Does sneak attack damage get halved?

Does Sneak Attack Damage Get Halved?

As a rogue, one of the most exciting abilities at your disposal is the Sneak Attack. This allows you to deal an additional 1d6 damage to a target you’ve successfully attacked, as long as you have advantage on the attack roll. But what happens if the target has a resistance to the damage type? Does the Sneak Attack damage get halved? In this article, we’ll dive into the details and provide a comprehensive answer.

What is Sneak Attack Damage?

Before we get into the specifics, let’s quickly review what Sneak Attack damage is. According to the official D&D 5e rules, Sneak Attack damage is an additional 1d6 damage that can be applied to a target you’ve successfully attacked, as long as you have advantage on the attack roll. This damage is calculated separately from the weapon’s base damage and is added to the total damage dealt.

Does Sneak Attack Damage Get Halved if the Target has a Resistance?

Now, let’s get to the main question: does Sneak Attack damage get halved if the target has a resistance to the damage type? The answer is yes. According to the official rules, if a target has a resistance to the damage type, the Sneak Attack damage is halved.

Here’s a breakdown of the rule:

• Resistance: A resistance is a specific type of resistance that a creature has to a particular damage type. For example, a creature might have resistance to fire damage.
• Halved Damage: If a target has a resistance to the damage type, the Sneak Attack damage is halved. This means that the additional 1d6 damage is reduced to 0.5d6.

Examples of Sneak Attack Damage Halved

To illustrate this point, let’s consider an example:

• You’re a rogue with a short sword, and you attack a goblin with advantage. The goblin has resistance to piercing damage, which is the type of damage your short sword deals. You roll a 10 on your attack roll and add the Sneak Attack damage, which is 2d6. Since the goblin has resistance to piercing damage, the Sneak Attack damage is halved, and you only deal 1d6 additional damage.

Important Note: It’s worth noting that this rule only applies to Sneak Attack damage, not to other types of bonus damage. For example, if you have a feature that grants you bonus damage against certain creatures, that damage is not halved if the creature has a resistance to that damage type.

Does Sneak Attack Damage Get Halved if the Target has Immunity?

Another important question is what happens if the target has immunity to the damage type. In this case, the answer is yes, the Sneak Attack damage is completely negated. Immunity is a more powerful form of resistance, and it means that the target is completely immune to the damage type.

Here’s a breakdown of the rule:

• Immunity: Immunity is a specific type of immunity that a creature has to a particular damage type. For example, a creature might have immunity to poison damage.
• Negated Damage: If a target has immunity to the damage type, the Sneak Attack damage is completely negated. This means that you don’t deal any additional damage to the target.

Examples of Sneak Attack Damage Negated

To illustrate this point, let’s consider an example:

• You’re a rogue with a short sword, and you attack a dragon with advantage. The dragon has immunity to piercing damage, which is the type of damage your short sword deals. You roll a 10 on your attack roll and add the Sneak Attack damage, which is 2d6. Since the dragon has immunity to piercing damage, the Sneak Attack damage is completely negated, and you don’t deal any additional damage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sneak Attack damage does get halved if the target has a resistance to the damage type. However, if the target has immunity to the damage type, the Sneak Attack damage is completely negated. Remember to always keep these rules in mind when playing D&D, and don’t hesitate to ask your DM if you have any questions.

Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:

• Advantage: Always keep in mind that Sneak Attack damage only applies if you have advantage on the attack roll. Make sure to take advantage of your surroundings and use your surroundings to your advantage.
• Sneak Attack: Remember that Sneak Attack damage is an additional 1d6 damage that can be applied to a target you’ve successfully attacked. Don’t forget to add this damage to your total damage dealt.
• Resistance: Always check if the target has a resistance to the damage type before applying Sneak Attack damage. This will help you avoid halving the damage unnecessarily.

By following these tips and understanding how Sneak Attack damage works, you’ll be able to make the most of this powerful ability and take down your enemies with ease. Happy adventuring!