Can a Rogue Dash Twice with Cunning Action?
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The short answer is: No, a Rogue cannot dash twice with Cunning Action. While a Rogue is exceptionally mobile and versatile, the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) allow for only one bonus action per turn. A Rogue’s Cunning Action feature grants them the ability to use their bonus action to Dash, but this doesn’t stack with itself. It can, however, be used in tandem with their standard action to allow for impressive movement. Let’s delve into the specifics and explore what this means for Rogues on the battlefield.
Understanding Cunning Action
The Core Mechanic
At second level, Rogues gain the Cunning Action feature. This pivotal ability allows them to take one of three specific actions as a bonus action on their turn: Dash, Disengage, or Hide. This offers an incredible level of tactical flexibility, as bonus actions are typically much more limited than standard actions.
How Cunning Action Functions
The key here is the bonus action itself. Every player, regardless of class, has only one bonus action per turn, unless otherwise stated by a class feature, spell, or ability. Cunning Action allows the Rogue to choose between Dashing, Disengaging, or Hiding as a bonus action, but it cannot grant them additional bonus actions.
The Rogue’s Movement Potential
Action and Bonus Action
A Rogue’s standard action can be used for a wide range of activities, including attacking, using an object, or, crucially, Dashing. Combining this with the bonus action Dash granted by Cunning Action, a Rogue can move twice their normal speed in a single turn. This means a Rogue with a base speed of 30 feet could move 60 feet if they used both their action and bonus action to dash.
Ready Action and Additional Movement
Though they cannot dash twice with cunning action, Rogues are still capable of impressive bursts of movement. It’s important to note that Rogues can leverage the Ready Action to potentially move three times their normal movement speed in a single round. Using cunning action to dash for a bonus action and a standard action to dash gives you twice your movement. Then, you can use your ready action to prepare to move again. If the specified trigger is met, you use your reaction to move again an additional time.
Beyond Movement Speed
The value of the Cunning Action isn’t solely about movement speed, though. Disengaging as a bonus action lets Rogues retreat from melee combat without provoking opportunity attacks, while Hiding as a bonus action allows them to gain the benefits of stealth during combat, including advantage on their next attack if they remain hidden, and potentially delivering a Sneak Attack.
FAQs about Rogue Abilities and Actions
1. Can Rogues perform other actions with their Cunning Action?
Yes, Rogues can use their Cunning Action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. Starting at level 3, they can also use it to make a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check, use their thieves’ tools to disarm traps or open locks, or take the Use an Object action.
2. Can a Rogue attack after using their bonus action to Dash?
Yes. The order in which you take actions is flexible within your turn. You can move, then bonus action dash with cunning action, and attack. You can also attack, then move, then dash with cunning action.
3. Can Rogues use Cunning Action more than once per turn?
No. You only have one bonus action per turn. Therefore, you can only use Cunning Action once per turn.
4. Can a Rogue use their Action and Bonus Action for the same action?
Yes. A Rogue could use their action to Dash, and then use their Cunning Action to also Dash as a bonus action, moving double their movement.
5. Can Rogues cast spells and also use Cunning Action?
Yes. As long as the spell casting doesn’t use a bonus action, a rogue can still use cunning action that same turn. For instance, a Rogue could cast a cantrip, then use Cunning Action to Disengage to move away without provoking opportunity attacks.
6. Do Rogues get a second bonus action?
No. You can only take one bonus action per turn, even if you have multiple abilities that grant bonus actions.
7. Can Rogues Hide in plain sight with Cunning Action?
No. While Rogues can Hide as a bonus action through Cunning Action, they still need to be in some form of obscured area, such as behind cover or in dim light, to attempt to hide successfully.
8. Is a dagger a finesse weapon for a rogue?
Yes, a dagger is a finesse weapon. This means Rogues can use their Dexterity modifier instead of their Strength modifier for attack and damage rolls, which aligns perfectly with their class abilities.
9. Can Rogues throw multiple daggers in one turn?
Yes, a Rogue can throw multiple daggers in a turn. If they start their turn with a dagger in each hand, they could throw both. If they start with only one, they could throw a dagger, and then draw a second dagger as a free object interaction, and throw it as a bonus action if they have a bonus action attack available.
10. Can Rogues use two-handed weapons?
Generally, no. Rogues are not proficient with two-handed weapons such as greatswords or greataxes. They typically focus on finesse weapons like daggers, shortswords, and rapiers, and are proficient with ranged weapons such as shortbows and longbows.
11. Can a Mastermind Rogue Help twice?
A Mastermind Rogue can only Help once per turn. While it can perform ranged Help, it often breaks stealth to do so, which generally prevents a second use of Help while maintaining stealth.
12. Can Rogues use Invisibility spells?
Outside of class features, certain spells like Invisibility can be learned by other spellcasting classes. Some Rogue subclasses, such as the Arcane Trickster, can eventually learn and cast invisibility spells.
13. Does Hiding give advantage to Rogues?
Yes. If a Rogue is hidden when they make an attack, that attack generally gets advantage. If they hit or miss, the location is revealed, unless they have the Skulker feat.
14. How does Rogue hiding work?
Rogues can attempt to Hide during combat by making a Stealth check against a creature’s passive perception, or if the creature is searching for them, they do an opposed check. If successful, their position is unknown until they attack or make themselves known.
15. Which rogue subclass is the best?
The “best” Rogue subclass is subjective and dependent on playstyle. The Soulknife is often considered one of the most powerful, but others such as the Arcane Trickster, Assassin, and Swashbuckler are also strong choices, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.
Conclusion
While a Rogue cannot dash twice with Cunning Action, their potent combination of abilities, such as their ability to Dash with their standard action, coupled with Cunning Action for bonus action dashes, disengages, and hides, makes them remarkably mobile and tactically diverse. Understanding the limitations and possibilities of the Cunning Action is critical to maximizing the Rogue’s effectiveness in any D&D campaign. By leveraging their speed and tactical options, a Rogue can be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, and in any campaign.