Combat Basics

Combat in D&D 5.5e is turn-based and organized into rounds. Each round, every participant gets one turn to act. For an alternative combat system, check out our Divinity Combat Rules.

Combat Start: Roll for Initiative

At the start of combat, everyone rolls for initiative (d20 + Dexterity modifier) to determind the order in which players and enemies take their turns.

On your Turn

On your turn, you can:

Move up to your speed (usually 30 feet)
Take one Action
Take one Bonus Action (if available)
Use one Free Action (like speaking or dropping an item)

Actions in Combat

Common actions you can take:

Attack: Make one or more attacks
Cast a Spell: Cast a spell with a casting time of 1 action
Dash: Double your movement speed
Disengage: Move away without provoking opportunity attacks
Dodge: Impose disadvantage on attacks against you
Help: Give advantage to an ally's next ability check or attack
Hide: Make a Stealth check to hide
Ready: Prepare an action for a specific trigger
Use an Object: Interact with a second object or environmental feature

Making an Attack

To make an attack:

Choose a target within range
Roll d20 + attack modifier
Compare to target's AC
If you hit, roll damage

Cover

Objects can provide cover to targets:

Half Cover: +2 to AC and Dexterity saving throws
Three-Quarters Cover: +5 to AC and Dexterity saving throws
Full Cover: Can't be targeted directly

Reactions

You get one reaction per round, which you can use for:

Opportunity Attacks: When an enemy leaves your reach
Ready Action: When your specified trigger occurs
Certain Spells: Such as Shield or Counterspell

Surprise

If you come across enemies that aren't aware of you, you might surprise them:

The DM determines who might be surprised
If you're hidden, compare your Stealth check to enemies' passive Perception
Surprised creatures can't move or take actions on their first turn
Surprised creatures can't take reactions until after their first turn
After the first turn, surprise ends and combat continues normally

Conditions

Conditions alter a creature's capabilities in various ways:

Basic Conditions

Blinded	Charmed	Deafened	Frightened
Can't see. Fails sight-based checks. Attacks against it have advantage. Its attacks have disadvantage.	Can't attack the charmer. Can't harm the charmer. Charmer has advantage on social checks.	Can't hear. Fails hearing-based checks.	Disadvantage on checks and attacks while source is visible. Can't move closer to fear source.

Movement Conditions

Grappled	Prone	Restrained	Invisible
Speed becomes 0. Ends if grappler is incapacitated. Ends if moved out of reach.	Can only crawl. Disadvantage on attacks. Melee attacks against it have advantage. Ranged attacks have disadvantage.	Speed becomes 0. Attacks against it have advantage. Its attacks have disadvantage. Disadvantage on Dex saves.	Can't be seen normally. Heavily obscured. Has advantage on attacks. Attacks against it have disadvantage.

Incapacitating Conditions

Incapacitated	Paralyzed	Stunned	Unconscious	Petrified
Can't take actions. Can't take reactions.	Can't move or speak. Fails Str/Dex saves. Attacks have advantage. Melee hits auto-crit.	Can't act or move. Can barely speak. Fails Str/Dex saves. Attacks have advantage.	Incapacitated. Drops items, falls prone. Fails Str/Dex saves. Melee hits auto-crit.	Turned to stone. Can't act or move. Resistant to damage. Immune to poison/disease.

Alternative Rules

For a more tactical combat experience, consider using our Divinity-inspired combat system, which uses Action Points (AP) instead of the standard action economy.