloom Stalker Ranger gains this capability at level 14. Other characters must utilize a full action to hide unless they have specific features, spells, or magic items that grant that ability.
3. What level do you have to be to hide as a bonus action as a Ranger?
To hide as a bonus action as a Ranger, you must be level 14 and a Gloom Stalker subclass.
4. Does the invisible condition grant advantage on stealth checks?
The invisible condition does not explicitly state that you get advantage on stealth checks by itself. However, you are hidden, and your enemies generally cannot see you which can have the same effect. Furthermore, it is up to the DM’s interpretation if they will grant you advantage when you do make a stealth check while invisible.
5. What are the rules for hiding in combat in 5e?
To hide in combat, a creature must use the Hide action, be in a position of cover, or obscured from vision and make a successful Dexterity (Stealth) check. The location where they are is no longer known to their opponents.
6. How does the Hide action work with the Skulker feat?
The Skulker feat allows you to attempt to hide when lightly obscured and prevents creatures from knowing your location when making a ranged attack while hidden, if you miss with the attack.
7. Can a Ranger multiclass to gain bonus action hide?
Yes, a Ranger can multiclass into Rogue and get Cunning Action, which allows you to Dash, Disengage, or Hide as a bonus action at level 2 Rogue.
8. If you attack while hidden, do you lose the hidden state?
Yes, when you make an attack, even a ranged attack, while hidden, you give away your location, and are no longer hidden. Unless you have the Skulker feat.
9. How does hiding work with the Unseen Attackers and Targets section?
If you are unseen by an enemy, you get advantage on attack rolls against them. If you make the attack successfully and are hidden, they do not know from where the attack came, until you leave your cover or attack again.
10. Can you hide while lightly obscured?
Yes, you can attempt to hide while lightly obscured, but you might need to be in cover, depending on the DM’s judgement. Also, creatures can see clearly into the light obscurement from outside of it.
11. What is the difference between hiding and being unseen?
Hiding is an active effort that is achieved through a Dexterity (Stealth) check. Being unseen is the result of successfully hiding or being in a position where you can’t be seen.
12. What is Wisdom’s role for Ranger casting?
Wisdom is the Ranger’s spellcasting ability, as a result of their connection with nature. You use your Wisdom score when determining attack rolls, and saving throw DC’s of your ranger spells.
13. What counts as a bonus action in D&D 5e?
Bonus actions are additional actions that can be taken on a character’s turn in combat. They are usually granted by class features, spells or other special abilities. You can only take one bonus action each turn.
14. Can a ranger move and hide on the same turn?
Yes. If you are a Gloom Stalker Ranger at level 14, you can move and hide as a bonus action. All other Rangers must move and hide by moving and using a full action to hide. Rogues can always move and use a bonus action to hide.
15. Does hiding give an automatic advantage on attacks?
No, hiding does not automatically give advantage on attacks. When you are hidden, and then make an attack, you get advantage if the target can’t see you. Otherwise, just being hidden gives no inherent advantages.