Does repelling blast trigger attacks of opportunity?

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Does Repelling Blast Trigger Attacks of Opportunity?

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The answer to the question of whether Repelling Blast triggers attacks of opportunity is straightforward: No, it does not. When you hit a creature with Eldritch Blast and use Repelling Blast to push the creature up to 10 feet away from you in a straight line, this movement does not provoke opportunity attacks because it is considered forced movement, not a voluntary move by the creature.

Understanding Opportunity Attacks

To delve deeper into why Repelling Blast does not trigger opportunity attacks, it’s essential to understand what opportunity attacks are. An opportunity attack is a reaction to an enemy leaving your reach, which you can use to make a melee attack against that enemy. However, the key factor here is the nature of the movement: it must be a voluntary action by the creature to leave your reach for it to trigger an opportunity attack.

How Repelling Blast Works

Repelling Blast is an invocation that can be used when hitting a creature with Eldritch Blast, allowing the caster to push the creature a certain distance away. This push is a form of forced movement, which is distinct from voluntary movement in the context of opportunity attacks. Since forced movement does not provoke opportunity attacks, using Repelling Blast to push a creature away does not give that creature’s enemies an opportunity attack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Given the intricacies of D&D rules and the specific mechanics of Repelling Blast and opportunity attacks, several questions arise. Here are some key FAQs to clarify various aspects of these mechanics:

  1. What Provokes Opportunity Attacks?
  • Opportunity attacks are provoked when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach voluntarily.
  1. Does Pushing Trigger Opportunity Attacks?
  • No, pushing a creature does not trigger opportunity attacks because it is considered forced movement, not a voluntary action by the creature.
  1. Does Repelling Blast Apply to Each Beam?
  • Yes, Repelling Blast applies to each beam of Eldritch Blast, meaning a creature can be pushed back multiple times if hit by multiple beams, but only once per cast.
  1. Is Repelling Blast Worth It?
  • Repelling Blast is decent on its own but becomes more valuable when combined with other spells that benefit from the enemy being pushed, such as Wall of Fire or Evard’s Black Tentacles.
  1. Does Repelling Blast Work on Large Creatures?
  • Yes, Repelling Blast can push creatures of any size, including large ones, up to 10 feet away per hit.
  1. How Do You Not Provoke Opportunity Attacks?
  • You can avoid provoking opportunity attacks by using the Disengage action before moving away or by having forced movement applied to you.
  1. What Movement Does Not Provoke Opportunity Attacks?
  • Forced movement, such as being pushed by a spell or falling due to gravity, does not provoke opportunity attacks.
  1. Does Telekinetic Movement Trigger Opportunity Attacks?
  • No, being moved telekinetically does not provoke opportunity attacks because it does not use the target’s movement, action, or reaction.
  1. Does Repelling Blast Stack with Lance of Lethargy?
  • Yes, Repelling Blast can stack with Lance of Lethargy as there is no competing clause preventing their combined use.

  1. Does Repelling Blast Break Grapples?

    • Yes, Repelling Blast can break a grapple and remove the restrained condition because forced movement can break a grapple.

  2. Can You Cast Hex and Eldritch Blast?

    • There are limitations on combining certain abilities with Eldritch Blast, such as not being able to use Hex and Quicken Spell Eldritch Blast on the same turn.

  3. Does Confusion Cause Opportunity Attacks?

    • A confused character will not make opportunity attacks against creatures it is not already devoted to attacking.

  4. Can You Make Opportunity Attacks While Prone?

    • Yes, a prone creature can make opportunity attacks.

  5. Does Dissonant Whispers Provoke Opportunity Attacks?

    • Dissonant whispers requires the target to move using its reaction, which can provoke opportunity attacks.

  6. Does Forced Movement Break Grapple?

    • Yes, forced movement can break a grapple because it sets a creature’s speed to zero and allows forced movement to break the grapple.

By understanding these rules and FAQs, players and Dungeon Masters can better navigate the complexities of Repelling Blast and opportunity attacks in their D&D games, ensuring a more enjoyable and rules-compliant experience for all.

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