The Decisive Edge: Understanding the Advantage of Flanking in D&D 5E
The core advantage of flanking in D&D 5E is simple yet powerful: it grants advantage on melee attack rolls against the flanked enemy. This means you roll two d20s and take the higher result, significantly increasing your chances of hitting and dealing damage.
Why Flanking Matters: A Tactical Breakdown
Flanking, at its heart, is a tactical maneuver designed to exploit vulnerabilities. It’s rooted in real-world military strategy, where attacking an enemy from the side bypasses their strongest defenses, typically positioned to face a direct assault. In D&D 5E, this translates into a tangible benefit – advantage.
But what does advantage really mean? It’s more than just an increased chance to hit. It’s a ripple effect that influences the entire combat encounter. A successful hit can mean the difference between a monster staying on its feet or being staggered, allowing your party to capitalize. It can mean landing a critical hit, unleashing devastating damage. Furthermore, the increased hit chance reduces the likelihood of whiffing an attack, preserving valuable resources, especially for martial classes that rely on consistent damage output.
The beauty of flanking lies in its accessibility. It doesn’t require specific feats or class features (unless your DM modifies the rules). It simply requires intelligent positioning and coordination with your allies. This makes it a valuable tactic for any party composition, from a heavily armored group of melee fighters to a more diverse team with spellcasters and ranged attackers.
Consider a scenario: Your Barbarian is trading blows with a fearsome Orc War Chief. The War Chief’s high AC (Armor Class) makes it difficult to land a hit. However, your Rogue, darting in from the side, positions themselves adjacent to the War Chief, creating a flanking situation. Now, both the Barbarian and the Rogue have advantage on their melee attacks against the War Chief. Suddenly, that Orc War Chief seems a lot less invincible.
Flanking can be particularly effective against creatures with high AC or abilities that impose disadvantage on attacks against them. It provides a reliable way to counteract these defenses and maintain consistent damage output. It also encourages players to think strategically about their movement and positioning, transforming a static slugfest into a dynamic and engaging combat encounter. Remember, flanking is an optional rule, and its implementation is at the discretion of the Dungeon Master (DM). But when employed, it adds a layer of tactical depth to combat, rewarding teamwork and smart decision-making. The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) studies this type of dynamic across multiple settings.
FAQ: Demystifying the Nuances of Flanking
To further clarify the intricacies of flanking, here are some frequently asked questions:
1. What are the exact conditions for flanking in 5E?
The standard flanking rule states that when 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, they flank that enemy, and each of them has advantage on melee attack rolls against that enemy.
2. Does flanking work with ranged attacks?
No, the standard flanking rule only applies to melee attack rolls.
3. Can a creature flank on its own?
No, flanking requires at least two allies positioned as described in the rules.
4. Does flanking give advantage to spells?
Yes, melee spell attacks benefit from flanking, as they are considered melee attacks. Ranged spell attacks do not benefit from flanking.
5. Can you flank with a familiar or summoned creature?
Yes, a familiar or summoned creature can contribute to flanking, provided they are capable of making melee attacks and are positioned correctly.
6. Does flanking work with reach weapons?
Yes, when using a reach weapon, you can generally count any of the squares you “pass through” with your reach as a square for flanking purposes. Coordinate with your DM for the exact interpretation.
7. Is flanking an official rule in 5E?
No, flanking is an optional rule presented in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. It’s up to the DM to decide whether to use it in their game.
8. Does being prone affect flanking?
Being prone imposes disadvantage on attack rolls, but it doesn’t negate your ability to contribute to a flanking situation. You can still grant advantage to an ally if you are prone and adjacent to the enemy.
9. Can an invisible creature flank?
Yes, an invisible creature can contribute to flanking, provided they are positioned correctly.
10. How does flanking interact with other sources of advantage or disadvantage?
If you have multiple sources of advantage, you still only roll two dice and take the higher result. If you have both advantage and disadvantage, they cancel each other out, and you roll one die normally.
11. Does flanking work against creatures that are immune to being flanked?
There is no general rule that grants immunity to flanking in 5E. However, some creatures might have abilities or traits that effectively negate the benefits of flanking against them. Consult the creature’s stat block for specific information.
12. Does flanking work against creatures with the Sentinel feat?
The Sentinel feat does not directly interact with flanking. However, if a creature with the Sentinel feat triggers an opportunity attack against a creature that is trying to flank, the attacker’s movement might be interrupted, preventing them from completing the flanking maneuver.
13. Can you flank with a dancing sword?
Yes, since the dancing sword can attack on its own while also being considered in melee, it can be used in a flanking position.
14. Does flanking count if the flanked creature isn’t “paying attention”?
The flanking bonus applies regardless of whether the creature is “paying attention” to the flanker or not. The positional relationship is the determining factor.
15. Does flanking create an opportunity attack?
Simply moving into a flanking position does not trigger an opportunity attack. An opportunity attack is triggered when a creature moves out of an enemy’s reach.