Can You Use Sneak Attack More Than Once?
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Yes, you can use Sneak Attack more than once per turn in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, provided you meet the requirements for triggering it with each eligible attack. The key is understanding the trigger conditions and how they interact with different attack options available to Rogues.
Understanding Sneak Attack
Before diving into the specifics of multiple Sneak Attacks, it’s crucial to grasp the core mechanics of the Sneak Attack feature itself. This is the defining ability of the Rogue class and understanding its nuances is vital to playing the class effectively.
The Core Mechanics
The Sneak Attack feature states, in essence, that you deal extra damage if:
- You have advantage on the attack roll.
- Or, an ally of yours is within 5 feet of the target and isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Additionally:
- The attack must use a finesse or ranged weapon.
- You can only apply Sneak Attack once per turn.
This “once per turn” limitation is where much of the confusion originates. The phrase refers to your turn, not the round. This distinction is critical.
Sneak Attack and Multiple Attacks
The most common scenario involves understanding how Sneak Attack interacts with multiple attacks, whether from class features, feats, or other sources.
Extra Attack Feature
The Rogue class does not gain the Extra Attack feature. This feature, common among martial classes like Fighters and Rangers, allows for multiple attacks during the Attack action. Because Rogues lack this, their opportunity to trigger Sneak Attack often hinges on finding ways to make additional attacks.
Opportunity Attacks
Here’s where things get interesting. Opportunity Attacks occur outside of your turn as a reaction. If the conditions are met (an enemy moves out of your reach without disengaging), and you can trigger Sneak Attack with that opportunity attack, you absolutely can! Since it’s a different turn, you’re not violating the “once per turn” rule from your own turn. This is a common way for Rogues to score a second Sneak Attack.
Ready Action
The Ready Action allows you to prepare to take an action outside of your turn, triggered by a specific condition. If you Ready an attack and the trigger occurs on another creature’s turn, and you meet the Sneak Attack conditions, you can apply Sneak Attack damage. Again, this is because it’s occurring outside of your own turn.
Action Surge
While Rogues do not get Action Surge, if a character multiclasses into Fighter (for example), they would be able to use their Action Surge to take an additional Attack action during their turn. However, this still doesn’t let you apply sneak attack again on your turn. You can only apply it to one attack on your turn.
Commander’s Strike
The Battle Master Fighter’s Commander’s Strike maneuver allows the Fighter to use their bonus action to direct an ally to make an attack as a reaction. If the Rogue is the target of this maneuver and meets the Sneak Attack conditions, they can apply Sneak Attack damage. This attack, like the Opportunity Attack, occurs outside of the Rogue’s turn.
Optimizing for Multiple Sneak Attacks
While not every build is optimized for multiple Sneak Attacks, there are strategies you can use to increase your chances.
Feats
- Sentinel: This feat grants you an opportunity attack when a creature within 5 feet of you attacks an ally. This significantly increases your chances of triggering Sneak Attack outside of your turn.
- Martial Adept: Grants access to Battle Master maneuvers, allowing you to utilize Commander’s Strike (if another character takes this feat as well).
Multiclassing
- Fighter (Battle Master): As mentioned, Commander’s Strike is powerful. Other Fighter subclasses can also provide benefits.
- Ranger: Certain Ranger subclasses can grant additional reactions or opportunities to make attacks.
Teamwork
The simplest and most reliable way to enable Sneak Attack is to coordinate with your party members. Positioning allies within 5 feet of your target is often enough to consistently trigger the ability. Furthermore, using spells or abilities to inflict conditions like restrained or prone will give you advantage on attack rolls.
Common Misconceptions
- Sneak Attack is not dependent on surprise: While the name suggests otherwise, Sneak Attack doesn’t require you to be hidden or the target to be unaware.
- Sneak Attack only applies to one attack per turn, not per round: This is a common mistake. Remember the “once per turn” phrasing.
- Sneak Attack requires a stealth check: Stealth checks are useful for gaining advantage (a Sneak Attack trigger), but aren’t inherently necessary for Sneak Attack.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. If I have advantage on an attack roll, but an enemy is not adjacent to an ally, can I still use Sneak Attack?
Yes, you can use Sneak Attack if you have advantage on the attack roll, regardless of whether an ally is adjacent to the target (assuming you meet other requirements like weapon type).
2. If I have disadvantage on an attack roll, can I use Sneak Attack if an ally is adjacent to the target?
No, you cannot use Sneak Attack if you have disadvantage on the attack roll, even if an ally is within 5 feet of the target. Disadvantage cancels out any potential advantage you might have had.
3. Can I use Sneak Attack with a non-finesse or non-ranged weapon?
No, Sneak Attack requires the use of a finesse or ranged weapon. Examples include daggers, shortswords, shortbows, and light crossbows.
4. What happens if I score a critical hit with a Sneak Attack?
If you score a critical hit with an attack that includes Sneak Attack damage, you double the dice rolled for both the weapon damage and the Sneak Attack damage.
5. Can I choose not to apply Sneak Attack damage if I meet the requirements?
Yes, you can choose not to apply Sneak Attack damage, although there are rarely strategic reasons to do so.
6. If an ally is incapacitated, does that prevent me from using Sneak Attack?
Yes, if the only way you can trigger Sneak Attack is by having an ally within 5 feet of the target, and that ally is incapacitated, you cannot use Sneak Attack.
7. Does the Assassin Rogue subclass’s “Assassinate” feature guarantee Sneak Attack?
The Assassinate feature grants advantage against creatures that haven’t acted in combat. This makes it easier to trigger Sneak Attack, as advantage is one of the Sneak Attack triggers. However, disadvantage will still negate the advantage.
8. If I multiclass as a Rogue/Fighter, can I use Action Surge to make two attacks and apply Sneak Attack to both?
No, even with Action Surge, you can only apply Sneak Attack once per turn. The Action Surge will let you make two attacks, but Sneak Attack will only apply to one of them.
9. Does Hiding automatically grant me advantage for Sneak Attack?
Hiding itself doesn’t automatically grant advantage. You must successfully use the Hide action and remain undetected. Then, your first attack from hiding will have advantage.
10. Can I use Sneak Attack with a spell attack?
No, Sneak Attack specifically requires an attack with a finesse or ranged weapon. Spells do not qualify.
11. If I am dual-wielding, can I use Sneak Attack with both attacks?
If you are dual-wielding and the first attack you make hits and is eligible for Sneak Attack, you can deal the Sneak Attack damage. You cannot apply Sneak Attack to the second attack that turn, even if it hits and you otherwise meet the criteria.
12. What happens if my ally moves away from the target after I attack, but before the damage is rolled?
The Sneak Attack eligibility is determined at the moment you make the attack roll. As long as the conditions (ally within 5 feet or advantage) were met at that moment, you can apply Sneak Attack damage, even if the situation changes before the damage is rolled.
13. Can I use Sneak Attack on a creature that is immune to the damage type of my weapon?
Yes, you can still apply Sneak Attack damage even if the creature is immune to the weapon’s damage. Sneak Attack damage is separate from the weapon’s base damage. If you have ways to alter your damage type through subclass features or spells, then it may be possible for all the damage to be inflicted.
14. How does Sneak Attack interact with the Steady Aim optional class feature from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything?
Steady Aim, a Rogue optional class feature from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, allows you to use your bonus action to gain advantage on your next attack roll on the current turn. This feature is an excellent way to reliably trigger Sneak Attack.
15. If a creature is both blinded and restrained, do I automatically have advantage against it for Sneak Attack?
Being blinded by itself does not grant you advantage. It grants others advantage against the blinded creature. However, being restrained does grant you advantage on attack rolls against that creature. Therefore, in this scenario, you would have advantage and could trigger Sneak Attack.