Editing Attacks

{{PageSeo
| title = Attacks
| description = Attacks are attempts at hitting a target, determined by attack rolls made to determine whether an attack was a hit or a miss.}}
'''Attacks''' are attempts by a [[creatures|creature]] at hitting a target, usually with a [[Weapon|weapon]] or a [[Spells|spell]].

The outcome of an attempted attack is determined by the attacker making an '''attack roll''' against the target's [[Armour Class|AC]]. If the attempt is successful, the attack may deal [[damage]] or inflict a [[conditions|condition]].

Attacks can be made by taking an '''Attack action''', as well by taking any [[actions|action]] that requires the attacker to make an attack roll.

'''Spell attacks''' are attack rolls made as part of casting a [[Spells|spell]].

== Attack rolls ==
When making an attack, a creature [[dice rolls|rolls]] a d20 and add the relevant [[ability score modifier]] to the results. If the attacker has [[Proficiency|proficiency]] with the weapon they make the attack with, or if the attack is made as part of a spell, they add their proficiency bonus to the result as well.{{note|Like all rolls made using a d20 die, attack rolls are affected by {{Advantage}}/{{Disadvantage}}.}}

<div style="text-align: center;">'''Result = {{InfoBlob|{{D20}} + Ability score modifier + Proficiency bonus}}'''</div>

The result of the attack roll is then compared against the target's [[Armour Class]] (AC). If the result was equal to or greater then the target AC, the attack is a ''hit'', and roll for [[Damage rolls|damage]]. If the result was less than the target AC, the attack was a ''miss''.

Rolling a 1 is considered a ''critical miss'', and is always considered a miss, regardless of the final results of the roll.
Likewise, rolling a ''20'' is considered a ''critical hit'' – an automatic hit that deals additional damage.

=== Critical hits ===
[[File:critical hit.png|right|thumb|Example of a Critical Hit with a 1d6 Shortsword.]]
Critical hits automatically hit the target (they never miss), and the attacker rolls twice the normal number of dice to determine damage dealt, including additional dice such as those from smites or combat manoeuvres. Modifiers and bonuses – including the creature's relevant ability score modifier and proficiency bonus – are not doubled.

Some equipment, feats and class features allow a creature to score a critical hit on natural rolls of 19 or 20, or even 18 to 20. The benefits are the same as for a regular critical hit.
Some [[feats]], [[Classes|class features]], and [[items]] [[Critical Hit threshold reduction|reduce]] the critical hit threshold by 1, allowing the creature to land critical hits by rolling 19 or higher on attack rolls. Multiple sources of this effect stack, allowing the critical hit threshold to go even lower than 19.

Some conditions, such as {{cond|Sleeping}} and {{cond|Paralysed}}, automatically turn all incoming attacks into critical hits.

== Modifiers ==
=== Weapons ===
Melee and ranged weapon attacks use Strength or Dexterity, depending on the weapon: usually Strength for melee weapons and Dexterity for ranged weapons.  The exceptions to this rule are [[Finesse]] weapons, which automatically select Strength or Dexterity, whichever score is higher; and [[Thrown]] weapons, which use Strength for both melee and ranged attacks.  If a weapon is both Thrown and Finesse, it uses the higher of Strength and Dexterity for both melee and ranged attacks.

Some examples, to make the possible combinations of Finesse and Thrown easier to understand:

* Using a [[Maul]] for a melee attack always uses Strength.
* Using a [[Rapier]] (Finesse) for a melee attack uses Strength or Dexterity; whichever the attacking creature has a higher score in.
* Shooting a [[Longbow]] for a ranged attack always uses Dexterity.
* Throwing a [[Handaxe]] (Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength.
* Throwing a [[Dagger]] (Finesse & Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength or Dexterity, whichever is higher.

=== Spells ===
For spells, the Ability Score used for the Modifier depends on the class of the caster:

{{ClassSpellcastingAbilityTable}}

In Baldur's Gate 3, the same ability modifiers apply when casting a spell from a [[Scrolls|Scroll]], even when the spell being cast is not normally available to your class. For instance, a [[Sorcerer]] casting {{SmallIcon|Guiding Bolt Icon.png}} [[Guiding Bolt]] (a [[Cleric]]-only spell) from a scroll adds its [[Charisma]] modifier to the Attack Roll of the spell.

==== Value of the Modifier ====

Whichever Ability Score ends up being used, the bonus or penalty value is based on this table, depending on how high the used Ability Score is:

{{AbilityScoreModifierTable}}

=== Proficiency Bonus ===
The attacking creature's [[Proficiency Bonus]] is added to the result of the roll if the creature has the correct kind of [[Proficiency]] for the attack it's making.

For [[Weapons|weapon]] attacks, the creature must have proficiency with the weapon it is using to make the attack. For spell attacks, every creature is automatically proficient. 

The value of the bonus depends on the attacking creature's Level:

{{ProficiencyBonusTable}}

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist}}
{{NavGameplay}}

[[Category:Gameplay mechanics]]