Can You See Invisibility with Blindsight in D&D 5e? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer is yes, generally speaking. Blindsight allows a creature to perceive its surroundings without relying on sight. Since invisibility specifically affects the ability to be seen, it’s largely irrelevant against blindsight. A creature with blindsight relies on other senses, like hearing, echolocation, or vibrations, to understand the world around it. However, it’s not quite that simple. Let’s delve into the nuances of blindsight and invisibility in D&D 5e, exploring how they interact and the specific circumstances that affect their interplay.

Understanding Blindsight in D&D 5e

Blindsight is a special sense that lets a creature perceive its surroundings without needing to see. The Player’s Handbook describes it as perceiving without relying on sight within a specific radius. Creatures with blindsight might use other senses, like hearing or echolocation, to create a mental map of their environment. It’s important to note that blindsight doesn’t allow a creature to see through walls or other total cover. It only provides perception of what’s within its range and isn’t obscured by such obstacles.

The Nature of Invisibility

Invisibility is a condition that makes a creature impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense. This means that standard visual perception is useless against an invisible creature. However, it doesn’t mask other sensory information. An invisible creature might still be heard, smelled, or felt. The Invisibility spell, for example, ends if the target attacks or casts a spell, implying that other sensory clues are not nullified.

The Interaction: Blindsight vs. Invisibility

The key interaction is that invisibility only affects the sense of sight. Therefore, a creature that doesn’t rely on sight, thanks to blindsight, is unaffected by invisibility. If an invisible creature is within the radius of a creature’s blindsight, the creature with blindsight can perceive it. They can pinpoint its location and track its movements.

However, this doesn’t mean the invisible creature is helpless. They can still attempt to Hide from the creature with blindsight. Hiding requires the invisible creature to make a Stealth check. If they succeed, the creature with blindsight might know something is there, but not its exact location or nature. More importantly, total cover still works. An invisible creature can still duck behind a wall or other object that provides total cover, even from a creature with blindsight.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Blindsight and Invisibility

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship between blindsight and invisibility in D&D 5e:

1. Can you hide from someone with blindsight?

Yes, you can attempt to hide from a creature with blindsight. While blindsight negates the visual aspect of invisibility, it doesn’t negate the ability to use Stealth to conceal your presence. You must still find a way to be undetected (usually by succeeding on a Stealth check) and have something to break line of sight to initially hide.

2. Does blindsight negate the advantage on attack rolls against targets that can’t see you when you are invisible?

No. Invisibility grants advantage on attack rolls against creatures that cannot see you. Blindsight allows a creature to “see” past the Invisibility so they can see you, and the Invisible creature would not have advantage on attack rolls. However, attacks against the invisible creature are at disadvantage unless they can be “seen” by magical means or through blindsight or truesight.

3. Does darkness affect blindsight?

No, it does not. Blindsight allows a creature to perceive its surroundings without relying on sight. Therefore, conditions that affect vision, such as darkness or fog, do not impede blindsight.

4. Does total cover protect an invisible creature from blindsight?

Yes, it does. Blindsight doesn’t allow a creature to “see” through walls or other obstructions that provide total cover. An invisible creature hiding behind total cover is effectively hidden from a creature with blindsight.

5. Can a creature with blindsight identify illusions?

Blindsight does not automatically negate illusions. Illusions that affect other senses might still work against a creature with blindsight. It depends on the nature of the illusion and what senses it targets.

6. Does blindsight work against creatures hidden by magical effects other than invisibility?

Blindsight specifically counters the invisibility condition and provides awareness of surroundings without sight. However, it might not negate other magical concealment effects. For instance, the Nondetection spell would likely still function against blindsight because it cloaks the target’s presence from divination magic.

7. Can you use Stealth to sneak past a creature with blindsight in an open area?

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to hide in plain sight. To hide, you need something to break line of sight – like a rock, a tree, or a large bush. However, if you are using Stealth to stay quiet so you can move past a creature, then you’ll need to use a Stealth roll.

8. Is there a difference between blindsight and blindsense?

Yes, there is a crucial difference. Blindsight provides accurate perception, allowing you to pinpoint the location of creatures and objects within its range. Blindsense, on the other hand, only alerts you to the presence of something. You know something is there, but you don’t necessarily know its exact location.

9. Can a creature with blindsight read?

Generally, no. Reading requires processing visual information. Blindsight relies on other senses. Unless the text is specifically designed to be read via touch (like Braille), a creature with blindsight cannot read.

10. How far does blindsight typically extend?

The range of blindsight varies depending on the creature. It’s usually specified in the creature’s stat block, often ranging from 10 feet to 60 feet or more.

11. Does blindsight reveal a creature hidden with the Pass Without Trace spell?

Pass Without Trace grants a bonus to Stealth checks, making it easier to hide. However, it does not inherently conceal a creature from blindsight. If the creature manages to succeed on their Stealth check, they can remain hidden even from a creature with blindsight.

12. If a creature with blindsight is deafened, does its blindsight still work?

Yes, it does. While many creatures with blindsight rely on hearing or echolocation, the blindsight ability itself is not contingent on any specific sense. It could be vibrations, changes in air pressure, or other non-visual means.

13. Can you use the Hide action if a creature with blindsight is within 5 feet of you?

Yes, it can. Blindsight reveals them, but if the creature moves out of sight, Stealth applies again.

14. What are some examples of creatures with blindsight in D&D 5e?

Examples of creatures with blindsight include Bats, Oozes, and certain types of Dragons. These creatures rely on non-visual senses to navigate and perceive their environment.

15. Can detect magic reveal an invisible creature?

No, it cannot. The Detect Magic spell only reveals the presence of magical auras, not the location of invisible creatures. Spells like See Invisibility are specifically designed to reveal invisible creatures or objects.

Conclusion

While invisibility is a powerful tool for concealment, it’s not foolproof. Creatures with blindsight are immune to its primary effect, which is the inability to be seen. However, smart players can still use tactics like hiding behind total cover or making successful Stealth checks to evade even those with this potent sense. Understanding the rules and interactions between different abilities and conditions is crucial for mastering D&D 5e. Remember to always consult the Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide for the most accurate and up-to-date rules.

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