Blindsight vs. Tremorsense in 5e: A Comprehensive Guide
The world of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) is filled with creatures possessing an array of extraordinary senses that go beyond the typical human limitations. Among these, blindsight and tremorsense stand out as two of the most intriguing and strategically impactful. While both allow creatures to perceive their surroundings without relying on normal vision, they function in distinctly different ways, leading to unique advantages and limitations.
The fundamental difference lies in how these senses work. Blindsight provides a sort of “echolocation” or heightened perception, allowing a creature to “see” without using its eyes. In contrast, tremorsense is a sensory ability that allows creatures to detect the presence and movement of other beings by sensing vibrations in the ground or water.
Understanding Blindsight in 5e
How Blindsight Works
Blindsight allows a creature to perceive its surroundings within a specified radius without relying on sight. This perception is often described as a form of non-visual “seeing,” akin to how a bat uses echolocation or a dolphin uses sonar. It’s an abstraction for highly developed non-visual senses, and it allows the creature to accurately determine the position of objects and creatures.
Key Features and Limitations of Blindsight
- Ignores Darkness and Invisibility: One of the most significant advantages of blindsight is its ability to bypass the effects of darkness and invisibility. Creatures with blindsight perceive the world regardless of lighting conditions or whether an opponent is magically concealed.
- Bypasses the Blinded Condition: Creatures with blindsight can perceive their surroundings even when affected by the Blinded condition, essentially negating its negative effects.
- Stopped by Total Cover: While powerful, blindsight is blocked by total cover. This means that a creature with blindsight cannot see through solid walls or similar barriers.
- Vulnerable to Stealth: Creatures that use stealth can successfully hide from creatures with blindsight, as this sense doesn’t penetrate through the stealth mechanic.
Examples of Blindsight
Many creatures in 5e possess blindsight, including:
- Oozes (which lack traditional eyes)
- Bats and certain other nocturnal creatures
- Some dragons (who utilize their powerful senses)
- Certain magical constructs
Understanding Tremorsense in 5e
How Tremorsense Works
Tremorsense allows a creature to detect the presence, location, and movement of other beings by sensing vibrations in the ground or water. This sensory ability is not based on sight but rather on the physical impact of movement.
Key Features and Limitations of Tremorsense
- Detects Grounded and Aquatic Movement: Tremorsense allows a creature to pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground, including creatures, and moving through water if it’s an aquatic creature.
- Bypasses Some Cover: Unlike blindsight, tremorsense can often penetrate certain types of cover, as long as the vibrations are transmitted through the material. This makes it particularly useful for creatures that burrow underground.
- Does Not Detect Airborn or Incorporeal Creatures: Tremorsense cannot detect creatures that are airborne or have an incorporeal form, as there are no physical vibrations to sense.
- Not Affected by Darkness, Invisibility, or Blindness: Tremorsense doesn’t rely on sight at all and is not impeded by magical darkness, invisibility, or blindness.
- Not Subject to Stealth: Stealth is effectively useless against tremorsense as vibrations can’t be concealed.
Examples of Tremorsense
Creatures known to have tremorsense include:
- Earth elementals
- Various burrowing creatures, such as Bulettes
- Certain large worms like the Purple worm
- Many subterranean monsters
Key Differences Summarized
| Feature | Blindsight | Tremorsense |
|---|---|---|
| ——– | ——– | ——– |
| Sensory Basis | Non-visual “sight” akin to echolocation | Detection of vibrations in the ground or water |
| Affected by Darkness | No | No |
| Affected by Invisibility | No | No |
| Affected by Blinded Condition | No | No |
| Blocked by Total Cover | Yes | Generally, No |
| Affected by Stealth | Yes | No |
| Detects Airborne Creatures | Yes | No |
| Detects Incorporeal Creatures | Yes | No |
| Detects Creatures in Water | No (Unless it states otherwise) | Yes, if an aquatic creature |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does tremorsense count as sight?
No. Tremorsense does not count as a form of sight. It is a distinct sensory ability based on detecting vibrations rather than light. Therefore, creatures relying on tremorsense are not affected by visual impairments but cannot perceive things that are not producing vibrations (like flying or incorporeal beings).
2. Can a creature with tremorsense be blinded?
Yes, a creature with tremorsense can technically be blinded, as blindness does not affect its ability to detect ground-based vibrations. Being blinded would have no impact on its ability to perceive its surroundings using tremorsense, as long as the opponent is detectable via tremorsense.
3. Can you see invisibility with blindsight in 5e?
Yes, blindsight allows you to perceive invisible creatures within its range as long as they are not behind total cover. This ability is one of the key advantages of this sense.
4. Can you see invisibility with tremorsense in 5e?
Yes, tremorsense allows you to detect invisible creatures, as long as they are in contact with the ground or water and produce vibrations. Invisibility has no effect on tremorsense.
5. Does silence stop tremorsense?
No, the silence spell does not stop tremorsense because tremorsense is based on detecting vibrations, not sounds.
6. Does tremorsense work through magical darkness?
Yes, tremorsense works through magical darkness, as this sense does not rely on sight at all.
7. Does stealth work against tremorsense?
No, stealth is generally ineffective against tremorsense. Since tremorsense detects vibrations, the act of trying to conceal yourself through stealth would be irrelevant as movement would create vibrations and would still be detected.
8. Does tremorsense work underwater?
Yes, for aquatic creatures, tremorsense works in water, allowing them to sense the movement of other creatures. For others, it depends on the creature’s specific traits.
9. Is blindsight or tremorsense better?
Neither is inherently better. Blindsight is better for detecting a wider range of threats (including airborn) but is limited by total cover, and is affected by stealth. Tremorsense is better for detecting hidden and burrowing creatures but is limited by the contact-with-the-ground rule. The “better” choice depends on the specific situation.
10. What races have tremorsense?
While not common among playable races, some creatures with tremorsense include Earth Elementals, Bulettes, Purple Worms, and Black Puddings. Some playable races or subclasses could gain access to it through various means (such as wildshape).
11. What are the rules for blindsight in 5e?
A creature with blindsight can perceive its surroundings without relying on sight within a specified radius. It works even if the creature is blinded or in darkness, but is blocked by total cover.
12. How does tremorsense work mechanically in 5e?
Tremorsense works by allowing a creature to automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground (or water) by sensing vibrations. This means no roll is required to determine the location of a creature with it.
13. Can you make an opportunity attack with tremorsense if you cannot see them?
No, you cannot make an opportunity attack if you cannot see the creature, despite having tremorsense and knowing their location. Opportunity attacks require being able to see the creature, but tremorsense doesn’t count as a form of vision.
14. Can guiding bolt negate disadvantage against invisibility using tremorsense?
Yes, while using guiding bolt against an invisible target with tremorsense would give you disadvantage, the advantage given by guiding bolt cancels out that disadvantage for your next attack.
15. Can tremorsense be used to detect how many people are behind a wall?
Tremorsense can be used to detect multiple creatures behind a wall or door based on their vibrations as long as they are in contact with the ground. However, if they are not in contact with the ground, like floating creatures, tremorsense would not detect them.
Understanding the differences between blindsight and tremorsense is crucial for strategic play in 5e. Each sense provides unique tactical advantages and limitations that, when properly understood, can be leveraged to dominate the battlefield.