Does Invisibility Grant Advantage on Stealth Checks? Unveiling the Mechanics

The interplay between invisibility and stealth in tabletop role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) 5th Edition, is a topic of much discussion and frequent confusion. The direct answer to the question of whether invisibility automatically grants advantage on Stealth checks is: it depends, but generally, no, invisibility by itself does not grant advantage on Stealth checks. However, invisibility creates the opportunity to attempt a Stealth check in situations where you normally couldn’t.

The Nuances of Invisibility and Stealth

Invisibility and stealth are distinct mechanics, and understanding their differences is crucial. Invisibility, as the name suggests, makes you visually undetectable without the aid of magic or special senses like truesight. Stealth, on the other hand, is the act of moving quietly and avoiding detection through any means, not just sight. It’s a Dexterity (Stealth) check that the character makes, with the Difficulty Class (DC) of that check set by the observer’s Wisdom (Perception) check.

Invisibility: A Condition, Not a Skill Boost

Invisibility doesn’t inherently make you quieter or better at hiding. You can be invisible but still clang around in full plate armor, leaving footprints and making noise. The core benefit of invisibility is that it makes you heavily obscured for the purpose of hiding. This means you can attempt to Hide even if you’re in plain sight. Without invisibility, attempting to Hide requires cover or concealment.

When Invisibility Matters for Stealth

The Dungeon Master (DM) has the discretion to grant advantage or disadvantage on Stealth checks based on circumstances. Here are some scenarios where invisibility might influence Stealth checks:

• Creating Opportunities: As mentioned before, invisibility allows you to attempt a Stealth check in open areas. This alone doesn’t grant advantage, but it’s the foundation upon which stealthy actions can be built.
• Environmental Factors: If the environment is poorly lit or naturally noisy, invisibility might logically give you an edge, prompting the DM to grant advantage. This is highly situational and based on the DM’s interpretation.
• Specific Magic Items or Abilities: Some items, like the Cloak of the Bat, explicitly grant advantage on Stealth checks while also providing invisibility-related benefits. These are exceptions to the general rule.

What Does Provide Advantage on Stealth Checks?

Several factors can grant advantage on Stealth checks:

• Environmental Factors: Dense foliage, shadows, or noisy conditions can make it easier to hide, earning advantage on your check.
• Class Features: Rogues, for example, often have abilities that grant advantage in specific stealthy situations.
• Spells and Abilities: Spells like Enhance Ability (although caution: if you are wearing armor that imposes disadvantage on Stealth, this will cancel out the advantage granted by Enhance Ability) or certain racial traits can provide advantage.
• Help Action: Another character can use the Help action to aid your Stealth attempt, granting you advantage.

FAQs: Invisibility and Stealth Deep Dive

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship between invisibility and stealth:

1. Does the Invisibility Spell Automatically Make Me Good at Stealth?

No. The Invisibility spell makes you unseen, but it doesn’t inherently improve your Stealth skill.

2. If I’m Invisible, Can Enemies Still Hear Me?

Yes. Unless you take measures to move silently, enemies can still hear you. This is why stealth is crucial, even when invisible.

3. Can I Hide in Plain Sight If I’m Invisible?

Yes. Invisibility provides the heavy obscurement necessary to attempt to Hide, even if you are not behind anything.

4. How Does Blindsight Interact with Invisibility and Stealth?

Blindsight allows a creature to perceive its surroundings without relying on sight. Invisibility is irrelevant against blindsight. However, you can still attempt a Stealth check to hide behind an object, even from a creature with blindsight.

5. Does Being Invisible Give Me Advantage on Attack Rolls?

Yes. Invisibility grants advantage on attack rolls because your enemies can’t see you. However, for some invisibility effects (like the Invisibility spell), the spell ends immediately after you make an attack or cast a spell.

6. Does See Invisibility Reveal Creatures Who Are Hiding?

No. See Invisibility reveals creatures that are invisible, but it doesn’t negate successful Stealth checks. A creature can still be hidden, even if it is visible.

7. If I’m Invisible and Successfully Hide, Am I Undetectable?

Not necessarily. While you are visually undetectable, creatures can still notice you through sound, smell, or other senses. Moreover, spells and magical effects may reveal your position.

8. Does Invisibility Grant Advantage on Stealth Checks in Darkness?

Not automatically. Darkness already provides concealment. Invisibility merely adds to that concealment, potentially allowing you to Hide more easily, but not necessarily granting advantage. The DM might grant advantage depending on the specifics of the situation.

9. What Happens if I Bump Into Someone While Invisible?

This is up to the DM, but generally, bumping into someone breaks your cover. They might not see you, but they’ll know something is there. This would likely remove any advantage you had and potentially reveal your general location.

10. Can a Rogue Use Cunning Action to Hide While Invisible?

Yes. The Rogue’s Cunning Action allows them to Hide as a bonus action, and invisibility provides the necessary condition to attempt to Hide, even in plain sight.

11. Does Invisibility Negate the Disadvantage on Stealth Checks Imposed by Heavy Armor?

No. The disadvantage from heavy armor still applies, even if you’re invisible. Being invisible doesn’t make your armor any quieter.

12. If I Cast a Spell While Invisible, Does That End the Invisibility Spell?

Yes, the Invisibility spell specifically states that it ends when the target attacks or casts a spell. Other forms of invisibility, such as the kind conferred by some magic items, do not end when you cast a spell.

13. Does Guiding Bolt Negate Invisibility

Yes. Invisibility does give the attacker disadvantage but Guiding Bolt gives the next creature an advantage which cancels it out.

14. What are the downsides of invisibility?

The cons of invisibility are that people and creatures walking, running, or flying into you because they didn’t see you. Scaring people who are afraid of ghosts is also a downside, and if your body is completely invisible, you’ll be completely blind as well since light will pass right through your eyes.

15. Do Cantrips stop invisibility?

No, you remain invisible unless the duration has run out or something else ends it. The casting of message and sending it to the evil guy does not count as an attack.

Conclusion: Invisibility is a Tool, Not a Guarantee

Invisibility is a powerful tool in D&D 5e, but it’s not a guaranteed free pass to undetected movement. It creates opportunities for stealth, but it’s still up to the character to execute a successful Dexterity (Stealth) check. DMs should carefully consider the circumstances and environmental factors when determining whether to grant advantage or disadvantage, ensuring that the game remains both challenging and engaging. Remember to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more insights into the intersection of games and education.