Can a Beast Master command their stirge companion to use Blood Drain and then Dodge on subsequent turns,...
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I'm trying to optimize the damage done by a ranged Beast Master ranger, and was thinking of choosing the Stirge as a companion.
Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the stirge attaches to the target.
The Stirge will have 12HP (4x my level), 16 AC, +7 attack modifier, and do 7 points of damage per attack (all increasing with level and proficiency). It is not the creature that does most damage per attack, no, but consider the following part of the attack.
While attached, the stirge doesn't attack. Instead, at the start of each of the stirge's turns, the target loses 5 (1d4 + 3) hit points due to blood loss.
Can I command my companion to attack, and on the following turn leave it attached while I attack? This means another 7 auto-hit damage with it, my possible attack, and the stirge doing the Dodge action (per Errata '18 at "Ranger: Ranger's Companion"). The stirge will detach itself after draining 10HP, so I could pull this off every two-turns.
Up to 11th level, when companions can finally take multi-attacks, the Stirge seems a pretty solid companion. After that, probably better companions will exist.
dnd-5e ranger animal-companions
add a comment |
up vote
13
down vote
favorite
I'm trying to optimize the damage done by a ranged Beast Master ranger, and was thinking of choosing the Stirge as a companion.
Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the stirge attaches to the target.
The Stirge will have 12HP (4x my level), 16 AC, +7 attack modifier, and do 7 points of damage per attack (all increasing with level and proficiency). It is not the creature that does most damage per attack, no, but consider the following part of the attack.
While attached, the stirge doesn't attack. Instead, at the start of each of the stirge's turns, the target loses 5 (1d4 + 3) hit points due to blood loss.
Can I command my companion to attack, and on the following turn leave it attached while I attack? This means another 7 auto-hit damage with it, my possible attack, and the stirge doing the Dodge action (per Errata '18 at "Ranger: Ranger's Companion"). The stirge will detach itself after draining 10HP, so I could pull this off every two-turns.
Up to 11th level, when companions can finally take multi-attacks, the Stirge seems a pretty solid companion. After that, probably better companions will exist.
dnd-5e ranger animal-companions
3
It's worth noting that, as long as the Stirge has at least 5ft of movement remaining, it can still take advantage multiattack. Attack/attach. detach. attack/attach again.
– goodguy5
13 hours ago
@goodguy5 That's a great point, I hadn't considered it!
– BlueMoon93
12 hours ago
1
oh! and at level 13 (proficiency +5), it automatically deals 10 damage and therefore detaches at the beginning of its turn. Allowing for two more attacks!
– goodguy5
12 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
13
down vote
favorite
up vote
13
down vote
favorite
I'm trying to optimize the damage done by a ranged Beast Master ranger, and was thinking of choosing the Stirge as a companion.
Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the stirge attaches to the target.
The Stirge will have 12HP (4x my level), 16 AC, +7 attack modifier, and do 7 points of damage per attack (all increasing with level and proficiency). It is not the creature that does most damage per attack, no, but consider the following part of the attack.
While attached, the stirge doesn't attack. Instead, at the start of each of the stirge's turns, the target loses 5 (1d4 + 3) hit points due to blood loss.
Can I command my companion to attack, and on the following turn leave it attached while I attack? This means another 7 auto-hit damage with it, my possible attack, and the stirge doing the Dodge action (per Errata '18 at "Ranger: Ranger's Companion"). The stirge will detach itself after draining 10HP, so I could pull this off every two-turns.
Up to 11th level, when companions can finally take multi-attacks, the Stirge seems a pretty solid companion. After that, probably better companions will exist.
dnd-5e ranger animal-companions
I'm trying to optimize the damage done by a ranged Beast Master ranger, and was thinking of choosing the Stirge as a companion.
Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the stirge attaches to the target.
The Stirge will have 12HP (4x my level), 16 AC, +7 attack modifier, and do 7 points of damage per attack (all increasing with level and proficiency). It is not the creature that does most damage per attack, no, but consider the following part of the attack.
While attached, the stirge doesn't attack. Instead, at the start of each of the stirge's turns, the target loses 5 (1d4 + 3) hit points due to blood loss.
Can I command my companion to attack, and on the following turn leave it attached while I attack? This means another 7 auto-hit damage with it, my possible attack, and the stirge doing the Dodge action (per Errata '18 at "Ranger: Ranger's Companion"). The stirge will detach itself after draining 10HP, so I could pull this off every two-turns.
Up to 11th level, when companions can finally take multi-attacks, the Stirge seems a pretty solid companion. After that, probably better companions will exist.
dnd-5e ranger animal-companions
dnd-5e ranger animal-companions
edited 58 mins ago
V2Blast
18.2k248114
18.2k248114
asked 13 hours ago
BlueMoon93
11.4k963124
11.4k963124
3
It's worth noting that, as long as the Stirge has at least 5ft of movement remaining, it can still take advantage multiattack. Attack/attach. detach. attack/attach again.
– goodguy5
13 hours ago
@goodguy5 That's a great point, I hadn't considered it!
– BlueMoon93
12 hours ago
1
oh! and at level 13 (proficiency +5), it automatically deals 10 damage and therefore detaches at the beginning of its turn. Allowing for two more attacks!
– goodguy5
12 hours ago
add a comment |
3
It's worth noting that, as long as the Stirge has at least 5ft of movement remaining, it can still take advantage multiattack. Attack/attach. detach. attack/attach again.
– goodguy5
13 hours ago
@goodguy5 That's a great point, I hadn't considered it!
– BlueMoon93
12 hours ago
1
oh! and at level 13 (proficiency +5), it automatically deals 10 damage and therefore detaches at the beginning of its turn. Allowing for two more attacks!
– goodguy5
12 hours ago
3
3
It's worth noting that, as long as the Stirge has at least 5ft of movement remaining, it can still take advantage multiattack. Attack/attach. detach. attack/attach again.
– goodguy5
13 hours ago
It's worth noting that, as long as the Stirge has at least 5ft of movement remaining, it can still take advantage multiattack. Attack/attach. detach. attack/attach again.
– goodguy5
13 hours ago
@goodguy5 That's a great point, I hadn't considered it!
– BlueMoon93
12 hours ago
@goodguy5 That's a great point, I hadn't considered it!
– BlueMoon93
12 hours ago
1
1
oh! and at level 13 (proficiency +5), it automatically deals 10 damage and therefore detaches at the beginning of its turn. Allowing for two more attacks!
– goodguy5
12 hours ago
oh! and at level 13 (proficiency +5), it automatically deals 10 damage and therefore detaches at the beginning of its turn. Allowing for two more attacks!
– goodguy5
12 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
Disgusting, but Legal
Other than the very image of a person with a pet vampire-mosquito-bat-thing, I am aware of nothing in the rules that would prohibit your idea.
15
His name is Fluffly!
– BlueMoon93
13 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
This works by RAW
Nothing in RAW will prevent you from taking a Stirge as a companion. You would then be able to use your action to command it to attack exactly as you describe. Once attached, it would not require an attack to deal the damage each round. It would then take the Dodge action each round as per the errata.
I would rule that it can't Dodge
This isn't strictly RAW as the Stirge's stat block doesn't indicate it this way but it makes sense and is how I would run it.
I would consider "attached" to be an equivalent condition to the Grappled condition which states:
A grappled creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed.
Now this does contradict the rules as the stirge states:
The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement.
implying that is has movement to spend. However, I would say that it has 0 speed unless it chooses to detach. If you, and more importantly your DM, agree with this premise then it cannot dodge.
In the text for the Dodge action:
You lose this benefit if you are incapacitated or if your speed drops to 0.
Therefore, the stirge will simply do nothing each turn. Without disadvantage on their attack, it's quite possible your target will simply kill the stirge on their turn.
2
While I don't think it's unreasonable to houserule that an attached stirge has their speed dropped to zero, that isn't actually in their stat block and may not be applicable to OP whose DM may not be using that houserule - especially if they're just using the raw stat block.
– NautArch
13 hours ago
5
@NautArch it does state that is must spend 5 feet of movement to detach. So I guess that invalidates my argument since it has movement to spend.
– linksassin
13 hours ago
"doesn't attack" seems like it might include "doesn't get an action" which might also prevent dodging.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
@BenBarden That's not how it is worded so I wouldn't make that assumption. attack =/= action and it's dangerous to start making that assumption.
– linksassin
11 hours ago
@linksassin yeah... but the phrasing implies that the blood loss is instead of an attack, which at least implies that it might be somehow consuming the stirge's action to make it happen (just as the attack would normally). It at least has more support than "it can't dodge because it has no move" does.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
Disgusting, but Legal
Other than the very image of a person with a pet vampire-mosquito-bat-thing, I am aware of nothing in the rules that would prohibit your idea.
15
His name is Fluffly!
– BlueMoon93
13 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
Disgusting, but Legal
Other than the very image of a person with a pet vampire-mosquito-bat-thing, I am aware of nothing in the rules that would prohibit your idea.
15
His name is Fluffly!
– BlueMoon93
13 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
up vote
16
down vote
accepted
Disgusting, but Legal
Other than the very image of a person with a pet vampire-mosquito-bat-thing, I am aware of nothing in the rules that would prohibit your idea.
Disgusting, but Legal
Other than the very image of a person with a pet vampire-mosquito-bat-thing, I am aware of nothing in the rules that would prohibit your idea.
answered 13 hours ago
T.J.L.
27.4k386146
27.4k386146
15
His name is Fluffly!
– BlueMoon93
13 hours ago
add a comment |
15
His name is Fluffly!
– BlueMoon93
13 hours ago
15
15
His name is Fluffly!
– BlueMoon93
13 hours ago
His name is Fluffly!
– BlueMoon93
13 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
This works by RAW
Nothing in RAW will prevent you from taking a Stirge as a companion. You would then be able to use your action to command it to attack exactly as you describe. Once attached, it would not require an attack to deal the damage each round. It would then take the Dodge action each round as per the errata.
I would rule that it can't Dodge
This isn't strictly RAW as the Stirge's stat block doesn't indicate it this way but it makes sense and is how I would run it.
I would consider "attached" to be an equivalent condition to the Grappled condition which states:
A grappled creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed.
Now this does contradict the rules as the stirge states:
The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement.
implying that is has movement to spend. However, I would say that it has 0 speed unless it chooses to detach. If you, and more importantly your DM, agree with this premise then it cannot dodge.
In the text for the Dodge action:
You lose this benefit if you are incapacitated or if your speed drops to 0.
Therefore, the stirge will simply do nothing each turn. Without disadvantage on their attack, it's quite possible your target will simply kill the stirge on their turn.
2
While I don't think it's unreasonable to houserule that an attached stirge has their speed dropped to zero, that isn't actually in their stat block and may not be applicable to OP whose DM may not be using that houserule - especially if they're just using the raw stat block.
– NautArch
13 hours ago
5
@NautArch it does state that is must spend 5 feet of movement to detach. So I guess that invalidates my argument since it has movement to spend.
– linksassin
13 hours ago
"doesn't attack" seems like it might include "doesn't get an action" which might also prevent dodging.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
@BenBarden That's not how it is worded so I wouldn't make that assumption. attack =/= action and it's dangerous to start making that assumption.
– linksassin
11 hours ago
@linksassin yeah... but the phrasing implies that the blood loss is instead of an attack, which at least implies that it might be somehow consuming the stirge's action to make it happen (just as the attack would normally). It at least has more support than "it can't dodge because it has no move" does.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
This works by RAW
Nothing in RAW will prevent you from taking a Stirge as a companion. You would then be able to use your action to command it to attack exactly as you describe. Once attached, it would not require an attack to deal the damage each round. It would then take the Dodge action each round as per the errata.
I would rule that it can't Dodge
This isn't strictly RAW as the Stirge's stat block doesn't indicate it this way but it makes sense and is how I would run it.
I would consider "attached" to be an equivalent condition to the Grappled condition which states:
A grappled creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed.
Now this does contradict the rules as the stirge states:
The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement.
implying that is has movement to spend. However, I would say that it has 0 speed unless it chooses to detach. If you, and more importantly your DM, agree with this premise then it cannot dodge.
In the text for the Dodge action:
You lose this benefit if you are incapacitated or if your speed drops to 0.
Therefore, the stirge will simply do nothing each turn. Without disadvantage on their attack, it's quite possible your target will simply kill the stirge on their turn.
2
While I don't think it's unreasonable to houserule that an attached stirge has their speed dropped to zero, that isn't actually in their stat block and may not be applicable to OP whose DM may not be using that houserule - especially if they're just using the raw stat block.
– NautArch
13 hours ago
5
@NautArch it does state that is must spend 5 feet of movement to detach. So I guess that invalidates my argument since it has movement to spend.
– linksassin
13 hours ago
"doesn't attack" seems like it might include "doesn't get an action" which might also prevent dodging.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
@BenBarden That's not how it is worded so I wouldn't make that assumption. attack =/= action and it's dangerous to start making that assumption.
– linksassin
11 hours ago
@linksassin yeah... but the phrasing implies that the blood loss is instead of an attack, which at least implies that it might be somehow consuming the stirge's action to make it happen (just as the attack would normally). It at least has more support than "it can't dodge because it has no move" does.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
down vote
This works by RAW
Nothing in RAW will prevent you from taking a Stirge as a companion. You would then be able to use your action to command it to attack exactly as you describe. Once attached, it would not require an attack to deal the damage each round. It would then take the Dodge action each round as per the errata.
I would rule that it can't Dodge
This isn't strictly RAW as the Stirge's stat block doesn't indicate it this way but it makes sense and is how I would run it.
I would consider "attached" to be an equivalent condition to the Grappled condition which states:
A grappled creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed.
Now this does contradict the rules as the stirge states:
The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement.
implying that is has movement to spend. However, I would say that it has 0 speed unless it chooses to detach. If you, and more importantly your DM, agree with this premise then it cannot dodge.
In the text for the Dodge action:
You lose this benefit if you are incapacitated or if your speed drops to 0.
Therefore, the stirge will simply do nothing each turn. Without disadvantage on their attack, it's quite possible your target will simply kill the stirge on their turn.
This works by RAW
Nothing in RAW will prevent you from taking a Stirge as a companion. You would then be able to use your action to command it to attack exactly as you describe. Once attached, it would not require an attack to deal the damage each round. It would then take the Dodge action each round as per the errata.
I would rule that it can't Dodge
This isn't strictly RAW as the Stirge's stat block doesn't indicate it this way but it makes sense and is how I would run it.
I would consider "attached" to be an equivalent condition to the Grappled condition which states:
A grappled creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed.
Now this does contradict the rules as the stirge states:
The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement.
implying that is has movement to spend. However, I would say that it has 0 speed unless it chooses to detach. If you, and more importantly your DM, agree with this premise then it cannot dodge.
In the text for the Dodge action:
You lose this benefit if you are incapacitated or if your speed drops to 0.
Therefore, the stirge will simply do nothing each turn. Without disadvantage on their attack, it's quite possible your target will simply kill the stirge on their turn.
edited 57 mins ago
V2Blast
18.2k248114
18.2k248114
answered 13 hours ago
linksassin
3,5931738
3,5931738
2
While I don't think it's unreasonable to houserule that an attached stirge has their speed dropped to zero, that isn't actually in their stat block and may not be applicable to OP whose DM may not be using that houserule - especially if they're just using the raw stat block.
– NautArch
13 hours ago
5
@NautArch it does state that is must spend 5 feet of movement to detach. So I guess that invalidates my argument since it has movement to spend.
– linksassin
13 hours ago
"doesn't attack" seems like it might include "doesn't get an action" which might also prevent dodging.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
@BenBarden That's not how it is worded so I wouldn't make that assumption. attack =/= action and it's dangerous to start making that assumption.
– linksassin
11 hours ago
@linksassin yeah... but the phrasing implies that the blood loss is instead of an attack, which at least implies that it might be somehow consuming the stirge's action to make it happen (just as the attack would normally). It at least has more support than "it can't dodge because it has no move" does.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
add a comment |
2
While I don't think it's unreasonable to houserule that an attached stirge has their speed dropped to zero, that isn't actually in their stat block and may not be applicable to OP whose DM may not be using that houserule - especially if they're just using the raw stat block.
– NautArch
13 hours ago
5
@NautArch it does state that is must spend 5 feet of movement to detach. So I guess that invalidates my argument since it has movement to spend.
– linksassin
13 hours ago
"doesn't attack" seems like it might include "doesn't get an action" which might also prevent dodging.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
@BenBarden That's not how it is worded so I wouldn't make that assumption. attack =/= action and it's dangerous to start making that assumption.
– linksassin
11 hours ago
@linksassin yeah... but the phrasing implies that the blood loss is instead of an attack, which at least implies that it might be somehow consuming the stirge's action to make it happen (just as the attack would normally). It at least has more support than "it can't dodge because it has no move" does.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
2
2
While I don't think it's unreasonable to houserule that an attached stirge has their speed dropped to zero, that isn't actually in their stat block and may not be applicable to OP whose DM may not be using that houserule - especially if they're just using the raw stat block.
– NautArch
13 hours ago
While I don't think it's unreasonable to houserule that an attached stirge has their speed dropped to zero, that isn't actually in their stat block and may not be applicable to OP whose DM may not be using that houserule - especially if they're just using the raw stat block.
– NautArch
13 hours ago
5
5
@NautArch it does state that is must spend 5 feet of movement to detach. So I guess that invalidates my argument since it has movement to spend.
– linksassin
13 hours ago
@NautArch it does state that is must spend 5 feet of movement to detach. So I guess that invalidates my argument since it has movement to spend.
– linksassin
13 hours ago
"doesn't attack" seems like it might include "doesn't get an action" which might also prevent dodging.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
"doesn't attack" seems like it might include "doesn't get an action" which might also prevent dodging.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
@BenBarden That's not how it is worded so I wouldn't make that assumption. attack =/= action and it's dangerous to start making that assumption.
– linksassin
11 hours ago
@BenBarden That's not how it is worded so I wouldn't make that assumption. attack =/= action and it's dangerous to start making that assumption.
– linksassin
11 hours ago
@linksassin yeah... but the phrasing implies that the blood loss is instead of an attack, which at least implies that it might be somehow consuming the stirge's action to make it happen (just as the attack would normally). It at least has more support than "it can't dodge because it has no move" does.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
@linksassin yeah... but the phrasing implies that the blood loss is instead of an attack, which at least implies that it might be somehow consuming the stirge's action to make it happen (just as the attack would normally). It at least has more support than "it can't dodge because it has no move" does.
– Ben Barden
11 hours ago
add a comment |
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3
It's worth noting that, as long as the Stirge has at least 5ft of movement remaining, it can still take advantage multiattack. Attack/attach. detach. attack/attach again.
– goodguy5
13 hours ago
@goodguy5 That's a great point, I hadn't considered it!
– BlueMoon93
12 hours ago
1
oh! and at level 13 (proficiency +5), it automatically deals 10 damage and therefore detaches at the beginning of its turn. Allowing for two more attacks!
– goodguy5
12 hours ago