Does a creature with blindsight have disadvantage when attacking an invisible target?










14















As the question states, if a creature has blindsight, do they have disadvantage on a target that is within the range of their blindsight and not otherwise hidden/covered?



The wording of the invisible condition suggests that attacks against an invisible creature have disadvantage AND the creature can't be seen without magic/special sense not BECAUSE the creature can't be seen.




Invisible Condition



An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense. For the purposes of hiding, the creature is heavily obscured. The creature's location can be detected by any noise it makes or any tracks it leaves.



Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage, and the creature's attack rolls have advantage.











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  • Related on Does blindsense detect invisibility?

    – NautArch
    Nov 13 '18 at 1:53











  • Related on When an invisible character leaves a blindsight creature's reach, does that creature get an opportunity attack?

    – NautArch
    Nov 13 '18 at 2:11
















14















As the question states, if a creature has blindsight, do they have disadvantage on a target that is within the range of their blindsight and not otherwise hidden/covered?



The wording of the invisible condition suggests that attacks against an invisible creature have disadvantage AND the creature can't be seen without magic/special sense not BECAUSE the creature can't be seen.




Invisible Condition



An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense. For the purposes of hiding, the creature is heavily obscured. The creature's location can be detected by any noise it makes or any tracks it leaves.



Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage, and the creature's attack rolls have advantage.











share|improve this question
























  • Related on Does blindsense detect invisibility?

    – NautArch
    Nov 13 '18 at 1:53











  • Related on When an invisible character leaves a blindsight creature's reach, does that creature get an opportunity attack?

    – NautArch
    Nov 13 '18 at 2:11














14












14








14


2






As the question states, if a creature has blindsight, do they have disadvantage on a target that is within the range of their blindsight and not otherwise hidden/covered?



The wording of the invisible condition suggests that attacks against an invisible creature have disadvantage AND the creature can't be seen without magic/special sense not BECAUSE the creature can't be seen.




Invisible Condition



An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense. For the purposes of hiding, the creature is heavily obscured. The creature's location can be detected by any noise it makes or any tracks it leaves.



Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage, and the creature's attack rolls have advantage.











share|improve this question
















As the question states, if a creature has blindsight, do they have disadvantage on a target that is within the range of their blindsight and not otherwise hidden/covered?



The wording of the invisible condition suggests that attacks against an invisible creature have disadvantage AND the creature can't be seen without magic/special sense not BECAUSE the creature can't be seen.




Invisible Condition



An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense. For the purposes of hiding, the creature is heavily obscured. The creature's location can be detected by any noise it makes or any tracks it leaves.



Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage, and the creature's attack rolls have advantage.








dnd-5e vision-and-light invisibility advantage attack-roll






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share|improve this question













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edited Nov 13 '18 at 2:02









V2Blast

20k357123




20k357123










asked Nov 13 '18 at 1:19









RykaraRykara

2,768328




2,768328












  • Related on Does blindsense detect invisibility?

    – NautArch
    Nov 13 '18 at 1:53











  • Related on When an invisible character leaves a blindsight creature's reach, does that creature get an opportunity attack?

    – NautArch
    Nov 13 '18 at 2:11


















  • Related on Does blindsense detect invisibility?

    – NautArch
    Nov 13 '18 at 1:53











  • Related on When an invisible character leaves a blindsight creature's reach, does that creature get an opportunity attack?

    – NautArch
    Nov 13 '18 at 2:11

















Related on Does blindsense detect invisibility?

– NautArch
Nov 13 '18 at 1:53





Related on Does blindsense detect invisibility?

– NautArch
Nov 13 '18 at 1:53













Related on When an invisible character leaves a blindsight creature's reach, does that creature get an opportunity attack?

– NautArch
Nov 13 '18 at 2:11






Related on When an invisible character leaves a blindsight creature's reach, does that creature get an opportunity attack?

– NautArch
Nov 13 '18 at 2:11











4 Answers
4






active

oldest

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31














The Special Sense Blindsense bypasses the mechanics of being Invisible



The Invisible condition states (emphasis mine):




An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




Blindsight is a special type of sense, along with senses like True Sight and Tremorsense.



The condition explicitly calls out that there are special senses that bypass the condition. As Blindsight allows a creature to see the unseen, being invisible is bypassed by that sense and thus the mechanics that the Invisible condition provides are not activated.



Jeremy Crawford also provides some support:




Blindsight lets you spot an invisible creature in range, but that creature can still try to hide behind something with Stealth.




Once you can see the creature the effects of being Invisible are no longer active.






share|improve this answer

























  • Strictly rules as written, "impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense" and "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" are written as separate effects. The "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" line isn't written as conditional on not being able to see the creature.

    – user2357112
    Nov 13 '18 at 22:22



















14














No, it doesn't have disadvantage.



A creature with blindsight can perceive its environment without using sight. Therefore it can perceive invisible creatures.



"Invisible" means "unable to be seen". The Invisible condition is actually defined that way:




An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




So if someone can effectively see you, then you aren't invisible to them and the adverse effects of the Invisible condition don't apply to them. Note that there is precedent for being subject to a condition with respect to only some creatures: you are considered blinded when trying to see things that are heavily obscured.



The rules handle attacks between unseen characters in a consistent way, whether they're invisible, blind (and thus unable to see anything), or heavily obscured.






share|improve this answer




















  • 2





    This answer would be improved by quoting/citing the sources of the relevant rules (rather than simply mentioning what they say).

    – V2Blast
    Nov 13 '18 at 2:02











  • There are a number of possible Tweets that might support this, like this

    – Slagmoth
    Nov 13 '18 at 3:32











  • "Invisible" does not mean "unable to be seen" - if I am on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark I am "unable to be seen" but I am not "invisible". Also, the "invisible" condition is not defined that way - it is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) give you.

    – Dale M
    Nov 13 '18 at 3:43







  • 2





    @DaleM And yet if you are on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark, attack rolls against you have disadvantage. Unable to be seen = unable to be seen.

    – Mark Wells
    Nov 13 '18 at 4:33


















1














Compare Blindsight and Truesight to the rules for Faerie Fire. Creatures caught in Faerie Fire are outlined by the spell. But Faerie Fire doesn't just let you sense them, it specifies that the creature does not benefit from invisibility.



Now compare the text for blur, which gives disadvantage on attacks based on visual stimuli. An attacker is immune if it doesn't rely on sight, such as blindsight, or can see through illusions, such as truesight. It spells out that its benefits are nullified.



From a rule-based standpoint, there is some benefit that invisibility has that blur doesn't, and there's some benefit to Faerie Fire that Blindsight and Truesight lack.



From a narrative standpoint, Blindsight allows you to sense an invisible creature, but not perfectly. You may be able to sense the creature is up next to you, and maybe you might be able to work out that they are attacking. But no matter how good your ears or nose are, you wouldn't be able to track finer details like eye movement or shoulder position, so you can't be sure you know how the details of how the creature is attacking or defending.



And Truesight may have similar narrative limitations. Truesight is a way to see through illusions and invisibility, but it doesn't grant infallible vision enough to nullify these effects. While it's not spelled out WHY it doesn't fully nullify invisibility, there's a variety of explanations. The spell/item that granted it might be flawed. There might be too much information for the brain to process to see through invisibility perfectly. Because of that, there's a visual delay or motion blur or slowed reactions.



But in the end, it does come down to the DM. Me personally, I'd say the blindsight/ truesight person could use their reaction to try to perceive an oncoming attack, or bonus action to try and identify how the person is defending. Sight person would use a perception check against a stealth check from invisible person. If perception wins, I'd say the invisible person was making enough noise or shifting enough dirt or telegraphing their moves too much and they gave away their defensive stance or attack pattern, nullifying the additional benefit of invisibility.






share|improve this answer






























    0














    An Invisible creature is still Invisible even if someone can see it



    Invisibility is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) gives you and the condition only ends in the way that the effect says - I don't know of any that end just because something can "see" you. While you have the condition it does what it says it does.



    So, yes, an Invisible creature attacks with advantage and is attacked with disadvantage even if the target/attacker can "see" it through blindsight, tremorsense, truesight etc.



    Why? Because the advantage/disadvantage comes from the Invisible condition (PHB p.291) and is distinct from the advantage/disadvantage that comes from being unseen (PHB p.195).



    Does this make sense? I don't ask that question anymore.






    share|improve this answer

























    • Thank you. That is what I believed may have been the correct interpretation but there was some confusion in my group about there being disadvantage even when the creature was seen or "perceived" by blindsight.

      – Rykara
      Nov 13 '18 at 1:59






    • 1





      @rpeinhardt: Although you are free to accept any answer, and DaleM is clearly an expert, if you are interested in consensus as evidenced by the votes, you will see that this answer has less agreement from other voters. If you are interested in the reasons behind polarised versions of answers, this seems to be a classic example of gamist vs narrative interpretations of rules - neither are inherently "wrong", however the swing was heavily gamist for D&D v4, and there was a deliberate swing back the other way for 5E. More detail on that would be the topic of another question

      – Neil Slater
      Nov 13 '18 at 7:51







    • 1





      @rpeinhardt Rules do what they say, and this is indeed what the rules say. 5e has, quote honestly, poorly written rules from the perspective of "saying what they should say"; instead, 5e was written in a conversational manner, with next to no attention payed to "oh, and did we write what we meant to?" in most of it.

      – Yakk
      Nov 13 '18 at 14:54











    • @ Neil Slater: That's a VERY good comment. Really, it's kind of an answer unto itself. Thank you! I've unmarked this answer as chosen not necessarily because I think it's wrong, but because it seems to be more complex.

      – Rykara
      Nov 13 '18 at 17:52










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    4 Answers
    4






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    4 Answers
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    active

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    active

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    31














    The Special Sense Blindsense bypasses the mechanics of being Invisible



    The Invisible condition states (emphasis mine):




    An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




    Blindsight is a special type of sense, along with senses like True Sight and Tremorsense.



    The condition explicitly calls out that there are special senses that bypass the condition. As Blindsight allows a creature to see the unseen, being invisible is bypassed by that sense and thus the mechanics that the Invisible condition provides are not activated.



    Jeremy Crawford also provides some support:




    Blindsight lets you spot an invisible creature in range, but that creature can still try to hide behind something with Stealth.




    Once you can see the creature the effects of being Invisible are no longer active.






    share|improve this answer

























    • Strictly rules as written, "impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense" and "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" are written as separate effects. The "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" line isn't written as conditional on not being able to see the creature.

      – user2357112
      Nov 13 '18 at 22:22
















    31














    The Special Sense Blindsense bypasses the mechanics of being Invisible



    The Invisible condition states (emphasis mine):




    An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




    Blindsight is a special type of sense, along with senses like True Sight and Tremorsense.



    The condition explicitly calls out that there are special senses that bypass the condition. As Blindsight allows a creature to see the unseen, being invisible is bypassed by that sense and thus the mechanics that the Invisible condition provides are not activated.



    Jeremy Crawford also provides some support:




    Blindsight lets you spot an invisible creature in range, but that creature can still try to hide behind something with Stealth.




    Once you can see the creature the effects of being Invisible are no longer active.






    share|improve this answer

























    • Strictly rules as written, "impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense" and "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" are written as separate effects. The "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" line isn't written as conditional on not being able to see the creature.

      – user2357112
      Nov 13 '18 at 22:22














    31












    31








    31







    The Special Sense Blindsense bypasses the mechanics of being Invisible



    The Invisible condition states (emphasis mine):




    An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




    Blindsight is a special type of sense, along with senses like True Sight and Tremorsense.



    The condition explicitly calls out that there are special senses that bypass the condition. As Blindsight allows a creature to see the unseen, being invisible is bypassed by that sense and thus the mechanics that the Invisible condition provides are not activated.



    Jeremy Crawford also provides some support:




    Blindsight lets you spot an invisible creature in range, but that creature can still try to hide behind something with Stealth.




    Once you can see the creature the effects of being Invisible are no longer active.






    share|improve this answer















    The Special Sense Blindsense bypasses the mechanics of being Invisible



    The Invisible condition states (emphasis mine):




    An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




    Blindsight is a special type of sense, along with senses like True Sight and Tremorsense.



    The condition explicitly calls out that there are special senses that bypass the condition. As Blindsight allows a creature to see the unseen, being invisible is bypassed by that sense and thus the mechanics that the Invisible condition provides are not activated.



    Jeremy Crawford also provides some support:




    Blindsight lets you spot an invisible creature in range, but that creature can still try to hide behind something with Stealth.




    Once you can see the creature the effects of being Invisible are no longer active.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Nov 13 '18 at 4:21

























    answered Nov 13 '18 at 4:07









    NautArchNautArch

    53.4k8188358




    53.4k8188358












    • Strictly rules as written, "impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense" and "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" are written as separate effects. The "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" line isn't written as conditional on not being able to see the creature.

      – user2357112
      Nov 13 '18 at 22:22


















    • Strictly rules as written, "impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense" and "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" are written as separate effects. The "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" line isn't written as conditional on not being able to see the creature.

      – user2357112
      Nov 13 '18 at 22:22

















    Strictly rules as written, "impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense" and "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" are written as separate effects. The "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" line isn't written as conditional on not being able to see the creature.

    – user2357112
    Nov 13 '18 at 22:22






    Strictly rules as written, "impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense" and "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" are written as separate effects. The "Attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage" line isn't written as conditional on not being able to see the creature.

    – user2357112
    Nov 13 '18 at 22:22














    14














    No, it doesn't have disadvantage.



    A creature with blindsight can perceive its environment without using sight. Therefore it can perceive invisible creatures.



    "Invisible" means "unable to be seen". The Invisible condition is actually defined that way:




    An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




    So if someone can effectively see you, then you aren't invisible to them and the adverse effects of the Invisible condition don't apply to them. Note that there is precedent for being subject to a condition with respect to only some creatures: you are considered blinded when trying to see things that are heavily obscured.



    The rules handle attacks between unseen characters in a consistent way, whether they're invisible, blind (and thus unable to see anything), or heavily obscured.






    share|improve this answer




















    • 2





      This answer would be improved by quoting/citing the sources of the relevant rules (rather than simply mentioning what they say).

      – V2Blast
      Nov 13 '18 at 2:02











    • There are a number of possible Tweets that might support this, like this

      – Slagmoth
      Nov 13 '18 at 3:32











    • "Invisible" does not mean "unable to be seen" - if I am on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark I am "unable to be seen" but I am not "invisible". Also, the "invisible" condition is not defined that way - it is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) give you.

      – Dale M
      Nov 13 '18 at 3:43







    • 2





      @DaleM And yet if you are on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark, attack rolls against you have disadvantage. Unable to be seen = unable to be seen.

      – Mark Wells
      Nov 13 '18 at 4:33















    14














    No, it doesn't have disadvantage.



    A creature with blindsight can perceive its environment without using sight. Therefore it can perceive invisible creatures.



    "Invisible" means "unable to be seen". The Invisible condition is actually defined that way:




    An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




    So if someone can effectively see you, then you aren't invisible to them and the adverse effects of the Invisible condition don't apply to them. Note that there is precedent for being subject to a condition with respect to only some creatures: you are considered blinded when trying to see things that are heavily obscured.



    The rules handle attacks between unseen characters in a consistent way, whether they're invisible, blind (and thus unable to see anything), or heavily obscured.






    share|improve this answer




















    • 2





      This answer would be improved by quoting/citing the sources of the relevant rules (rather than simply mentioning what they say).

      – V2Blast
      Nov 13 '18 at 2:02











    • There are a number of possible Tweets that might support this, like this

      – Slagmoth
      Nov 13 '18 at 3:32











    • "Invisible" does not mean "unable to be seen" - if I am on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark I am "unable to be seen" but I am not "invisible". Also, the "invisible" condition is not defined that way - it is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) give you.

      – Dale M
      Nov 13 '18 at 3:43







    • 2





      @DaleM And yet if you are on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark, attack rolls against you have disadvantage. Unable to be seen = unable to be seen.

      – Mark Wells
      Nov 13 '18 at 4:33













    14












    14








    14







    No, it doesn't have disadvantage.



    A creature with blindsight can perceive its environment without using sight. Therefore it can perceive invisible creatures.



    "Invisible" means "unable to be seen". The Invisible condition is actually defined that way:




    An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




    So if someone can effectively see you, then you aren't invisible to them and the adverse effects of the Invisible condition don't apply to them. Note that there is precedent for being subject to a condition with respect to only some creatures: you are considered blinded when trying to see things that are heavily obscured.



    The rules handle attacks between unseen characters in a consistent way, whether they're invisible, blind (and thus unable to see anything), or heavily obscured.






    share|improve this answer















    No, it doesn't have disadvantage.



    A creature with blindsight can perceive its environment without using sight. Therefore it can perceive invisible creatures.



    "Invisible" means "unable to be seen". The Invisible condition is actually defined that way:




    An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense.




    So if someone can effectively see you, then you aren't invisible to them and the adverse effects of the Invisible condition don't apply to them. Note that there is precedent for being subject to a condition with respect to only some creatures: you are considered blinded when trying to see things that are heavily obscured.



    The rules handle attacks between unseen characters in a consistent way, whether they're invisible, blind (and thus unable to see anything), or heavily obscured.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Nov 13 '18 at 4:42

























    answered Nov 13 '18 at 1:57









    Mark WellsMark Wells

    5,3021438




    5,3021438







    • 2





      This answer would be improved by quoting/citing the sources of the relevant rules (rather than simply mentioning what they say).

      – V2Blast
      Nov 13 '18 at 2:02











    • There are a number of possible Tweets that might support this, like this

      – Slagmoth
      Nov 13 '18 at 3:32











    • "Invisible" does not mean "unable to be seen" - if I am on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark I am "unable to be seen" but I am not "invisible". Also, the "invisible" condition is not defined that way - it is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) give you.

      – Dale M
      Nov 13 '18 at 3:43







    • 2





      @DaleM And yet if you are on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark, attack rolls against you have disadvantage. Unable to be seen = unable to be seen.

      – Mark Wells
      Nov 13 '18 at 4:33












    • 2





      This answer would be improved by quoting/citing the sources of the relevant rules (rather than simply mentioning what they say).

      – V2Blast
      Nov 13 '18 at 2:02











    • There are a number of possible Tweets that might support this, like this

      – Slagmoth
      Nov 13 '18 at 3:32











    • "Invisible" does not mean "unable to be seen" - if I am on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark I am "unable to be seen" but I am not "invisible". Also, the "invisible" condition is not defined that way - it is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) give you.

      – Dale M
      Nov 13 '18 at 3:43







    • 2





      @DaleM And yet if you are on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark, attack rolls against you have disadvantage. Unable to be seen = unable to be seen.

      – Mark Wells
      Nov 13 '18 at 4:33







    2




    2





    This answer would be improved by quoting/citing the sources of the relevant rules (rather than simply mentioning what they say).

    – V2Blast
    Nov 13 '18 at 2:02





    This answer would be improved by quoting/citing the sources of the relevant rules (rather than simply mentioning what they say).

    – V2Blast
    Nov 13 '18 at 2:02













    There are a number of possible Tweets that might support this, like this

    – Slagmoth
    Nov 13 '18 at 3:32





    There are a number of possible Tweets that might support this, like this

    – Slagmoth
    Nov 13 '18 at 3:32













    "Invisible" does not mean "unable to be seen" - if I am on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark I am "unable to be seen" but I am not "invisible". Also, the "invisible" condition is not defined that way - it is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) give you.

    – Dale M
    Nov 13 '18 at 3:43






    "Invisible" does not mean "unable to be seen" - if I am on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark I am "unable to be seen" but I am not "invisible". Also, the "invisible" condition is not defined that way - it is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) give you.

    – Dale M
    Nov 13 '18 at 3:43





    2




    2





    @DaleM And yet if you are on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark, attack rolls against you have disadvantage. Unable to be seen = unable to be seen.

    – Mark Wells
    Nov 13 '18 at 4:33





    @DaleM And yet if you are on the other side of a closed door or standing in the dark, attack rolls against you have disadvantage. Unable to be seen = unable to be seen.

    – Mark Wells
    Nov 13 '18 at 4:33











    1














    Compare Blindsight and Truesight to the rules for Faerie Fire. Creatures caught in Faerie Fire are outlined by the spell. But Faerie Fire doesn't just let you sense them, it specifies that the creature does not benefit from invisibility.



    Now compare the text for blur, which gives disadvantage on attacks based on visual stimuli. An attacker is immune if it doesn't rely on sight, such as blindsight, or can see through illusions, such as truesight. It spells out that its benefits are nullified.



    From a rule-based standpoint, there is some benefit that invisibility has that blur doesn't, and there's some benefit to Faerie Fire that Blindsight and Truesight lack.



    From a narrative standpoint, Blindsight allows you to sense an invisible creature, but not perfectly. You may be able to sense the creature is up next to you, and maybe you might be able to work out that they are attacking. But no matter how good your ears or nose are, you wouldn't be able to track finer details like eye movement or shoulder position, so you can't be sure you know how the details of how the creature is attacking or defending.



    And Truesight may have similar narrative limitations. Truesight is a way to see through illusions and invisibility, but it doesn't grant infallible vision enough to nullify these effects. While it's not spelled out WHY it doesn't fully nullify invisibility, there's a variety of explanations. The spell/item that granted it might be flawed. There might be too much information for the brain to process to see through invisibility perfectly. Because of that, there's a visual delay or motion blur or slowed reactions.



    But in the end, it does come down to the DM. Me personally, I'd say the blindsight/ truesight person could use their reaction to try to perceive an oncoming attack, or bonus action to try and identify how the person is defending. Sight person would use a perception check against a stealth check from invisible person. If perception wins, I'd say the invisible person was making enough noise or shifting enough dirt or telegraphing their moves too much and they gave away their defensive stance or attack pattern, nullifying the additional benefit of invisibility.






    share|improve this answer



























      1














      Compare Blindsight and Truesight to the rules for Faerie Fire. Creatures caught in Faerie Fire are outlined by the spell. But Faerie Fire doesn't just let you sense them, it specifies that the creature does not benefit from invisibility.



      Now compare the text for blur, which gives disadvantage on attacks based on visual stimuli. An attacker is immune if it doesn't rely on sight, such as blindsight, or can see through illusions, such as truesight. It spells out that its benefits are nullified.



      From a rule-based standpoint, there is some benefit that invisibility has that blur doesn't, and there's some benefit to Faerie Fire that Blindsight and Truesight lack.



      From a narrative standpoint, Blindsight allows you to sense an invisible creature, but not perfectly. You may be able to sense the creature is up next to you, and maybe you might be able to work out that they are attacking. But no matter how good your ears or nose are, you wouldn't be able to track finer details like eye movement or shoulder position, so you can't be sure you know how the details of how the creature is attacking or defending.



      And Truesight may have similar narrative limitations. Truesight is a way to see through illusions and invisibility, but it doesn't grant infallible vision enough to nullify these effects. While it's not spelled out WHY it doesn't fully nullify invisibility, there's a variety of explanations. The spell/item that granted it might be flawed. There might be too much information for the brain to process to see through invisibility perfectly. Because of that, there's a visual delay or motion blur or slowed reactions.



      But in the end, it does come down to the DM. Me personally, I'd say the blindsight/ truesight person could use their reaction to try to perceive an oncoming attack, or bonus action to try and identify how the person is defending. Sight person would use a perception check against a stealth check from invisible person. If perception wins, I'd say the invisible person was making enough noise or shifting enough dirt or telegraphing their moves too much and they gave away their defensive stance or attack pattern, nullifying the additional benefit of invisibility.






      share|improve this answer

























        1












        1








        1







        Compare Blindsight and Truesight to the rules for Faerie Fire. Creatures caught in Faerie Fire are outlined by the spell. But Faerie Fire doesn't just let you sense them, it specifies that the creature does not benefit from invisibility.



        Now compare the text for blur, which gives disadvantage on attacks based on visual stimuli. An attacker is immune if it doesn't rely on sight, such as blindsight, or can see through illusions, such as truesight. It spells out that its benefits are nullified.



        From a rule-based standpoint, there is some benefit that invisibility has that blur doesn't, and there's some benefit to Faerie Fire that Blindsight and Truesight lack.



        From a narrative standpoint, Blindsight allows you to sense an invisible creature, but not perfectly. You may be able to sense the creature is up next to you, and maybe you might be able to work out that they are attacking. But no matter how good your ears or nose are, you wouldn't be able to track finer details like eye movement or shoulder position, so you can't be sure you know how the details of how the creature is attacking or defending.



        And Truesight may have similar narrative limitations. Truesight is a way to see through illusions and invisibility, but it doesn't grant infallible vision enough to nullify these effects. While it's not spelled out WHY it doesn't fully nullify invisibility, there's a variety of explanations. The spell/item that granted it might be flawed. There might be too much information for the brain to process to see through invisibility perfectly. Because of that, there's a visual delay or motion blur or slowed reactions.



        But in the end, it does come down to the DM. Me personally, I'd say the blindsight/ truesight person could use their reaction to try to perceive an oncoming attack, or bonus action to try and identify how the person is defending. Sight person would use a perception check against a stealth check from invisible person. If perception wins, I'd say the invisible person was making enough noise or shifting enough dirt or telegraphing their moves too much and they gave away their defensive stance or attack pattern, nullifying the additional benefit of invisibility.






        share|improve this answer













        Compare Blindsight and Truesight to the rules for Faerie Fire. Creatures caught in Faerie Fire are outlined by the spell. But Faerie Fire doesn't just let you sense them, it specifies that the creature does not benefit from invisibility.



        Now compare the text for blur, which gives disadvantage on attacks based on visual stimuli. An attacker is immune if it doesn't rely on sight, such as blindsight, or can see through illusions, such as truesight. It spells out that its benefits are nullified.



        From a rule-based standpoint, there is some benefit that invisibility has that blur doesn't, and there's some benefit to Faerie Fire that Blindsight and Truesight lack.



        From a narrative standpoint, Blindsight allows you to sense an invisible creature, but not perfectly. You may be able to sense the creature is up next to you, and maybe you might be able to work out that they are attacking. But no matter how good your ears or nose are, you wouldn't be able to track finer details like eye movement or shoulder position, so you can't be sure you know how the details of how the creature is attacking or defending.



        And Truesight may have similar narrative limitations. Truesight is a way to see through illusions and invisibility, but it doesn't grant infallible vision enough to nullify these effects. While it's not spelled out WHY it doesn't fully nullify invisibility, there's a variety of explanations. The spell/item that granted it might be flawed. There might be too much information for the brain to process to see through invisibility perfectly. Because of that, there's a visual delay or motion blur or slowed reactions.



        But in the end, it does come down to the DM. Me personally, I'd say the blindsight/ truesight person could use their reaction to try to perceive an oncoming attack, or bonus action to try and identify how the person is defending. Sight person would use a perception check against a stealth check from invisible person. If perception wins, I'd say the invisible person was making enough noise or shifting enough dirt or telegraphing their moves too much and they gave away their defensive stance or attack pattern, nullifying the additional benefit of invisibility.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Jan 3 at 5:10









        Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger

        4106




        4106





















            0














            An Invisible creature is still Invisible even if someone can see it



            Invisibility is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) gives you and the condition only ends in the way that the effect says - I don't know of any that end just because something can "see" you. While you have the condition it does what it says it does.



            So, yes, an Invisible creature attacks with advantage and is attacked with disadvantage even if the target/attacker can "see" it through blindsight, tremorsense, truesight etc.



            Why? Because the advantage/disadvantage comes from the Invisible condition (PHB p.291) and is distinct from the advantage/disadvantage that comes from being unseen (PHB p.195).



            Does this make sense? I don't ask that question anymore.






            share|improve this answer

























            • Thank you. That is what I believed may have been the correct interpretation but there was some confusion in my group about there being disadvantage even when the creature was seen or "perceived" by blindsight.

              – Rykara
              Nov 13 '18 at 1:59






            • 1





              @rpeinhardt: Although you are free to accept any answer, and DaleM is clearly an expert, if you are interested in consensus as evidenced by the votes, you will see that this answer has less agreement from other voters. If you are interested in the reasons behind polarised versions of answers, this seems to be a classic example of gamist vs narrative interpretations of rules - neither are inherently "wrong", however the swing was heavily gamist for D&D v4, and there was a deliberate swing back the other way for 5E. More detail on that would be the topic of another question

              – Neil Slater
              Nov 13 '18 at 7:51







            • 1





              @rpeinhardt Rules do what they say, and this is indeed what the rules say. 5e has, quote honestly, poorly written rules from the perspective of "saying what they should say"; instead, 5e was written in a conversational manner, with next to no attention payed to "oh, and did we write what we meant to?" in most of it.

              – Yakk
              Nov 13 '18 at 14:54











            • @ Neil Slater: That's a VERY good comment. Really, it's kind of an answer unto itself. Thank you! I've unmarked this answer as chosen not necessarily because I think it's wrong, but because it seems to be more complex.

              – Rykara
              Nov 13 '18 at 17:52















            0














            An Invisible creature is still Invisible even if someone can see it



            Invisibility is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) gives you and the condition only ends in the way that the effect says - I don't know of any that end just because something can "see" you. While you have the condition it does what it says it does.



            So, yes, an Invisible creature attacks with advantage and is attacked with disadvantage even if the target/attacker can "see" it through blindsight, tremorsense, truesight etc.



            Why? Because the advantage/disadvantage comes from the Invisible condition (PHB p.291) and is distinct from the advantage/disadvantage that comes from being unseen (PHB p.195).



            Does this make sense? I don't ask that question anymore.






            share|improve this answer

























            • Thank you. That is what I believed may have been the correct interpretation but there was some confusion in my group about there being disadvantage even when the creature was seen or "perceived" by blindsight.

              – Rykara
              Nov 13 '18 at 1:59






            • 1





              @rpeinhardt: Although you are free to accept any answer, and DaleM is clearly an expert, if you are interested in consensus as evidenced by the votes, you will see that this answer has less agreement from other voters. If you are interested in the reasons behind polarised versions of answers, this seems to be a classic example of gamist vs narrative interpretations of rules - neither are inherently "wrong", however the swing was heavily gamist for D&D v4, and there was a deliberate swing back the other way for 5E. More detail on that would be the topic of another question

              – Neil Slater
              Nov 13 '18 at 7:51







            • 1





              @rpeinhardt Rules do what they say, and this is indeed what the rules say. 5e has, quote honestly, poorly written rules from the perspective of "saying what they should say"; instead, 5e was written in a conversational manner, with next to no attention payed to "oh, and did we write what we meant to?" in most of it.

              – Yakk
              Nov 13 '18 at 14:54











            • @ Neil Slater: That's a VERY good comment. Really, it's kind of an answer unto itself. Thank you! I've unmarked this answer as chosen not necessarily because I think it's wrong, but because it seems to be more complex.

              – Rykara
              Nov 13 '18 at 17:52













            0












            0








            0







            An Invisible creature is still Invisible even if someone can see it



            Invisibility is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) gives you and the condition only ends in the way that the effect says - I don't know of any that end just because something can "see" you. While you have the condition it does what it says it does.



            So, yes, an Invisible creature attacks with advantage and is attacked with disadvantage even if the target/attacker can "see" it through blindsight, tremorsense, truesight etc.



            Why? Because the advantage/disadvantage comes from the Invisible condition (PHB p.291) and is distinct from the advantage/disadvantage that comes from being unseen (PHB p.195).



            Does this make sense? I don't ask that question anymore.






            share|improve this answer















            An Invisible creature is still Invisible even if someone can see it



            Invisibility is a condition that certain magical effects (e.g. Invisibility spell) gives you and the condition only ends in the way that the effect says - I don't know of any that end just because something can "see" you. While you have the condition it does what it says it does.



            So, yes, an Invisible creature attacks with advantage and is attacked with disadvantage even if the target/attacker can "see" it through blindsight, tremorsense, truesight etc.



            Why? Because the advantage/disadvantage comes from the Invisible condition (PHB p.291) and is distinct from the advantage/disadvantage that comes from being unseen (PHB p.195).



            Does this make sense? I don't ask that question anymore.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Nov 13 '18 at 3:50

























            answered Nov 13 '18 at 1:40









            Dale MDale M

            103k21267455




            103k21267455












            • Thank you. That is what I believed may have been the correct interpretation but there was some confusion in my group about there being disadvantage even when the creature was seen or "perceived" by blindsight.

              – Rykara
              Nov 13 '18 at 1:59






            • 1





              @rpeinhardt: Although you are free to accept any answer, and DaleM is clearly an expert, if you are interested in consensus as evidenced by the votes, you will see that this answer has less agreement from other voters. If you are interested in the reasons behind polarised versions of answers, this seems to be a classic example of gamist vs narrative interpretations of rules - neither are inherently "wrong", however the swing was heavily gamist for D&D v4, and there was a deliberate swing back the other way for 5E. More detail on that would be the topic of another question

              – Neil Slater
              Nov 13 '18 at 7:51







            • 1





              @rpeinhardt Rules do what they say, and this is indeed what the rules say. 5e has, quote honestly, poorly written rules from the perspective of "saying what they should say"; instead, 5e was written in a conversational manner, with next to no attention payed to "oh, and did we write what we meant to?" in most of it.

              – Yakk
              Nov 13 '18 at 14:54











            • @ Neil Slater: That's a VERY good comment. Really, it's kind of an answer unto itself. Thank you! I've unmarked this answer as chosen not necessarily because I think it's wrong, but because it seems to be more complex.

              – Rykara
              Nov 13 '18 at 17:52

















            • Thank you. That is what I believed may have been the correct interpretation but there was some confusion in my group about there being disadvantage even when the creature was seen or "perceived" by blindsight.

              – Rykara
              Nov 13 '18 at 1:59






            • 1





              @rpeinhardt: Although you are free to accept any answer, and DaleM is clearly an expert, if you are interested in consensus as evidenced by the votes, you will see that this answer has less agreement from other voters. If you are interested in the reasons behind polarised versions of answers, this seems to be a classic example of gamist vs narrative interpretations of rules - neither are inherently "wrong", however the swing was heavily gamist for D&D v4, and there was a deliberate swing back the other way for 5E. More detail on that would be the topic of another question

              – Neil Slater
              Nov 13 '18 at 7:51







            • 1





              @rpeinhardt Rules do what they say, and this is indeed what the rules say. 5e has, quote honestly, poorly written rules from the perspective of "saying what they should say"; instead, 5e was written in a conversational manner, with next to no attention payed to "oh, and did we write what we meant to?" in most of it.

              – Yakk
              Nov 13 '18 at 14:54











            • @ Neil Slater: That's a VERY good comment. Really, it's kind of an answer unto itself. Thank you! I've unmarked this answer as chosen not necessarily because I think it's wrong, but because it seems to be more complex.

              – Rykara
              Nov 13 '18 at 17:52
















            Thank you. That is what I believed may have been the correct interpretation but there was some confusion in my group about there being disadvantage even when the creature was seen or "perceived" by blindsight.

            – Rykara
            Nov 13 '18 at 1:59





            Thank you. That is what I believed may have been the correct interpretation but there was some confusion in my group about there being disadvantage even when the creature was seen or "perceived" by blindsight.

            – Rykara
            Nov 13 '18 at 1:59




            1




            1





            @rpeinhardt: Although you are free to accept any answer, and DaleM is clearly an expert, if you are interested in consensus as evidenced by the votes, you will see that this answer has less agreement from other voters. If you are interested in the reasons behind polarised versions of answers, this seems to be a classic example of gamist vs narrative interpretations of rules - neither are inherently "wrong", however the swing was heavily gamist for D&D v4, and there was a deliberate swing back the other way for 5E. More detail on that would be the topic of another question

            – Neil Slater
            Nov 13 '18 at 7:51






            @rpeinhardt: Although you are free to accept any answer, and DaleM is clearly an expert, if you are interested in consensus as evidenced by the votes, you will see that this answer has less agreement from other voters. If you are interested in the reasons behind polarised versions of answers, this seems to be a classic example of gamist vs narrative interpretations of rules - neither are inherently "wrong", however the swing was heavily gamist for D&D v4, and there was a deliberate swing back the other way for 5E. More detail on that would be the topic of another question

            – Neil Slater
            Nov 13 '18 at 7:51





            1




            1





            @rpeinhardt Rules do what they say, and this is indeed what the rules say. 5e has, quote honestly, poorly written rules from the perspective of "saying what they should say"; instead, 5e was written in a conversational manner, with next to no attention payed to "oh, and did we write what we meant to?" in most of it.

            – Yakk
            Nov 13 '18 at 14:54





            @rpeinhardt Rules do what they say, and this is indeed what the rules say. 5e has, quote honestly, poorly written rules from the perspective of "saying what they should say"; instead, 5e was written in a conversational manner, with next to no attention payed to "oh, and did we write what we meant to?" in most of it.

            – Yakk
            Nov 13 '18 at 14:54













            @ Neil Slater: That's a VERY good comment. Really, it's kind of an answer unto itself. Thank you! I've unmarked this answer as chosen not necessarily because I think it's wrong, but because it seems to be more complex.

            – Rykara
            Nov 13 '18 at 17:52





            @ Neil Slater: That's a VERY good comment. Really, it's kind of an answer unto itself. Thank you! I've unmarked this answer as chosen not necessarily because I think it's wrong, but because it seems to be more complex.

            – Rykara
            Nov 13 '18 at 17:52

















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