Making an Attack

Whether you're striking with a melee weapon, firing a weapon at range, or making an Attack roll as part of a spell, an Attack has a simple structure.

Choose a target. Pick a target within your Attack's range: a creature, an object, or a location.
Determine modifiers. The GM determines whether the target has cover and whether you have Advantage or Disadvantage against the target. In addition, spells, special abilities, and other effects can apply penalties or bonuses to your Attack roll.
Resolve the Attack. You make the Attack roll. On a hit, you roll damage, unless the particular Attack has rules that specify otherwise. Some Attacks cause special effects in addition to or instead of damage.

When you make an Attack, your Attack roll determines whether the Attack hits or misses. To make an Attack roll, roll a d20 and add the appropriate modifiers. If the total of the roll plus modifiers equals or exceeds the target's Defense, the Attack hits. The Defense of a character is determined at character creation and throughout play, whereas the Defense of a monster is in its stat block.

If there's ever any question whether something you're doing counts as an Attack, the rule is simple: if you're making an Attack roll, you're making an Attack.

When a character makes an Attack roll, the two most common modifiers to the roll are an Attribute and the character's Proficiency Bonus. When a monster makes an Attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block.
Attribute. The Attribute used for all Maneuver Attack rolls is usually your Maneuver Attribute which is either Strength or Dexterity. Some spells also require an Attack roll. The Attribute modifier used for a Spell Attack depends on the Spellcasting Attribute of the spellcaster.
Proficiency Bonus. You add your Proficiency Bonus to your Attack roll when you Attack using a weapon or unarmed strike, as well as when you Attack with a spell.

If the d20 roll for an Attack is a 20, the Attack hits regardless of any modifiers or the target's Defense. This is called a critical hit, which is explained later in this chapter.
If the d20 roll for an Attack is a 1, the Attack misses regardless of any modifiers or the target's Defense.

Used in hand-to-hand combat, a melee Attack allows you to Attack a foe within your range. A melee Attack typically uses a handheld weapon such as a sword, a warhammer, or an axe. A typical monster makes a melee Attack when it strikes with its claws, horns, teeth, tentacles, or other body part. A few spells also involve making a melee Attack.

Most creatures have a 1-square range and can thus Attack targets within 1 square of them when making a melee Attack. Certain creatures (typically those larger than Medium) have melee Attacks with a greater range than 1 square, as noted in their descriptions.

When you make a ranged Attack, you fire a bow or a crossbow, hurl an axe, or otherwise send projectiles to strike a foe at a distance. A monster might shoot spines from its tail. Many spells also involve making a ranged Attack.

You can make ranged Attacks only against targets within a specified range.
If a ranged Attack, such as one made with a spell, has a single range, you can't Attack a target beyond this range.
Some ranged Attacks, particularly those made by maneuvers, use the Range/Thrown property of your Archetype, which has two numbers. The smaller number is the normal range, and the larger number is the long range. Your Attack roll has Disadvantage when your target is beyond normal range, and you can't Attack a target beyond the long range.

Aiming a ranged Attack is more difficult when a foe is next to you. When you make a ranged Attack with a weapon, a spell, or some other means, you have Disadvantage on the Attack roll if you are within 1 square of a hostile creature who can see you and who isn't Incapacitated.