Unveiling the Shadows: A Comprehensive Guide to Hiding in D&D 5e
Hiding in D&D 5e is a powerful mechanic that allows characters to gain tactical advantages, bypass dangerous encounters, and add a layer of depth to both combat and roleplaying scenarios. It’s not as simple as ducking behind a rock; it requires understanding the interplay of rules and conditions.
Here’s a comprehensive look at how hiding works:
At its core, hiding is an action that a character can take during their turn. When you decide to hide, you make a Dexterity (Stealth) check. This check is contested by the passive Wisdom (Perception) score of any creature that might notice you. It’s important to note that you can only attempt to hide when the creature you’re trying to hide from can’t clearly see you. This could be because you’re behind cover, in dim light, or even using magical effects to obscure yourself.
Successful hiding requires more than just a good Stealth roll. You also need to remain unseen and unheard. This means no loud movements or noises that could give your position away. If you are detected, you are no longer considered hidden and must hide again to regain the condition. This often involves finding a new hiding spot or waiting for an opportune moment to break line of sight. Successfully hiding grants you the hidden condition, offering several tactical benefits.
The most significant benefit of hiding is that when you attack while hidden, you gain advantage on your attack roll. This represents your surprise element and the fact that your opponent is unaware of your precise location. However, it’s crucial to note that, as a general rule, making an attack immediately reveals your location. The text says “If you are hidden — both unseen and unheard — when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.” You are no longer considered hidden for any further actions until you successfully hide again. There is, however, an important exception to this rule:
The Skulker feat significantly alters this dynamic. If you have this feat, a ranged attack miss will not automatically give away your position, allowing you to potentially maintain your hidden status and gain advantage on subsequent attacks. In this case, one attack gains advantage and the attack doesn’t reveal your location. This feat is particularly powerful for ranged attackers who prefer to remain hidden.
The “hidden” condition is a bit different from invisibility. Although invisible creatures are impossible to see without magic or special senses, they aren’t automatically considered hidden. You are not automatically hidden while invisible. You can be invisible and still not be hidden if your opponent can tell where you are by hearing you or by some other means. They could still hear you moving or perceive your position via another sense like tremor sense. Invisibility does provide heavy obscuration, making it easier to attempt to hide since the opponent cannot see you at all.
In summary, hiding is a versatile and complex mechanic that requires careful consideration of your environment and your opponents. It’s more than just a dice roll; it’s a tactical decision with profound implications in the game.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiding in D&D
What are the Benefits of Hiding in D&D?
Hiding provides several crucial advantages:
- Advantage on Attack Rolls: As described above, if you attack while hidden, you gain advantage, making it more likely for your attack to hit.
- Sneak Attack for Rogues: Rogues can deliver Sneak Attack damage to any foe that can’t see them, making hiding essential for this class.
- Unseen Movement: Hiding allows you to move undetected, making infiltration and ambushes much easier.
- Narrative Impact: Hiding can lead to exciting scenarios and roleplaying opportunities, enabling a more dynamic campaign.
- Avoidance: You can use hiding to get away from enemies or situations you would like to avoid.
What’s the Difference Between Cover and Hide in D&D?
Cover provides a physical barrier between you and an enemy. Cover doesn’t give you the “hidden” condition but provides bonuses to defense. Enemies still know roughly where you are, though it makes it more difficult to target you. Hiding, on the other hand, is all about obscuring your presence. When you successfully hide, your opponents are unaware of your location. It’s also possible to be both in cover and hidden. This is a particularly strong position that gives you multiple advantages.
How Does Stealth Work in D&D?
Stealth is the skill used to successfully hide. When you try to hide, you make a Dexterity (Stealth) check, contested by the Wisdom (Perception) checks or passive perception scores of any creatures that may detect you.
What is the Hiding Condition in 5e?
The hidden condition in D&D 5e means that a creature is both unseen and unheard by those who might notice it. It’s a status that provides several advantages, most notably advantage on attack rolls. Note that you can be both hidden and invisible but are not automatically hidden when invisible.
Are Stealth Rules Published in D&D 5e?
Yes, stealth rules are published in the Player’s Handbook under the heading “Dexterity” as well as the section that contains the “Unseen Attackers and Targets” rules. There are no separate supplemental rulebooks needed.
How Does the Hide Action Work?
The Hide action allows you to make a Dexterity (Stealth) check against the passive Perception scores of any creatures that could see you. If successful, you gain the hidden condition, and any attacks you make against unaware foes will be at an advantage. Making an attack reveals your location immediately (unless you have the Skulker Feat and miss with a ranged attack), so you will need to hide again to regain the condition.
Why Do I Have Disadvantage on Stealth Checks?
If you are wearing armor that indicates “Disadvantage” in the Stealth column, you have disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. This means you roll the die twice and take the lower result. The type of armor you are wearing is the main reason you would have disadvantage on these rolls.
How Do You Detect Invisibility in D&D?
Invisibility is typically detected with magic, or a special sense such as tremorsense. An invisible creature is not necessarily hidden, but is treated as heavily obscured for the purposes of being targeted by an attack or being seen. Their position can still be detected by noises or any tracks they leave.
Is Flanking a Valid Way to Gain Advantage on Attack Rolls?
Flanking is a house rule (and not part of official 5e rules) used by some DMs to give a melee attack advantage if a creature and at least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on opposite sides or corners of the enemy’s space. This isn’t hiding but does provide a similar advantage.
What is the Benefit of Being Heavily Obscured?
A heavily obscured area blocks vision entirely, and is similar to the blinded condition for the creatures that are trying to see within it. In the context of hiding, being in a heavily obscured area makes it easier to attempt a Stealth check, but it doesn’t guarantee success or grant the hidden condition on its own.
What is the Skulker Feat?
The Skulker feat has the benefit of preventing ranged attacks from revealing your location (on a miss). This is huge for any ranged attackers that prefer to be hidden. It also gives you advantage when you attack from dim light or darkness, and makes it harder for someone to detect you when lightly obscured.
Why is Stealth so Useful?
Stealth enables players to bypass encounters, launch sneak attacks, infiltrate enemy strongholds, and add a level of depth to both combat and role-playing. It is useful in virtually any setting and provides characters with more options.
What Happens When a Hidden Attacker is Revealed?
When a hidden attacker makes an attack, their location is usually revealed immediately. The attacker is no longer considered hidden. There is no saving throw or second roll to maintain the hidden condition.
What is the Rogue Class and How Does it Relate to Hiding?
The rogue class is designed to be sneaky and uses stealth to their advantage. A rogue can deliver Sneak Attack damage when they have advantage on an attack roll or when the foe is near another enemy. Hiding is a reliable way for a rogue to set themselves up for the powerful Sneak Attack.
What is the Purpose of Silent Image?
The Silent Image spell creates an image that is purely visual and does not make sounds or odors. It’s not designed for hiding creatures, but can provide cover to potentially hide behind, or distract opponents while you reposition yourself. The spell can be used creatively in tandem with a hide action.