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[[File:Critical hit.png|thumb|A critical hit with a [[shortsword]].]]'''Critical hits''' occur when a creature [[Dice roll|rolls a natural 20]] on an [[attack roll]]. Critical hits automatically land regardless of the target's [[AC|armour class]], and the attacker also rolls twice the normal number of dice to determine damage dealt. | |||
While initially a mechanic subject purely to the whims of luck, a number of features, abilities, and items allow the player to manipulate the odds of scoring a critical hit. Combined with effects that make critical hits themselves stronger, building around critical hits can be a valid strategic option. | |||
==Mechanics== | |||
Any ability that uses an attack roll, including spell attacks, is capable of landing critical hits. Any dice that are rolled for damage, including additional dice such as those from [[Divine Smite|smites]] or [[Battle Master|combat manoeuvres]], are rolled twice. Abilities with multiple attack rolls like {{SAI|Slashing Flourish (Ranged)|Slashing Flourish}} or {{SAI|Scorching Ray}} can have multiple critical hits, with each attack rolling independently of one another. | |||
Flat modifiers and bonuses to damage – including the creature's relevant [[ability score modifier]] and [[proficiency bonus]] – are not doubled. Creatures whose attacks deal a flat amount of damage rather than a die roll, such as [[Familiar|Familiars]], can roll critical hits but do not deal extra damage on them. | |||
==Reducing critical threshold== | |||
Some feats, passive features, and items reduce the critical hit threshold by 1, allowing the creature to land critical hits by rolling either 19 or 20 on attack rolls. Multiple sources of this effect stack, allowing the critical hit threshold to go even lower than 19. | |||
===Equipment=== | |||
====Weapons==== | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Unseen Menace}} ''(while the weapon is {{Cond|Invisible Weapon|invisible}})'' | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Bloodthirst}} → [[Improved Critical]] | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|The Dead Shot}} → [[Improved Critical]]<ref>Both [[The Dead Shot]] and [[Bloodthirst]] grant the same passive, but are still able to stack.</ref> | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Knife of the Undermountain King}} → [[Organ Rearranger]] | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Duellist's Prerogative}} → [[Elegant Duellist]] ''(while off-hand is empty)'' | |||
====Cloaks==== | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Shade-Slayer Cloak}} → [[Stealthy Critical]] ''(while {{SAI|Hide|Hiding}})'' | |||
====Armour and headgear==== | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Covert Cowl}} → [[Covert Critical]] ''(while [[Obscured]])'' | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Dark Justiciar Helmet}} → [[Covert Critical]] ''(while [[Obscured]])'' | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Sarevok's Horned Helmet}} → [[Deathbringer's Sight]] | |||
===Conditions=== | |||
*{{SAI|A Most Bloody Inheritance (Condition)|A Most Bloody Inheritance|w=30}} - Critical threshold reduced by 2, available only in the [[The Dark Urge]] origin. | |||
===Consumables=== | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Elixir of Viciousness}} | |||
===Class features=== | |||
*{{SAI|Improved Critical Hit|w=30}} - Level 3 passive for the [[Champion]] [[Fighter]] subclass. | |||
===Feats=== | |||
*{{SAI|Spell Sniper|w=30}} - Spell attacks only. | |||
===Illithid Powers=== | |||
*{{SAI|Fierce Perilous Stakes|w=30}} - Target's critical threshold is reduced by 5, but it is also vulnerable to all damage. | |||
==Maximising critical hit value== | |||
===Increasing likelihood of critical hits=== | |||
Any effect that triggers a re-roll of an attack die will increase the likelihood of landing a critical hit. Attacking with [[Advantage]] almost doubles the likelihood of rolling a critical.<ref>https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2014/07/12/dnd-5e-advantage-disadvantage-probability/</ref> Features that allow for situational rerolls, like {{Sai|Halfling Luck}}, similarly increase the odds. Reducing the critical threshold increases chances of scoring a critical hit accordingly; taking into account advantage and multiple attacks, the odds of hitting at least one critical with a character in one round of combat are as follows:<ref>[[Guide:Book's Guide to Crits]]</ref> | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
!Critical Hit Threshold | |||
!Chance without Advantage | |||
!Chance with Advantage | |||
!Two attacks with advantage | |||
|- | |||
|20 | |||
|5% | |||
|9.75% | |||
|18.55% | |||
|- | |||
|19 | |||
|10% | |||
|19% | |||
|34.39% | |||
|- | |||
|18 | |||
|15% | |||
|27.75% | |||
|47.8% | |||
|- | |||
|17 | |||
|20% | |||
|36% | |||
|59.04% | |||
|- | |||
|16 | |||
|25% | |||
|43.75% | |||
|68.36% | |||
|- | |||
|15 | |||
|30% | |||
|51% | |||
|75.99% | |||
|- | |||
|14 | |||
|35% | |||
|57.75% | |||
|82.15% | |||
|} | |||
===Additional effects on critical hit=== | |||
On the other side of things, some effects add add additional value to critical hits when they occur. These include: | |||
*{{SAI|Brutal Critical}} and {{SAI|Savage Attacks}} add an extra damage die to the damage of the attack, i.e. an attack dealing {{DamageText|1d10|Bludgeoning}} will critically deal {{DamageText|2d10 + 1d10|Bludgeoning}}. Additional damage dice, like those from battle manoeuvres, are not subject to this additive bonus, with the exception of {{SAI|Divine Smite}}. | |||
*Effects that reroll damage rolls will see greater benefit on critical hits, since the raw number of damage rolls increases: | |||
**{{SAI|Savage Attacker}} rerolls all damage die twice. | |||
**{{SAI|Great Weapon Fighting}} rerolls damage die for two-handed melee weapons, when rolling a 1 or 2. | |||
*Effects that provide a unique bonus when a critical hit occurs: | |||
**{{SAI|Paralysing Critical}} paralyzes a target on critical hit, once per long rest. | |||
**{{SAI|Mortal Reminder}} possibly frightens enemies on critical hit. | |||
**{{SAI|Great Weapon Master: Bonus Attack}} enables an attack using a bonus action, after a critical hit. | |||
**{{RarityItem|Spellthief}} restores a level 1 spell slot on critical hit. | |||
**{{RarityItem|Dolor Amarus}}, {{RarityItem|Vicious Battleaxe}}, and {{RarityItem|Vicious Shortbow}} add a flat damage boost of 7 to critical hits. | |||
**{{RarityItem|Sword of Life Stealing}} adds a flat damage boost to critical hits and adds [[Temporary Hit Points|temporary hit points]]. | |||
**{{RarityItem|Intransigent Warhammer}} knocks creatures prone in a radius on critical hit. | |||
**{{RarityItem|Craterflesh Gloves}} adds {{DamageText|1d6|Force}} to critical hits, itself doubled as it is adding an additional damage die. | |||
**{{RarityItem|Blightbringer}} inflicts {{Cond|Slowed}} on critical hit. | |||
**{{RarityItem|Clown Hammer}} inflicts {{Cond|Hideous Laughter}} on both target and user on critical hit. | |||
===Guaranteed critical hits=== | |||
There are also several ways to guarantee a critical hit. | |||
*Melee-range attacks against{{Cond|Paralysed}} or {{Cond|Sleeping}} targets | |||
**Includes {{SAI|Hold Person}}, {{SAI|Hold Monster}}, and {{SAI|Clench of the North Wind}} | |||
*{{SAI|Luck of the Far Realms|w=30}} - Once per [[Long Rest]] | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Killer's Sweetheart}} after killing a creature, once per [[Long Rest]] after killing a creature | |||
*{{SAI|Assassinate:_Ambush|Assassinate:Ambush|w=30}} against {{Cond|Surprised}} creatures | |||
*{{SAI|Scarlet Saturation|w=30}} once per [[Long Rest]] after consuming the +3 bonus from {{Cond|Scarlet Remittance +3}} | |||
*After applying {{Cond|Exposing Bite}}, on the next attack made from within melee range | |||
*Next attack made with a weapon enchanted by {{SAI|Wild Magic: Enchant Weapons}} | |||
==Negating critical hits== | |||
Some equipment prevent attackers from landing critical hits on the wearer when worn. When a natural 20 is rolled on an attack roll against the wearer, the roll is simply treated as a 20 while still being affected by the wearer's [[Armour Class|armour class]]. With a high enough armour class while wearing equipment that prevents critical hits from being landed, it is possible to always be missed by attack rolls, even if a natural 20 is rolled. | |||
===Equipment=== | |||
====Armour and headgear==== | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Adamantine Scale Mail}} | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Adamantine Splint Armour}} | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Grymskull Helm}} | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Helldusk Helmet}} | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Helm of Balduran}} | |||
====Shields==== | |||
*{{MdRarityItem|Adamantine Shield}} | |||
==Footnotes== | |||
<references /> | |||
==See also== | |||
*[[Advantage#Math|Advantage]] - For more on the calculations behind critical successes, misses, and advantage. | |||
{{NavGameplay/Mechanics}} | |||
[[Category:Gameplay mechanics]] |
Revision as of 04:07, 20 July 2024
![](/w/images/thumb/9/96/Critical_hit.png/300px-Critical_hit.png)
While initially a mechanic subject purely to the whims of luck, a number of features, abilities, and items allow the player to manipulate the odds of scoring a critical hit. Combined with effects that make critical hits themselves stronger, building around critical hits can be a valid strategic option.
Mechanics
Any ability that uses an attack roll, including spell attacks, is capable of landing critical hits. Any dice that are rolled for damage, including additional dice such as those from smites or combat manoeuvres, are rolled twice. Abilities with multiple attack rolls like or can have multiple critical hits, with each attack rolling independently of one another.
Flat modifiers and bonuses to damage – including the creature's relevant ability score modifier and proficiency bonus – are not doubled. Creatures whose attacks deal a flat amount of damage rather than a die roll, such as Familiars, can roll critical hits but do not deal extra damage on them.
Reducing critical threshold
Some feats, passive features, and items reduce the critical hit threshold by 1, allowing the creature to land critical hits by rolling either 19 or 20 on attack rolls. Multiple sources of this effect stack, allowing the critical hit threshold to go even lower than 19.
Equipment
Weapons
Unseen Menace (while the weapon is )
Bloodthirst → Improved Critical
The Dead Shot → Improved Critical[1]
Knife of the Undermountain King → Organ Rearranger
Duellist's Prerogative → Elegant Duellist (while off-hand is empty)
Cloaks
Shade-Slayer Cloak → Stealthy Critical (while )
Armour and headgear
Covert Cowl → Covert Critical (while Obscured)
Dark Justiciar Helmet → Covert Critical (while Obscured)
Sarevok's Horned Helmet → Deathbringer's Sight
Conditions
- The Dark Urge origin. - Critical threshold reduced by 2, available only in the
Consumables
Class features
Feats
- - Spell attacks only.
Illithid Powers
- - Target's critical threshold is reduced by 5, but it is also vulnerable to all damage.
Maximising critical hit value
Increasing likelihood of critical hits
Any effect that triggers a re-roll of an attack die will increase the likelihood of landing a critical hit. Attacking with Advantage almost doubles the likelihood of rolling a critical.[2] Features that allow for situational rerolls, like , similarly increase the odds. Reducing the critical threshold increases chances of scoring a critical hit accordingly; taking into account advantage and multiple attacks, the odds of hitting at least one critical with a character in one round of combat are as follows:[3]
Critical Hit Threshold | Chance without Advantage | Chance with Advantage | Two attacks with advantage |
---|---|---|---|
20 | 5% | 9.75% | 18.55% |
19 | 10% | 19% | 34.39% |
18 | 15% | 27.75% | 47.8% |
17 | 20% | 36% | 59.04% |
16 | 25% | 43.75% | 68.36% |
15 | 30% | 51% | 75.99% |
14 | 35% | 57.75% | 82.15% |
Additional effects on critical hit
On the other side of things, some effects add add additional value to critical hits when they occur. These include:
- 1d10
Bludgeoning will critically deal 2d10 + 1d10
Bludgeoning. Additional damage dice, like those from battle manoeuvres, are not subject to this additive bonus, with the exception of .
and add an extra damage die to the damage of the attack, i.e. an attack dealing - Effects that reroll damage rolls will see greater benefit on critical hits, since the raw number of damage rolls increases:
- rerolls all damage die twice.
- rerolls damage die for two-handed melee weapons, when rolling a 1 or 2.
- Effects that provide a unique bonus when a critical hit occurs:
- paralyzes a target on critical hit, once per long rest.
- possibly frightens enemies on critical hit.
- enables an attack using a bonus action, after a critical hit.
Spellthief restores a level 1 spell slot on critical hit.
Dolor Amarus,
Vicious Battleaxe, and
Vicious Shortbow add a flat damage boost of 7 to critical hits.
Sword of Life Stealing adds a flat damage boost to critical hits and adds temporary hit points.
Intransigent Warhammer knocks creatures prone in a radius on critical hit.
Craterflesh Gloves adds 1d6
Force to critical hits, itself doubled as it is adding an additional damage die.
Blightbringer inflicts on critical hit.
Clown Hammer inflicts on both target and user on critical hit.
Guaranteed critical hits
There are also several ways to guarantee a critical hit.
- Melee-range attacks against or targets
- Includes , , and
- Long Rest - Once per
Killer's Sweetheart after killing a creature, once per Long Rest after killing a creature
- creatures against
- Long Rest after consuming the +3 bonus from once per
- After applying , on the next attack made from within melee range
- Next attack made with a weapon enchanted by
Negating critical hits
Some equipment prevent attackers from landing critical hits on the wearer when worn. When a natural 20 is rolled on an attack roll against the wearer, the roll is simply treated as a 20 while still being affected by the wearer's armour class. With a high enough armour class while wearing equipment that prevents critical hits from being landed, it is possible to always be missed by attack rolls, even if a natural 20 is rolled.
Equipment
Armour and headgear
Shields
Footnotes
- ↑ Both The Dead Shot and Bloodthirst grant the same passive, but are still able to stack.
- ↑ https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2014/07/12/dnd-5e-advantage-disadvantage-probability/
- ↑ Guide:Book's Guide to Crits
See also
- Advantage - For more on the calculations behind critical successes, misses, and advantage.