Does Sentinel Work Against Swashbuckler?
In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, Sentinel is a popular feat that allows players to take opportunity attacks when enemies move within a certain range. Swashbuckler, on the other hand, is a class that excels at dodging attacks and using finesse to take down their foes. But do these two mechanics complement each other, or do they conflict? In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Sentinel and Swashbuckler to answer the question: Does Sentinel work against Swashbuckler?
Direct Answer:
According to the official D&D 5th edition rules, Sentinel does not work against Swashbuckler‘s Fancy Footwork ability. Fancy Footwork allows Swashbucklers to take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action, which means they can avoid Sentinel’s opportunity attack.
Understanding Sentinel
Before we dive into the specifics of Sentinel and Swashbuckler, let’s quickly review how Sentinel works. Sentinel allows a character to take an opportunity attack when an enemy moves within a certain range (usually 5 feet). This attack can deal significant damage and is especially useful in combat.
Understanding Swashbuckler
Now, let’s take a closer look at Swashbuckler’s abilities. As mentioned earlier, Swashbucklers excel at dodging attacks and using finesse to take down their foes. One of their key abilities is Fancy Footwork, which allows them to take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action. This means they can quickly move out of the way of attacks or hide from enemies.
Combining Sentinel and Swashbuckler
So, when you combine Sentinel and Swashbuckler, it seems like Sentinel’s opportunity attack would be nullified by Swashbuckler’s Fancy Footwork ability. This is because Swashbucklers can use their bonus action to Disengage or Hide, avoiding Sentinel’s attack altogether.
But What About Reach Weapons?
What about when Swashbucklers use reach weapons, like polearms or longswords? Doesn’t Sentinel’s opportunity attack still trigger when an enemy moves within range? According to the official rules, Sentinel does not work against Fancy Footwork, which means Swashbucklers can still use their ability to avoid Sentinel’s attack, even when using reach weapons.
But What About Polearm Master?
What about when Swashbucklers take the Polearm Master feat? Doesn’t this allow them to use their polearm to attack enemies at longer ranges? While this is true, Polearm Master does not interact with Sentinel. Polearm Master allows Swashbucklers to make a polearm attack at longer ranges, but Sentinel’s opportunity attack still doesn’t trigger.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sentinel does not work against Swashbuckler‘s Fancy Footwork ability. Swashbucklers can use their bonus action to Disengage or Hide, avoiding Sentinel’s opportunity attack altogether. While Swashbucklers may use reach weapons or take the Polearm Master feat, these abilities do not interact with Sentinel.
Here’s a summary of the key points:
- Sentinel does not work against Swashbuckler‘s Fancy Footwork ability.
- Swashbucklers can use their bonus action to Disengage or Hide, avoiding Sentinel’s opportunity attack.
- Reach weapons and Polearm Master do not interact with Sentinel.
- Sentinel’s opportunity attack still triggers when an enemy moves within range, even when using reach weapons or Polearm Master.
Additional Tips
- As a Swashbuckler, use your bonus action to Disengage or Hide to avoid Sentinel’s opportunity attack.
- Consider using reach weapons or taking the Polearm Master feat to increase your combat effectiveness.
- Remember that Sentinel’s opportunity attack still triggers when an enemy moves within range, even when using reach weapons or Polearm Master.
By understanding how Sentinel and Swashbuckler interact, you can improve your combat effectiveness and avoid taking unnecessary damage. Whether you’re a Swashbuckler or an opponent, knowing how Sentinel works against Swashbuckler can give you a strategic edge in combat.