Can You Ready an Extra Attack in D&D 5e? The Definitive Guide
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The short answer? No, you cannot “ready” an Extra Attack as a discrete action. Extra Attack is a feature that modifies the Attack action on your turn. However, the Ready action and the Extra Attack feature interact in interesting ways, which we’ll unpack in this comprehensive guide. Understanding the nuances of these interactions is crucial for optimizing your combat strategy in D&D 5e.
Understanding the Mechanics: Attack Action vs. Extra Attack vs. Ready Action
To fully grasp why you can’t “ready” an Extra Attack, we need to break down these concepts individually:
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Attack Action: This is a fundamental action available to all characters. It allows you to make one melee or ranged attack. Simple, right?
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Extra Attack: A class feature, typically gained by martial classes at level 5, that modifies the Attack action. It states that “whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, you can attack twice, instead of once.” Note the key phrases: “Attack action” and “on your turn.” Some classes, like Fighters, gain even more attacks at higher levels.
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Ready Action: This allows you to prepare a specific action to be executed later, using your reaction. You choose a perceptible trigger and a corresponding action you will take when that trigger occurs. The action must be one you can normally take on your turn. The prepared action is triggered with your reaction before the start of your next turn.
The crucial point is that Extra Attack modifies the Attack action when it’s taken on your turn. It’s not an action itself. It is a passive feature that enhances the Attack action. The Ready action allows you to take an action. When you ready an attack, you take the attack action.
Why Extra Attack Doesn’t Directly “Ready”
Because Extra Attack isn’t an action in itself, you can’t designate “Extra Attack” as your readied action. Instead, you ready the Attack action. The question then becomes: Does Extra Attack apply when you use the Attack action as a readied action?
The Key Interaction: Extra Attack and the Readied Attack
The answer is often, “Yes,” Extra Attack does indeed work with a readied Attack action, but it’s important to understand how.
If you ready the Attack action, and the trigger occurs during your turn, such as a foe moving, you can use your reaction to make an attack. However, if you trigger the readied action because of an event on your turn, you can use the Attack action on your turn.
The critical factor is whether you’re taking the Attack action on your turn, regardless of whether it’s your main action or a readied action executed as a reaction. If it is, Extra Attack applies.
Exception: When the Trigger Occurs Outside Your Turn
If your trigger occurs outside of your turn (during another creature’s turn), you still use your reaction to execute the Attack action. Since you are not taking the Attack action on your turn, the Extra Attack feature does not apply.
Practical Example
Imagine a 5th-level Fighter (with Extra Attack) wants to ambush a goblin.
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On their turn: They take the Ready action. They state, “I ready an Attack action. My trigger is when the goblin comes around the corner.”
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Goblin’s turn: The goblin moves around the corner.
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Fighter’s reaction: The Fighter uses their reaction to execute the readied Attack action. Because it happened on the goblin’s turn, the fighter will only make one attack.
Optimizing the Ready Action for Extra Attack
To maximize the benefit of Extra Attack with the Ready action, consider:
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Trigger conditions: Carefully select your trigger. If possible, choose a trigger that’s likely to occur on your turn, allowing you to make multiple attacks with the attack action on your turn.
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Positioning: Position yourself strategically to benefit from the readied attack.
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Teamwork: Coordinate with your party to create situations where your readied attack is most effective.
FAQs: Readying an Extra Attack and Related Concepts
1. Can you attack twice with a ready action?
Yes, if you have the Extra Attack feature and you ready the Attack action, triggering it on your turn via a reaction, you can attack twice.
2. What is the Extra Attack rule?
Beginning at 5th level (for most martial classes), the Extra Attack feature allows you to make two attacks, instead of one, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Fighters gain more attacks at levels 11 and 20.
3. Is there a feat that gives you an extra attack?
No. There is no feat that grants an additional Extra Attack. The Polearm Master and Great Weapon Master feats provide alternative options for bonus action attacks or increased damage, but these are distinct from the Extra Attack feature.
4. Does Extra Attack work with cantrips?
No. Extra Attack only applies when you take the Attack action. Casting a cantrip requires the Cast a Spell action, even if the cantrip involves making an attack roll. Certain class features, like the Bladesinger’s Extra Attack, allow casting a cantrip as one of the attacks, but that’s a specific exception.
5. Can you use Extra Attack with spells?
No. As with cantrips, casting a spell uses the Cast a Spell action, not the Attack action.
6. Is Extra Attack a bonus action?
No. Extra Attack is a passive feature that modifies the Attack action.
7. Can you attack two targets with Extra Attack?
Yes. When you take the Attack action and have Extra Attack, you can split your attacks between different targets.
8. Can you get Extra Attack from two classes?
No. Extra Attack doesn’t stack between classes. If you gain the Extra Attack feature from multiple classes, you don’t get more attacks.
9. Can you get Extra Attack twice?
No, the features do not stack.
10. Can you ready an attack in D&D?
Yes. You can use the Ready action to prepare an Attack action, which you execute using your reaction when a specific trigger occurs.
11. Does Extra Attack let you cast 2 spells?
No. Extra Attack only applies to the Attack action, not the Cast a Spell action.
12. Can you grapple multiple times with Extra Attack?
Yes. Grappling and shoving can replace attacks made with the Attack action. Therefore, with Extra Attack, you can grapple twice, shove twice, grapple and attack, or use any combination of those options.
13. Can you grapple and attack with Extra Attack?
Yes. As explained above, you can replace one or more attacks from the Attack action with a grapple or shove attempt.
14. Can you use Eldritch Blast twice with Extra Attack?
No. Eldritch Blast is a spell that requires the Cast a Spell action, not the Attack action.
15. Can you use 2 cantrips in one turn?
Generally, yes. You can cast one spell and one cantrip in a turn, so two cantrips should be fine.
Further Learning
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Conclusion
While you can’t directly “ready” an Extra Attack, understanding how the Ready action interacts with the Extra Attack feature can significantly enhance your tactical options. Remember that the key lies in taking the Attack action on your turn, even if it’s through a readied action executed as a reaction. This understanding, combined with strategic trigger selection and positioning, can make you a formidable force on the battlefield.