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Is Disarm an entire action, or a replacement for a single Weapon Attack?
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My confusion comes from the somewhat ambiguous wording of the Disarm action as described in the Dungeon Master's Guide:
A creature can use a weapon attack to knock a weapon or another item from a target's grasp. The attacker makes an attack roll contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) check or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect, but the defender drops the item.
Two things stand out to me:
A creature can use a weapon attack
One way to interpret this is to mean that this is replacing a normal weapon attack, disarming the target instead of dealing damage. The other way to interpret this is that this weapon attack is special; that despite being called an attack, it's intended to be its own action type.
If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect
This also stands out to me. If this were its own action, and not a replacement for a regular attack, then it wouldn't be necessary to specify that damage is negated; it would simply be presumed to deal no damage.
What is the correct way to interpret this action? Is it its own Action, or a replacement for a single Attack as part of the Attack Action? If a character gets the Extra Attack feature, can Disarm replace every attack they're otherwise allowed to make?
dnd-5e
asked 44 mins ago
Xirema
6,0201743
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
My confusion comes from the somewhat ambiguous wording of the Disarm action as described in the Dungeon Master's Guide:
A creature can use a weapon attack to knock a weapon or another item from a target's grasp. The attacker makes an attack roll contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) check or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect, but the defender drops the item.
Two things stand out to me:
A creature can use a weapon attack
One way to interpret this is to mean that this is replacing a normal weapon attack, disarming the target instead of dealing damage. The other way to interpret this is that this weapon attack is special; that despite being called an attack, it's intended to be its own action type.
If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect
This also stands out to me. If this were its own action, and not a replacement for a regular attack, then it wouldn't be necessary to specify that damage is negated; it would simply be presumed to deal no damage.
What is the correct way to interpret this action? Is it its own Action, or a replacement for a single Attack as part of the Attack Action? If a character gets the Extra Attack feature, can Disarm replace every attack they're otherwise allowed to make?
dnd-5e
asked 44 mins ago
Xirema
6,0201743
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
My confusion comes from the somewhat ambiguous wording of the Disarm action as described in the Dungeon Master's Guide:
A creature can use a weapon attack to knock a weapon or another item from a target's grasp. The attacker makes an attack roll contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) check or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect, but the defender drops the item.
Two things stand out to me:
A creature can use a weapon attack
One way to interpret this is to mean that this is replacing a normal weapon attack, disarming the target instead of dealing damage. The other way to interpret this is that this weapon attack is special; that despite being called an attack, it's intended to be its own action type.
If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect
This also stands out to me. If this were its own action, and not a replacement for a regular attack, then it wouldn't be necessary to specify that damage is negated; it would simply be presumed to deal no damage.
What is the correct way to interpret this action? Is it its own Action, or a replacement for a single Attack as part of the Attack Action? If a character gets the Extra Attack feature, can Disarm replace every attack they're otherwise allowed to make?
dnd-5e
asked 44 mins ago
Xirema
6,0201743
My confusion comes from the somewhat ambiguous wording of the Disarm action as described in the Dungeon Master's Guide:
A creature can use a weapon attack to knock a weapon or another item from a target's grasp. The attacker makes an attack roll contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) check or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect, but the defender drops the item.
Two things stand out to me:
A creature can use a weapon attack
One way to interpret this is to mean that this is replacing a normal weapon attack, disarming the target instead of dealing damage. The other way to interpret this is that this weapon attack is special; that despite being called an attack, it's intended to be its own action type.
If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect
This also stands out to me. If this were its own action, and not a replacement for a regular attack, then it wouldn't be necessary to specify that damage is negated; it would simply be presumed to deal no damage.
What is the correct way to interpret this action? Is it its own Action, or a replacement for a single Attack as part of the Attack Action? If a character gets the Extra Attack feature, can Disarm replace every attack they're otherwise allowed to make?
dnd-5e
dnd-5e
asked 44 mins ago
Xirema
6,0201743
asked 44 mins ago
Xirema
6,0201743
asked 44 mins ago
Xirema
6,0201743
asked 44 mins ago
Xirema
6,0201743
asked 44 mins ago
Xirema
6,0201743
6,0201743
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
It's an attack, not a separate action
The answer is in the text you quoted:
A creature can use a weapon attack
If it took its own action, it would say something along the lines of "As an action, ...". The "weapon attack" wording is uniformly used to indicate that you can swap out one of your attacks for the effect.
answered 24 mins ago
Xanthir
790210
I think is the way it's meant, too - the answer would be improved if we can provide a concrete example of another rule where the same wording is used to mean this, though.
– Carcer
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
It isn't clear, but it's probably easiest to treat it as an attack
The optional Disarm is listed under Action Options in the DMG (pp271). Emphasis is mine.:
This section provides new action options for combat.
However, as you've quoted in the text above there is the reference to:
A creature can use a weapon attack...
Reviewing the Options
Looking at the other Action Options, there are some directional differences:
Climbing onto a Bigger Creature - Only states to use a Grapple but provides additional functionality.
If one creature wants to jump onto another creature, it can do so by grappling
Shove Aside - Specifically references using the Shove attack
With this option, a creature uses the special shove attack from the Player’s Handbook to force a target to the side, rather than away
Tumble Specifically states to use an action or bonus action
As an action or a bonus action...
This gives us some instances where they reference existing mechanics and some where they say it's an entire action.
Unfortunately, neither is really specified for the Disarm, unless you take the "use a weapon attack", which would be perfectly reasonable, as the reason for doing so.
Recommendation: it's a weapon attack
I think this makes the most sense. There is only one example of these Actions that actually take an action, so we can use that type of language to guide us.
As Disarm doesn't have that and it does state "use a weapon attack" is sufficient to suggest that it's just an attack and not a full action.
answered 18 mins ago
NautArch
44.9k6162309
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
The entire Action is used to Disarm
My reasoning is the inclusion of the specific text on the Grapple action
When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a Special melee Attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this Attack replaces one of them.
Emphasis mine. The same wording appears on the Shove action. This is not specified for the Disarm action.
I believe the reason Disarm is a "weapon attack" that deals no damage is that it requires a weapon, an enemy within reach, and all other limitations and requirements of a weapon attack.
answered 22 mins ago
Sir Cinnamon
4,4051240
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
It's an attack, not a separate action
The answer is in the text you quoted:
A creature can use a weapon attack
If it took its own action, it would say something along the lines of "As an action, ...". The "weapon attack" wording is uniformly used to indicate that you can swap out one of your attacks for the effect.
answered 24 mins ago
Xanthir
790210
I think is the way it's meant, too - the answer would be improved if we can provide a concrete example of another rule where the same wording is used to mean this, though.
– Carcer
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
It's an attack, not a separate action
The answer is in the text you quoted:
A creature can use a weapon attack
If it took its own action, it would say something along the lines of "As an action, ...". The "weapon attack" wording is uniformly used to indicate that you can swap out one of your attacks for the effect.
answered 24 mins ago
Xanthir
790210
I think is the way it's meant, too - the answer would be improved if we can provide a concrete example of another rule where the same wording is used to mean this, though.
– Carcer
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
It's an attack, not a separate action
The answer is in the text you quoted:
A creature can use a weapon attack
If it took its own action, it would say something along the lines of "As an action, ...". The "weapon attack" wording is uniformly used to indicate that you can swap out one of your attacks for the effect.
answered 24 mins ago
Xanthir
790210
It's an attack, not a separate action
The answer is in the text you quoted:
A creature can use a weapon attack
If it took its own action, it would say something along the lines of "As an action, ...". The "weapon attack" wording is uniformly used to indicate that you can swap out one of your attacks for the effect.
answered 24 mins ago
Xanthir
790210
answered 24 mins ago
Xanthir
790210
answered 24 mins ago
Xanthir
790210
answered 24 mins ago
Xanthir
790210
790210
I think is the way it's meant, too - the answer would be improved if we can provide a concrete example of another rule where the same wording is used to mean this, though.
– Carcer
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
I think is the way it's meant, too - the answer would be improved if we can provide a concrete example of another rule where the same wording is used to mean this, though.
– Carcer
19 mins ago
I think is the way it's meant, too - the answer would be improved if we can provide a concrete example of another rule where the same wording is used to mean this, though.
– Carcer
19 mins ago
I think is the way it's meant, too - the answer would be improved if we can provide a concrete example of another rule where the same wording is used to mean this, though.
– Carcer
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
It isn't clear, but it's probably easiest to treat it as an attack
The optional Disarm is listed under Action Options in the DMG (pp271). Emphasis is mine.:
This section provides new action options for combat.
However, as you've quoted in the text above there is the reference to:
A creature can use a weapon attack...
Reviewing the Options
Looking at the other Action Options, there are some directional differences:
Climbing onto a Bigger Creature - Only states to use a Grapple but provides additional functionality.
If one creature wants to jump onto another creature, it can do so by grappling
Shove Aside - Specifically references using the Shove attack
With this option, a creature uses the special shove attack from the Player’s Handbook to force a target to the side, rather than away
Tumble Specifically states to use an action or bonus action
As an action or a bonus action...
This gives us some instances where they reference existing mechanics and some where they say it's an entire action.
Unfortunately, neither is really specified for the Disarm, unless you take the "use a weapon attack", which would be perfectly reasonable, as the reason for doing so.
Recommendation: it's a weapon attack
I think this makes the most sense. There is only one example of these Actions that actually take an action, so we can use that type of language to guide us.
As Disarm doesn't have that and it does state "use a weapon attack" is sufficient to suggest that it's just an attack and not a full action.
answered 18 mins ago
NautArch
44.9k6162309
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
It isn't clear, but it's probably easiest to treat it as an attack
The optional Disarm is listed under Action Options in the DMG (pp271). Emphasis is mine.:
This section provides new action options for combat.
However, as you've quoted in the text above there is the reference to:
A creature can use a weapon attack...
Reviewing the Options
Looking at the other Action Options, there are some directional differences:
Climbing onto a Bigger Creature - Only states to use a Grapple but provides additional functionality.
If one creature wants to jump onto another creature, it can do so by grappling
Shove Aside - Specifically references using the Shove attack
With this option, a creature uses the special shove attack from the Player’s Handbook to force a target to the side, rather than away
Tumble Specifically states to use an action or bonus action
As an action or a bonus action...
This gives us some instances where they reference existing mechanics and some where they say it's an entire action.
Unfortunately, neither is really specified for the Disarm, unless you take the "use a weapon attack", which would be perfectly reasonable, as the reason for doing so.
Recommendation: it's a weapon attack
I think this makes the most sense. There is only one example of these Actions that actually take an action, so we can use that type of language to guide us.
As Disarm doesn't have that and it does state "use a weapon attack" is sufficient to suggest that it's just an attack and not a full action.
answered 18 mins ago
NautArch
44.9k6162309
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
It isn't clear, but it's probably easiest to treat it as an attack
The optional Disarm is listed under Action Options in the DMG (pp271). Emphasis is mine.:
This section provides new action options for combat.
However, as you've quoted in the text above there is the reference to:
A creature can use a weapon attack...
Reviewing the Options
Looking at the other Action Options, there are some directional differences:
Climbing onto a Bigger Creature - Only states to use a Grapple but provides additional functionality.
If one creature wants to jump onto another creature, it can do so by grappling
Shove Aside - Specifically references using the Shove attack
With this option, a creature uses the special shove attack from the Player’s Handbook to force a target to the side, rather than away
Tumble Specifically states to use an action or bonus action
As an action or a bonus action...
This gives us some instances where they reference existing mechanics and some where they say it's an entire action.
Unfortunately, neither is really specified for the Disarm, unless you take the "use a weapon attack", which would be perfectly reasonable, as the reason for doing so.
Recommendation: it's a weapon attack
I think this makes the most sense. There is only one example of these Actions that actually take an action, so we can use that type of language to guide us.
As Disarm doesn't have that and it does state "use a weapon attack" is sufficient to suggest that it's just an attack and not a full action.
answered 18 mins ago
NautArch
44.9k6162309
It isn't clear, but it's probably easiest to treat it as an attack
The optional Disarm is listed under Action Options in the DMG (pp271). Emphasis is mine.:
This section provides new action options for combat.
However, as you've quoted in the text above there is the reference to:
A creature can use a weapon attack...
Reviewing the Options
Looking at the other Action Options, there are some directional differences:
Climbing onto a Bigger Creature - Only states to use a Grapple but provides additional functionality.
If one creature wants to jump onto another creature, it can do so by grappling
Shove Aside - Specifically references using the Shove attack
With this option, a creature uses the special shove attack from the Player’s Handbook to force a target to the side, rather than away
Tumble Specifically states to use an action or bonus action
As an action or a bonus action...
This gives us some instances where they reference existing mechanics and some where they say it's an entire action.
Unfortunately, neither is really specified for the Disarm, unless you take the "use a weapon attack", which would be perfectly reasonable, as the reason for doing so.
Recommendation: it's a weapon attack
I think this makes the most sense. There is only one example of these Actions that actually take an action, so we can use that type of language to guide us.
As Disarm doesn't have that and it does state "use a weapon attack" is sufficient to suggest that it's just an attack and not a full action.
answered 18 mins ago
NautArch
44.9k6162309
edited 2 mins ago
answered 18 mins ago
NautArch
44.9k6162309
answered 18 mins ago
NautArch
44.9k6162309
answered 18 mins ago
NautArch
44.9k6162309
44.9k6162309
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
The entire Action is used to Disarm
My reasoning is the inclusion of the specific text on the Grapple action
When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a Special melee Attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this Attack replaces one of them.
Emphasis mine. The same wording appears on the Shove action. This is not specified for the Disarm action.
I believe the reason Disarm is a "weapon attack" that deals no damage is that it requires a weapon, an enemy within reach, and all other limitations and requirements of a weapon attack.
answered 22 mins ago
Sir Cinnamon
4,4051240
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
The entire Action is used to Disarm
My reasoning is the inclusion of the specific text on the Grapple action
When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a Special melee Attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this Attack replaces one of them.
Emphasis mine. The same wording appears on the Shove action. This is not specified for the Disarm action.
I believe the reason Disarm is a "weapon attack" that deals no damage is that it requires a weapon, an enemy within reach, and all other limitations and requirements of a weapon attack.
answered 22 mins ago
Sir Cinnamon
4,4051240
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
The entire Action is used to Disarm
My reasoning is the inclusion of the specific text on the Grapple action
When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a Special melee Attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this Attack replaces one of them.
Emphasis mine. The same wording appears on the Shove action. This is not specified for the Disarm action.
I believe the reason Disarm is a "weapon attack" that deals no damage is that it requires a weapon, an enemy within reach, and all other limitations and requirements of a weapon attack.
answered 22 mins ago
Sir Cinnamon
4,4051240
The entire Action is used to Disarm
My reasoning is the inclusion of the specific text on the Grapple action
When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a Special melee Attack, a grapple. If you’re able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this Attack replaces one of them.
Emphasis mine. The same wording appears on the Shove action. This is not specified for the Disarm action.
I believe the reason Disarm is a "weapon attack" that deals no damage is that it requires a weapon, an enemy within reach, and all other limitations and requirements of a weapon attack.
answered 22 mins ago
Sir Cinnamon
4,4051240
edited 13 mins ago
answered 22 mins ago
Sir Cinnamon
4,4051240
answered 22 mins ago
Sir Cinnamon
4,4051240
answered 22 mins ago
Sir Cinnamon
4,4051240
4,4051240
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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