What methods are there to cause a Blinded (but not Deafened) creature to lose track of my position?

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The scenario.



I'm playing a level 3 Sorcerer, using the Shadow Sorcer Origin provided by Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Before combat began (or in the immediately previous round, if you like) I cast Darkness, using my Eyes of Darkness feature on a dagger that I'm holding in my hand. I hold a Rapier in my other hand. Because Eyes of Darkness allows me, the caster, to ignore the effects of my own Darkness spell, I am perfectly capable of seeing through my own darkness but my enemies cannot see me. If they become blinded (per the Condition).



This round, I run up to my target, a Human Bandit, using 15 feet of movement. I drop the dagger on the ground, and then use the Rapier (the character is Drow, so they have Rapier proficiency) to attack the bandit. Regardless of whether the attack connects, I then use my remaining 15 feet of movement to move to another point within the 15 feet radius sphere of Darkness ... I left the Dagger where I dropped it. This movement does not trigger an Opportunity Attack, because an OA requires the person making the Reaction to be able to see their target, which they can't in this scenario.



So here's the core question:



  1. Does the Bandit know where I am, beyond the obvious knowledge that I'm still somewhere inside the sphere of Darkness?


  2. Does this sequence of events require me to use the Hide action to
    conceal my new location, or would the Bandit implicitly know my new
    location, through implied noise that my movement creates?



  3. Is the Bandit's knowledge of my new location contingent on their own
    Perception check against my Stealth abilities, or would they be able
    to know my position without any checks at all?



    In the Player's Handbook, in the section for "Making an Attack", there is the following information (relevant parts emphasized by me):




    Unseen Attackers and Targets



    Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.



    When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.



    When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.



    If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.




    My takeaway from this is that simply being in Darkness is enough to fully conceal my position, but that attacking is enough to give away my location. Does this imply that even if I move 15 feet away afterwards, that I've made too much noise this round to fully obscure my position, or is the bandit only informed that I was in melee range in front of them at some point during the round?








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  • Possible duplicate: How does detection and Perception work in a dark room with no-one Hiding?
    – Rubiksmoose
    Aug 20 at 18:40











  • Edit for format. Please review to make sure your meaning is preserved.
    – KorvinStarmast
    Aug 21 at 23:00
















up vote
7
down vote

favorite












The scenario.



I'm playing a level 3 Sorcerer, using the Shadow Sorcer Origin provided by Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Before combat began (or in the immediately previous round, if you like) I cast Darkness, using my Eyes of Darkness feature on a dagger that I'm holding in my hand. I hold a Rapier in my other hand. Because Eyes of Darkness allows me, the caster, to ignore the effects of my own Darkness spell, I am perfectly capable of seeing through my own darkness but my enemies cannot see me. If they become blinded (per the Condition).



This round, I run up to my target, a Human Bandit, using 15 feet of movement. I drop the dagger on the ground, and then use the Rapier (the character is Drow, so they have Rapier proficiency) to attack the bandit. Regardless of whether the attack connects, I then use my remaining 15 feet of movement to move to another point within the 15 feet radius sphere of Darkness ... I left the Dagger where I dropped it. This movement does not trigger an Opportunity Attack, because an OA requires the person making the Reaction to be able to see their target, which they can't in this scenario.



So here's the core question:



  1. Does the Bandit know where I am, beyond the obvious knowledge that I'm still somewhere inside the sphere of Darkness?


  2. Does this sequence of events require me to use the Hide action to
    conceal my new location, or would the Bandit implicitly know my new
    location, through implied noise that my movement creates?



  3. Is the Bandit's knowledge of my new location contingent on their own
    Perception check against my Stealth abilities, or would they be able
    to know my position without any checks at all?



    In the Player's Handbook, in the section for "Making an Attack", there is the following information (relevant parts emphasized by me):




    Unseen Attackers and Targets



    Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.



    When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.



    When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.



    If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.




    My takeaway from this is that simply being in Darkness is enough to fully conceal my position, but that attacking is enough to give away my location. Does this imply that even if I move 15 feet away afterwards, that I've made too much noise this round to fully obscure my position, or is the bandit only informed that I was in melee range in front of them at some point during the round?








share|improve this question






















  • Possible duplicate: How does detection and Perception work in a dark room with no-one Hiding?
    – Rubiksmoose
    Aug 20 at 18:40











  • Edit for format. Please review to make sure your meaning is preserved.
    – KorvinStarmast
    Aug 21 at 23:00












up vote
7
down vote

favorite









up vote
7
down vote

favorite











The scenario.



I'm playing a level 3 Sorcerer, using the Shadow Sorcer Origin provided by Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Before combat began (or in the immediately previous round, if you like) I cast Darkness, using my Eyes of Darkness feature on a dagger that I'm holding in my hand. I hold a Rapier in my other hand. Because Eyes of Darkness allows me, the caster, to ignore the effects of my own Darkness spell, I am perfectly capable of seeing through my own darkness but my enemies cannot see me. If they become blinded (per the Condition).



This round, I run up to my target, a Human Bandit, using 15 feet of movement. I drop the dagger on the ground, and then use the Rapier (the character is Drow, so they have Rapier proficiency) to attack the bandit. Regardless of whether the attack connects, I then use my remaining 15 feet of movement to move to another point within the 15 feet radius sphere of Darkness ... I left the Dagger where I dropped it. This movement does not trigger an Opportunity Attack, because an OA requires the person making the Reaction to be able to see their target, which they can't in this scenario.



So here's the core question:



  1. Does the Bandit know where I am, beyond the obvious knowledge that I'm still somewhere inside the sphere of Darkness?


  2. Does this sequence of events require me to use the Hide action to
    conceal my new location, or would the Bandit implicitly know my new
    location, through implied noise that my movement creates?



  3. Is the Bandit's knowledge of my new location contingent on their own
    Perception check against my Stealth abilities, or would they be able
    to know my position without any checks at all?



    In the Player's Handbook, in the section for "Making an Attack", there is the following information (relevant parts emphasized by me):




    Unseen Attackers and Targets



    Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.



    When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.



    When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.



    If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.




    My takeaway from this is that simply being in Darkness is enough to fully conceal my position, but that attacking is enough to give away my location. Does this imply that even if I move 15 feet away afterwards, that I've made too much noise this round to fully obscure my position, or is the bandit only informed that I was in melee range in front of them at some point during the round?








share|improve this question














The scenario.



I'm playing a level 3 Sorcerer, using the Shadow Sorcer Origin provided by Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Before combat began (or in the immediately previous round, if you like) I cast Darkness, using my Eyes of Darkness feature on a dagger that I'm holding in my hand. I hold a Rapier in my other hand. Because Eyes of Darkness allows me, the caster, to ignore the effects of my own Darkness spell, I am perfectly capable of seeing through my own darkness but my enemies cannot see me. If they become blinded (per the Condition).



This round, I run up to my target, a Human Bandit, using 15 feet of movement. I drop the dagger on the ground, and then use the Rapier (the character is Drow, so they have Rapier proficiency) to attack the bandit. Regardless of whether the attack connects, I then use my remaining 15 feet of movement to move to another point within the 15 feet radius sphere of Darkness ... I left the Dagger where I dropped it. This movement does not trigger an Opportunity Attack, because an OA requires the person making the Reaction to be able to see their target, which they can't in this scenario.



So here's the core question:



  1. Does the Bandit know where I am, beyond the obvious knowledge that I'm still somewhere inside the sphere of Darkness?


  2. Does this sequence of events require me to use the Hide action to
    conceal my new location, or would the Bandit implicitly know my new
    location, through implied noise that my movement creates?



  3. Is the Bandit's knowledge of my new location contingent on their own
    Perception check against my Stealth abilities, or would they be able
    to know my position without any checks at all?



    In the Player's Handbook, in the section for "Making an Attack", there is the following information (relevant parts emphasized by me):




    Unseen Attackers and Targets



    Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.



    When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.



    When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.



    If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.




    My takeaway from this is that simply being in Darkness is enough to fully conceal my position, but that attacking is enough to give away my location. Does this imply that even if I move 15 feet away afterwards, that I've made too much noise this round to fully obscure my position, or is the bandit only informed that I was in melee range in front of them at some point during the round?










share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Aug 21 at 23:32









V2Blast

13.5k23387




13.5k23387










asked Aug 20 at 18:32









Xirema

4,7971430




4,7971430











  • Possible duplicate: How does detection and Perception work in a dark room with no-one Hiding?
    – Rubiksmoose
    Aug 20 at 18:40











  • Edit for format. Please review to make sure your meaning is preserved.
    – KorvinStarmast
    Aug 21 at 23:00
















  • Possible duplicate: How does detection and Perception work in a dark room with no-one Hiding?
    – Rubiksmoose
    Aug 20 at 18:40











  • Edit for format. Please review to make sure your meaning is preserved.
    – KorvinStarmast
    Aug 21 at 23:00















Possible duplicate: How does detection and Perception work in a dark room with no-one Hiding?
– Rubiksmoose
Aug 20 at 18:40





Possible duplicate: How does detection and Perception work in a dark room with no-one Hiding?
– Rubiksmoose
Aug 20 at 18:40













Edit for format. Please review to make sure your meaning is preserved.
– KorvinStarmast
Aug 21 at 23:00




Edit for format. Please review to make sure your meaning is preserved.
– KorvinStarmast
Aug 21 at 23:00










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
14
down vote



accepted










You must take the Hide action to conceal your location



In combat, Hiding is never an automatic thing (unless some feature specifically says it allows you to). It always requires you to take the Hide Action.1



Even if you cannot be seen, you can still be heard and hearing is enough for an opponent to discover your location.



The rules for Hiding state:




You can't hide from a creature that can see you, and if you
make noise [...] you give away your position. (PHB 177)




Being in darkness in not enough to conceal your location. Concealing your location has a certain mechanic to it and that mechanic is called the Hide action.



Jeremy Crawford agrees here:




Q: My PC uses the invisibility spell, does he auto hide or do I still need to take the hide action to not be targeted?



A: The invisibility spell doesn't automatically hide you; you still make noise.




Invisibility here functions mechanically identically to your darkness for the purpose of the discussion of hiding in that it makes you unseen relative to the enemy. And neither will allow you to hide without taking the Hide action.



If you don't Hide, your location is known



So, if you are moving around an enemy and you don't take the Hide Action then you are heard and your location is known. In this case, they will be able to attack you (at disadvantage) in accordance with the rules on attacking unseen enemies.




When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. (PHB 192)




The enemy doesn't need to make a check (perception) and neither do you (stealth). Since you aren't trying to hide your whereabouts using the Hide action, they simply know where you are by hearing you.



Hide to conceal your location



However, if you take the Hide action you once again follow the rules for Hiding:




When you try to hide, make a Dexterity (Stealth) check. Until
you are discovered or you stop hiding, that check's total is
contested by the Wisdom (Perception) check of any creature
that actively searches for signs of your presence. (PHB 177)




If you succeed and keep succeeding at that check, you are now "unseen and unheard" and your location is unknown. The enemy must guess your location in order to attack you. This falls under the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets:




If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.





1 - An argument could be made that, outside of combat, taking the Hide action explicitly might not be necessary to be hidden, but this is outside the scope of this Q&A.






share|improve this answer





























    up vote
    11
    down vote













    Take the Hide action.



    The Unseen Attackers and Targets rule says:




    When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on
    the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's
    location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see.




    This implies that without seeing you, they can still track you by hearing your movement. It's accurate enough that they can attack you with disadvantage.



    (It's not clear how far away they can detect you. This would require a ruling if you went very far away but as a rule of thumb, I'd suggest it should work at least within one turn's movement distance. If they want to do something like Fireball your position as you're running away then it's going to be a lot harder.)



    Since they can't see you, you don't need to go anywhere to hide; you just stand still for a few seconds, or make some noise somewhere else (for example by tossing a small object away from you), to confuse them about where you are. You have to make a Stealth vs. Perception check to succeed, but they have disadvantage on Perception because they can't see.



    If you beat their Perception then they can still try to attack but they are now "guessing the target's location", which is going to be pretty random. For example they could strike at wherever they last saw you, or in a random direction. I don't think there are any rules for how to adjudicate this but the important thing is that they can't perceive you with any of their senses.






    share|improve this answer






















    • It's also worth noting that the same section also says, in the sentence preceding the quoted paragraph, "Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.". This also has implications on how this situation should be resolved. I'll make a few edits to my original question to call attention to this stuff.
      – Xirema
      Aug 20 at 19:20










    Your Answer




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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    14
    down vote



    accepted










    You must take the Hide action to conceal your location



    In combat, Hiding is never an automatic thing (unless some feature specifically says it allows you to). It always requires you to take the Hide Action.1



    Even if you cannot be seen, you can still be heard and hearing is enough for an opponent to discover your location.



    The rules for Hiding state:




    You can't hide from a creature that can see you, and if you
    make noise [...] you give away your position. (PHB 177)




    Being in darkness in not enough to conceal your location. Concealing your location has a certain mechanic to it and that mechanic is called the Hide action.



    Jeremy Crawford agrees here:




    Q: My PC uses the invisibility spell, does he auto hide or do I still need to take the hide action to not be targeted?



    A: The invisibility spell doesn't automatically hide you; you still make noise.




    Invisibility here functions mechanically identically to your darkness for the purpose of the discussion of hiding in that it makes you unseen relative to the enemy. And neither will allow you to hide without taking the Hide action.



    If you don't Hide, your location is known



    So, if you are moving around an enemy and you don't take the Hide Action then you are heard and your location is known. In this case, they will be able to attack you (at disadvantage) in accordance with the rules on attacking unseen enemies.




    When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. (PHB 192)




    The enemy doesn't need to make a check (perception) and neither do you (stealth). Since you aren't trying to hide your whereabouts using the Hide action, they simply know where you are by hearing you.



    Hide to conceal your location



    However, if you take the Hide action you once again follow the rules for Hiding:




    When you try to hide, make a Dexterity (Stealth) check. Until
    you are discovered or you stop hiding, that check's total is
    contested by the Wisdom (Perception) check of any creature
    that actively searches for signs of your presence. (PHB 177)




    If you succeed and keep succeeding at that check, you are now "unseen and unheard" and your location is unknown. The enemy must guess your location in order to attack you. This falls under the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets:




    If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.





    1 - An argument could be made that, outside of combat, taking the Hide action explicitly might not be necessary to be hidden, but this is outside the scope of this Q&A.






    share|improve this answer


























      up vote
      14
      down vote



      accepted










      You must take the Hide action to conceal your location



      In combat, Hiding is never an automatic thing (unless some feature specifically says it allows you to). It always requires you to take the Hide Action.1



      Even if you cannot be seen, you can still be heard and hearing is enough for an opponent to discover your location.



      The rules for Hiding state:




      You can't hide from a creature that can see you, and if you
      make noise [...] you give away your position. (PHB 177)




      Being in darkness in not enough to conceal your location. Concealing your location has a certain mechanic to it and that mechanic is called the Hide action.



      Jeremy Crawford agrees here:




      Q: My PC uses the invisibility spell, does he auto hide or do I still need to take the hide action to not be targeted?



      A: The invisibility spell doesn't automatically hide you; you still make noise.




      Invisibility here functions mechanically identically to your darkness for the purpose of the discussion of hiding in that it makes you unseen relative to the enemy. And neither will allow you to hide without taking the Hide action.



      If you don't Hide, your location is known



      So, if you are moving around an enemy and you don't take the Hide Action then you are heard and your location is known. In this case, they will be able to attack you (at disadvantage) in accordance with the rules on attacking unseen enemies.




      When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. (PHB 192)




      The enemy doesn't need to make a check (perception) and neither do you (stealth). Since you aren't trying to hide your whereabouts using the Hide action, they simply know where you are by hearing you.



      Hide to conceal your location



      However, if you take the Hide action you once again follow the rules for Hiding:




      When you try to hide, make a Dexterity (Stealth) check. Until
      you are discovered or you stop hiding, that check's total is
      contested by the Wisdom (Perception) check of any creature
      that actively searches for signs of your presence. (PHB 177)




      If you succeed and keep succeeding at that check, you are now "unseen and unheard" and your location is unknown. The enemy must guess your location in order to attack you. This falls under the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets:




      If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.





      1 - An argument could be made that, outside of combat, taking the Hide action explicitly might not be necessary to be hidden, but this is outside the scope of this Q&A.






      share|improve this answer
























        up vote
        14
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        14
        down vote



        accepted






        You must take the Hide action to conceal your location



        In combat, Hiding is never an automatic thing (unless some feature specifically says it allows you to). It always requires you to take the Hide Action.1



        Even if you cannot be seen, you can still be heard and hearing is enough for an opponent to discover your location.



        The rules for Hiding state:




        You can't hide from a creature that can see you, and if you
        make noise [...] you give away your position. (PHB 177)




        Being in darkness in not enough to conceal your location. Concealing your location has a certain mechanic to it and that mechanic is called the Hide action.



        Jeremy Crawford agrees here:




        Q: My PC uses the invisibility spell, does he auto hide or do I still need to take the hide action to not be targeted?



        A: The invisibility spell doesn't automatically hide you; you still make noise.




        Invisibility here functions mechanically identically to your darkness for the purpose of the discussion of hiding in that it makes you unseen relative to the enemy. And neither will allow you to hide without taking the Hide action.



        If you don't Hide, your location is known



        So, if you are moving around an enemy and you don't take the Hide Action then you are heard and your location is known. In this case, they will be able to attack you (at disadvantage) in accordance with the rules on attacking unseen enemies.




        When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. (PHB 192)




        The enemy doesn't need to make a check (perception) and neither do you (stealth). Since you aren't trying to hide your whereabouts using the Hide action, they simply know where you are by hearing you.



        Hide to conceal your location



        However, if you take the Hide action you once again follow the rules for Hiding:




        When you try to hide, make a Dexterity (Stealth) check. Until
        you are discovered or you stop hiding, that check's total is
        contested by the Wisdom (Perception) check of any creature
        that actively searches for signs of your presence. (PHB 177)




        If you succeed and keep succeeding at that check, you are now "unseen and unheard" and your location is unknown. The enemy must guess your location in order to attack you. This falls under the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets:




        If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.





        1 - An argument could be made that, outside of combat, taking the Hide action explicitly might not be necessary to be hidden, but this is outside the scope of this Q&A.






        share|improve this answer














        You must take the Hide action to conceal your location



        In combat, Hiding is never an automatic thing (unless some feature specifically says it allows you to). It always requires you to take the Hide Action.1



        Even if you cannot be seen, you can still be heard and hearing is enough for an opponent to discover your location.



        The rules for Hiding state:




        You can't hide from a creature that can see you, and if you
        make noise [...] you give away your position. (PHB 177)




        Being in darkness in not enough to conceal your location. Concealing your location has a certain mechanic to it and that mechanic is called the Hide action.



        Jeremy Crawford agrees here:




        Q: My PC uses the invisibility spell, does he auto hide or do I still need to take the hide action to not be targeted?



        A: The invisibility spell doesn't automatically hide you; you still make noise.




        Invisibility here functions mechanically identically to your darkness for the purpose of the discussion of hiding in that it makes you unseen relative to the enemy. And neither will allow you to hide without taking the Hide action.



        If you don't Hide, your location is known



        So, if you are moving around an enemy and you don't take the Hide Action then you are heard and your location is known. In this case, they will be able to attack you (at disadvantage) in accordance with the rules on attacking unseen enemies.




        When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. (PHB 192)




        The enemy doesn't need to make a check (perception) and neither do you (stealth). Since you aren't trying to hide your whereabouts using the Hide action, they simply know where you are by hearing you.



        Hide to conceal your location



        However, if you take the Hide action you once again follow the rules for Hiding:




        When you try to hide, make a Dexterity (Stealth) check. Until
        you are discovered or you stop hiding, that check's total is
        contested by the Wisdom (Perception) check of any creature
        that actively searches for signs of your presence. (PHB 177)




        If you succeed and keep succeeding at that check, you are now "unseen and unheard" and your location is unknown. The enemy must guess your location in order to attack you. This falls under the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets:




        If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.





        1 - An argument could be made that, outside of combat, taking the Hide action explicitly might not be necessary to be hidden, but this is outside the scope of this Q&A.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Aug 21 at 20:39

























        answered Aug 20 at 20:00









        Rubiksmoose

        36.5k5186280




        36.5k5186280






















            up vote
            11
            down vote













            Take the Hide action.



            The Unseen Attackers and Targets rule says:




            When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on
            the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's
            location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see.




            This implies that without seeing you, they can still track you by hearing your movement. It's accurate enough that they can attack you with disadvantage.



            (It's not clear how far away they can detect you. This would require a ruling if you went very far away but as a rule of thumb, I'd suggest it should work at least within one turn's movement distance. If they want to do something like Fireball your position as you're running away then it's going to be a lot harder.)



            Since they can't see you, you don't need to go anywhere to hide; you just stand still for a few seconds, or make some noise somewhere else (for example by tossing a small object away from you), to confuse them about where you are. You have to make a Stealth vs. Perception check to succeed, but they have disadvantage on Perception because they can't see.



            If you beat their Perception then they can still try to attack but they are now "guessing the target's location", which is going to be pretty random. For example they could strike at wherever they last saw you, or in a random direction. I don't think there are any rules for how to adjudicate this but the important thing is that they can't perceive you with any of their senses.






            share|improve this answer






















            • It's also worth noting that the same section also says, in the sentence preceding the quoted paragraph, "Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.". This also has implications on how this situation should be resolved. I'll make a few edits to my original question to call attention to this stuff.
              – Xirema
              Aug 20 at 19:20














            up vote
            11
            down vote













            Take the Hide action.



            The Unseen Attackers and Targets rule says:




            When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on
            the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's
            location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see.




            This implies that without seeing you, they can still track you by hearing your movement. It's accurate enough that they can attack you with disadvantage.



            (It's not clear how far away they can detect you. This would require a ruling if you went very far away but as a rule of thumb, I'd suggest it should work at least within one turn's movement distance. If they want to do something like Fireball your position as you're running away then it's going to be a lot harder.)



            Since they can't see you, you don't need to go anywhere to hide; you just stand still for a few seconds, or make some noise somewhere else (for example by tossing a small object away from you), to confuse them about where you are. You have to make a Stealth vs. Perception check to succeed, but they have disadvantage on Perception because they can't see.



            If you beat their Perception then they can still try to attack but they are now "guessing the target's location", which is going to be pretty random. For example they could strike at wherever they last saw you, or in a random direction. I don't think there are any rules for how to adjudicate this but the important thing is that they can't perceive you with any of their senses.






            share|improve this answer






















            • It's also worth noting that the same section also says, in the sentence preceding the quoted paragraph, "Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.". This also has implications on how this situation should be resolved. I'll make a few edits to my original question to call attention to this stuff.
              – Xirema
              Aug 20 at 19:20












            up vote
            11
            down vote










            up vote
            11
            down vote









            Take the Hide action.



            The Unseen Attackers and Targets rule says:




            When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on
            the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's
            location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see.




            This implies that without seeing you, they can still track you by hearing your movement. It's accurate enough that they can attack you with disadvantage.



            (It's not clear how far away they can detect you. This would require a ruling if you went very far away but as a rule of thumb, I'd suggest it should work at least within one turn's movement distance. If they want to do something like Fireball your position as you're running away then it's going to be a lot harder.)



            Since they can't see you, you don't need to go anywhere to hide; you just stand still for a few seconds, or make some noise somewhere else (for example by tossing a small object away from you), to confuse them about where you are. You have to make a Stealth vs. Perception check to succeed, but they have disadvantage on Perception because they can't see.



            If you beat their Perception then they can still try to attack but they are now "guessing the target's location", which is going to be pretty random. For example they could strike at wherever they last saw you, or in a random direction. I don't think there are any rules for how to adjudicate this but the important thing is that they can't perceive you with any of their senses.






            share|improve this answer














            Take the Hide action.



            The Unseen Attackers and Targets rule says:




            When you attack a target that you can't see, you have disadvantage on
            the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's
            location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see.




            This implies that without seeing you, they can still track you by hearing your movement. It's accurate enough that they can attack you with disadvantage.



            (It's not clear how far away they can detect you. This would require a ruling if you went very far away but as a rule of thumb, I'd suggest it should work at least within one turn's movement distance. If they want to do something like Fireball your position as you're running away then it's going to be a lot harder.)



            Since they can't see you, you don't need to go anywhere to hide; you just stand still for a few seconds, or make some noise somewhere else (for example by tossing a small object away from you), to confuse them about where you are. You have to make a Stealth vs. Perception check to succeed, but they have disadvantage on Perception because they can't see.



            If you beat their Perception then they can still try to attack but they are now "guessing the target's location", which is going to be pretty random. For example they could strike at wherever they last saw you, or in a random direction. I don't think there are any rules for how to adjudicate this but the important thing is that they can't perceive you with any of their senses.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Aug 21 at 0:10

























            answered Aug 20 at 19:00









            Mark Wells

            2,814524




            2,814524











            • It's also worth noting that the same section also says, in the sentence preceding the quoted paragraph, "Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.". This also has implications on how this situation should be resolved. I'll make a few edits to my original question to call attention to this stuff.
              – Xirema
              Aug 20 at 19:20
















            • It's also worth noting that the same section also says, in the sentence preceding the quoted paragraph, "Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.". This also has implications on how this situation should be resolved. I'll make a few edits to my original question to call attention to this stuff.
              – Xirema
              Aug 20 at 19:20















            It's also worth noting that the same section also says, in the sentence preceding the quoted paragraph, "Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.". This also has implications on how this situation should be resolved. I'll make a few edits to my original question to call attention to this stuff.
            – Xirema
            Aug 20 at 19:20




            It's also worth noting that the same section also says, in the sentence preceding the quoted paragraph, "Combatants often try to escape their foes' notice by hiding, casting the invisibility spell, or lurking in darkness.". This also has implications on how this situation should be resolved. I'll make a few edits to my original question to call attention to this stuff.
            – Xirema
            Aug 20 at 19:20

















             

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