Sneak Attack and Seeing Target

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

daedel

Jul 11, 2014 16:03:25

IS there any part of the rules that explicity say sneak attack can only be executed if you can see your target? I only find that is mandatory to have advantage (not even that if you have an enemy of your target at a distance of 5 foot)

#2

Alynn

Jul 11, 2014 16:18:19

Ordinarily no.

 

If you can't see your target, then you have disadvantage on the roll, if you have disadvantage on the roll you can never have advantage.

(Reply to #2)

Overpromises

You would need both of those things at the same time to sneak attack an unseen target:

 

  1. Another enemy of your target within five feet of it and not incapacitated
  2. Advantage from some other source to cancel out the disadvantage from not being able to see it
#4

mellored

Jul 11, 2014 16:55:15

You can't sneak attack if you have disadvantage.  Which you get if you can't see your target.

 

So you'll need to see your target somehow.

#5

Jay_Ibero_911

Jul 11, 2014 17:03:36

mellored wrote:
#6

Alynn

Jul 11, 2014 17:05:56

Jay_Ibero_911 wrote:
#7

Jay_Ibero_911

Jul 11, 2014 17:09:39

Alynn wrote:
(Reply to #6)

Chimerasame

Alynn wrote:
#9

Alynn

Jul 11, 2014 17:15:51

Yup, I must have misread it.

 

Carry on then,

#10

mellored

Jul 11, 2014 18:10:27

Chimerasame wrote:
#11

Archon007

Jul 11, 2014 19:20:48

For me as a GM the only way this would work, again for me, is if the ally could see the target. If the ally couldn't see the target, for me as a GM, common sense says "No"

#12

daedel

Jul 11, 2014 22:36:50

I know it sounds crazy, but my group was discussing rules yesterday and the one that plays the rogue asked: "what happens if I move into darkness, roll for hiding and then attack an adjacent enemy? " Provided he's human and doesn't have darkvision, per RAW you'll have advantage and disadvantage at the same time. I found out later the rule that both cancels each other so you don't have anything, but doesn't help when you have an ally adjacent to the enemy because in that case you don't need advantage.

 

But as suggested before, common sense dictates to say no if you cannot properly see your enemy.