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Do You Get Advantage on Attack Rolls If You Are Hidden? A Comprehensive Guide

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Yes, you generally get advantage on attack rolls if you are hidden from your target when you make the attack. However, the mechanics of hiding, advantage, and attack rolls in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) are intertwined and require a thorough understanding. This article will break down the rules, nuances, and common scenarios to provide a clear and comprehensive answer.

Understanding the Core Mechanics

Before diving into the specifics, let’s define some key terms:

Hidden: A creature is hidden when its location is not visually known to one or more other creatures. This is achieved through successfully completing a Stealth check that beats the target’s Passive Perception or active Perception check. Note that being hidden isn’t the same as being invisible.
Advantage: When you have advantage, you roll a d20 twice and use the higher result. Advantage can be granted by various conditions, abilities, or circumstances.
Attack Roll: A d20 roll plus your attack bonus, compared against a target’s Armor Class (AC). If the roll meets or exceeds the AC, the attack hits.

The Connection: Hiding and Advantage

The primary rule connecting hiding and advantage lies in the condition of being unseen. When you are hidden, you are effectively unseen by your target. The rules state that when you attack a creature that is unaware of your presence, you gain advantage on the attack roll.

Therefore, the link is: Hidden -> Unseen -> Advantage on Attack Roll.

Key Considerations

It’s crucial to remember several factors that influence this interaction:

Breaking Stealth: Making an attack, even with advantage, automatically reveals your position. Unless you have abilities that allow you to remain hidden after an attack (like the Assassin Rogue’s Assassin ability), your hidden status is immediately lost.
Opportunity Attacks: If you move out of an enemy’s reach while hidden, they generally don’t get an opportunity attack, as they need to see you to react. This can provide a significant tactical advantage.
Vision and Awareness: Creatures must have some way to perceive you to be affected by your attempts to hide. For example, if a creature is blind, it might rely on hearing or smell. Hiding effectively requires concealing yourself from all means of perception the target uses.
Disadvantage Cancels Advantage: If you have both advantage and disadvantage on an attack roll, they cancel each other out, and you roll only one d20. It’s crucial to avoid disadvantage when attempting to leverage the benefits of being hidden.
Specific Class Features and Spells: Certain class features and spells can enhance or alter the interaction between hiding and attacking. The Assassin Rogue’s Assassin ability, for instance, grants automatic critical hits against surprised creatures, which often ties into being hidden.

Examples in Play

Consider these scenarios:

Scenario 1: A rogue is hiding behind a crate. They successfully make a Stealth check against a guard’s Passive Perception. The rogue then attacks the guard. Because the guard is unaware of the rogue’s presence (the rogue is hidden), the rogue gets advantage on the attack roll.
Scenario 2: A wizard casts Invisibility on themselves. While invisible, they are hidden (unless they take actions that would reveal them, such as casting a loud spell). They then attack a goblin. The wizard gets advantage on the attack roll because the goblin cannot see them.
Scenario 3: A fighter is hiding in a dark alley. They try to shoot an arrow at a passing merchant but are in dim light, imposing disadvantage on their attack rolls. Even though the merchant is unaware of their presence, the disadvantage cancels out the advantage, resulting in a straight roll (one d20).

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Hiding and Advantage

Here are 15 FAQs to further clarify the relationship between being hidden and gaining advantage on attack rolls:

FAQ 1: If I’m invisible, am I automatically hidden?

Not necessarily. Invisibility makes you unseen, which usually translates to being hidden, granting advantage on attack rolls. However, other sensory input, like sound, could reveal your presence. A creature might still hear you walking or detect your scent, negating your hidden status even if they can’t see you.

FAQ 2: Does attacking break my hidden status?

Yes. Unless you have a special ability (like the Assassin Rogue’s Assassin feature), making an attack reveals your position and ends your hidden status.

FAQ 3: If I have advantage from being hidden, can I still get a critical hit?

Yes. Rolling with advantage increases your chances of rolling a natural 20, which is an automatic critical hit.

FAQ 4: Can I hide in plain sight?

Generally, no. You need some form of obscurement or cover to attempt a Stealth check. The DM determines whether the environment provides sufficient cover or concealment.

FAQ 5: What happens if I’m hidden but make a noise?

Making a noise could alert creatures to your general location, potentially leading to them making Perception checks to find you. If they succeed, you are no longer hidden from them.

FAQ 6: If I’m hidden from one enemy, am I hidden from all enemies?

No. Hiding is specific to each creature. You might be hidden from one enemy with a low Passive Perception but visible to another with a higher Passive Perception.

FAQ 7: How does darkness affect hiding?

Darkness provides obscurement, making it easier to attempt Stealth checks if the creatures you are hiding from rely on sight. However, some creatures have darkvision, which allows them to see in dim light and darkness.

FAQ 8: Can I use the Hide action as a bonus action?

Some classes, like the Rogue (with the Cunning Action feature) and certain subclasses, can use the Hide action as a bonus action.

FAQ 9: What’s the difference between Hide and Disengage?

The Hide action allows you to attempt to become hidden. The Disengage action allows you to move without provoking opportunity attacks. They serve different purposes and are often used in conjunction.

FAQ 10: Does being behind total cover automatically make me hidden?

Being behind total cover typically means you are unseen, but it doesn’t automatically make you hidden. You still need to use the Hide action and succeed on a Stealth check to become hidden.

FAQ 11: How does the Pass Without Trace spell affect hiding?

The Pass Without Trace spell grants a significant bonus to Stealth checks, making it much easier to become hidden and maintain your hidden status.

FAQ 12: If a creature is surprised, do I automatically get advantage on my attack roll?

Yes. Being surprised means a creature can’t take actions or reactions on its first turn of combat. You get advantage on attack rolls against surprised creatures if you are unseen when you attack them.

FAQ 13: Can I hide underwater?

Yes, assuming there’s enough obscurement (murky water, seaweed, etc.). Successfully completing a Stealth check allows you to hide underwater.

FAQ 14: If I have disadvantage on my Stealth check, can I still hide effectively?

It’s more difficult, but yes. You can still succeed on a Stealth check even with disadvantage, especially if the target’s Passive Perception is low.

FAQ 15: How does magical darkness (like from the Darkness spell) affect hiding?

Magical darkness creates a heavily obscured area. Creatures without darkvision effectively cannot see within it. Creatures with darkvision treat it as dim light. This can significantly aid in hiding against those without a way to see through magical darkness. However, note that some features and spells, such as the Devil’s Sight invocation for Warlocks, allow seeing through even magical darkness.

Conclusion

Gaining advantage on attack rolls by being hidden is a powerful tactic in D&D 5e. By understanding the rules surrounding hiding, vision, and awareness, players can effectively utilize stealth to gain a strategic edge in combat and exploration. Remember to consider the environment, creature abilities, and potential disadvantages to maximize the benefits of staying unseen.