Do you get extra attack if you ready an attack?

Do You Get Extra Attack if You Ready an Attack?

When it comes to the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, there can be a lot of complexity and nuance. One common question that players may have is whether they get extra attacks if they ready an attack. In this article, we’ll break down the rules and provide a direct answer to this question.

Direct Answer

To answer the question directly: no, you do not get extra attacks if you ready an attack. However, this answer comes with some caveats, which we’ll explore below.

Understanding the Rules

Before we dive into the specifics of readying an attack, let’s take a step back and look at the rules for Extra Attack. In 5th Edition, the Extra Attack feature allows you to make an additional attack as part of your turn. This feature is available to certain classes, such as fighters, paladins, and rangers.

What is a Readied Action?

A readied action is a type of action that allows you to prepare a specific action, such as an attack, to be taken at a later time. When you ready an action, you’re setting it aside for later use, rather than taking it immediately.

How Do Readied Actions Work?

When you ready an action, you specify what that action is (e.g., an attack) and the trigger that will cause you to take the action (e.g., "when a creature within 5 feet of me becomes hostile"). You can readied multiple actions, and you can specify different triggers for each one.

Do Ready Actions Trigger Extra Attack?

Now that we’ve covered the basics of readying an action, let’s get back to the question at hand: do ready actions trigger Extra Attack? The answer is no. Extra Attack is a feature that applies to attacks taken as part of your turn, not to attacks taken as part of a readied action.

Why Doesn’t Readying an Attack Trigger Extra Attack?

The reason that readying an attack doesn’t trigger Extra Attack is because Extra Attack is specifically designed to apply to attacks taken as part of your turn. When you take an attack as part of your turn, you’re taking an action that’s part of your normal turn structure. However, when you ready an attack, you’re not taking an action as part of your turn – you’re setting aside an action for later use.

What are the Implications of Ready Actions Not Triggering Extra Attack?

The implications of ready actions not triggering Extra Attack are important to consider. This means that if you want to use Extra Attack, you’ll need to take the attack as part of your normal turn structure. You can’t ready an attack and then use Extra Attack when you take it.

Consequences for Players

For players who are looking to maximize their damage output, this can be a bit of a drawback. However, there are still ways to get additional attacks in. For example, you can use your bonus action to take an additional attack, or you can use a spell or ability that allows you to make an additional attack.

Conclusion

In conclusion, readying an attack does not trigger Extra Attack. This is because Extra Attack is designed to apply to attacks taken as part of your turn, not to attacks taken as part of a readied action. While this may seem limiting, there are still ways to get additional attacks in, and players should continue to use their creativity and resourcefulness to maximize their damage output.

Common Questions

• Do I need to specify what action I’m readying?

Yes, when you ready an action, you need to specify what that action is (e.g., an attack, a dash, a shield block, etc.).

• Can I ready multiple actions?

Yes, you can ready multiple actions, each with its own trigger.

• Do ready actions work on the opponent’s turn?

No, readied actions can only be triggered on the caster’s turn.

Tables and Illustrations

The following table summarizes the rules for readied actions and Extra Attack:

Call to Action

In this article, we’ve explored the rules for readied actions and Extra Attack. While readied actions do not trigger Extra Attack, there are still ways to get additional attacks in. By understanding the rules and using your creativity, you can maximize your damage output and make the most of your turn.