Cover and Area Effect Spells

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

truestory242

Oct 21, 2014 18:21:25

Do creatures get cover against area effect spells?  If a fight was in front of the goblin and the wizard who is standing behind the goblin casts fireball.  Does the goblin get +2 to it's Dex saving throw for having half-cover?

What if the wizard casts a cantrip like fire bolt in the same scenario?  I would assume in the fire bolt scenario the goblin gets cover but in the fireball scenario it doesn't.  Can you set me straight?

 

 

#2

2Chlorobutanal

Oct 21, 2014 18:48:49

Yes, according to the "Cover" rules in Chapter 9 - Combat (Basic Rules p. 74), creatures provide cover for other creatures.

 

Cover also counts as a bonus to both AC and Dexterity saving throws.

 

To determine cover, draw or project an imaginary line from the origin of the attack to the victim.  In the case of a ranged attack, this would be from the shooter to the target.  In the case of an area effect, this would be from the point of origin to the victim.

 

A fire bolt target has cover if there is a creature directly between the caster and the victim.  If a wizard shoots a fire bolt at a goblin behind an orc, the goblin has cover (+2 AC) from the orc.

 

A fireball's point of origin (being a sphere area of effect) is the center of the area of effect, or center of the "fire ball."  If the same wizard casts a fireball with the point of origin in front of the orc, the goblin would get +2 Dex save from the orc.  If the fireball's point of origin is behind the orc, then the goblin would not get any bonus to its saving throw.

#3

E-Tallitnics

Oct 21, 2014 19:53:44

truestory242 wrote:
#4

2Chlorobutanal

Oct 21, 2014 21:09:49

That may be a special exception for fireball against the general rule that, yes, creatures can provide half cover for spell effects that rely on a Dexterity saving throw.

 

However, a fireball, flamestrike, firestorm, or other spell may be oriented in such a way that the "point of origin" is significantly above ground level, preventing most creatures from providing cover for each other.  In essence, the spell "rains down" on targets instead of hitting them "from the side."