Horde Breaker (Melee)

Horde Breaker (Melee) is a Hunter Ranger class action. It allows them to deal damage an additional nearby target.

Description

Target two creatures standing close to each other. Deal Weapon DamagePhysical to the first creature and open up the second for a follow-up attack.

Properties

Cost

 Action

Damage

Normal weapon damage

Details

Attack roll

AoE: 1.5 m / 5 ft (Radius)

Recharge: Per turn

Condition: Horde Breaker

 Horde Breaker

Duration: 1 turn

• Creature is open to a follow-up attack.

How to learn

Classes:

• Class level 3: Hunter

Notes

• The additional attack can be against any creature in AoE: 1.5 m / 5 ft (Radius) around the target of this ability. Every creature in the area receives  Horde Breaker condition, even if the attack misses, marking them as eligible for the follow up attack. The Hunter can then use a Horde Breaker Follow-Up to make an attack against any of these creatures as a Free Action, even if the starting attack misses.
• The follow-up attack can be either a  Horde Breaker Follow-Up (Melee) or a  Horde Breaker Follow-Up (Ranged), no matter if starting with a different weapon type, e.g. a ranged horde breaker attack can be followed by a free melee attack against a nearby enemy. Using either of the follow-ups expires the condition in other creatures.
• To make use of Horde Breaker more regularly, the Ranger can use abilities repositioning enemies closer to each other, without costing a whole action:
  •  Shove
  • Weapon abilities, like  Sorrowful Lash cantrip (granted by Sorrow) and  Pushing Attack (Titanstring Bow) (granted by Titanstring Bow)
  • Class abilities, like  Enraged Throw (from Berserker), and  Pushing Attack (Melee) and  Pushing Attack (Ranged) manoeuvres (from Battle Master)

Bugs

• Some abilities/gear expected to affect the original Horde Breaker target might instead trigger to a random creature in the Horde Breaker zone. As these abilities are triggered after the base attack, they are always applied to random enemies in the area if the targeted enemy is killed, which can be used to the player's advantage. This is known to happen with  Sneak Attack,  Ability Drain,  Divine Strike: Weapon, and  Luck of the Far Realms, but there are particular cases:
  • Boots of Stormy Clamour and Staff of the Ram can trigger twice, usually one time at random and one time to the original target (if attacks hits) or at random (if attack misses).
  • The Watcher's Guide can add  True Strike to a nearby enemy if the original target is hit.
• There are a few weapons capable of triggering their abilities to all targets (including other party members, but excluding the Horde Breaker character) in area when they receive Horde Breaker condition - likely a bug. Known weapons to interact with Horde Breaker are:
  • Vision of the Absolute ( Blinded), Bow of the Banshee ( Frightened), Sussur Greatsword ( Silenced) and The Baneful ( Bane) are weapons which force all enemies in Horde Breaker area to roll a saving throw to avoid receiving a condition.
  • Shortsword of First Blood ability Break the Unbroken activates dealing 1d8Piercing to targets which still have all their hit points.
  • Rat Bat unnamed ability deals 1d6PiercingDRS at all targets.
  •  Greataxes ability  Prepare deals [Strength modifier]PhysicalDRS damage to all targets.