Opportunity Attacks & Reactions ⚔️
🔁 What Are Reactions?
Reactions are special responses that you can take outside your turn, usually triggered by specific events.
You only get one reaction per round.
After using it, you regain it at the start of your next turn.
Common reactions include Opportunity Attacks, Counterspell, or Shield.
Examples:
A Fighter uses Opportunity Attack when an enemy runs away.
A Wizard casts Counterspell when a rival mage begins casting.
A Paladin uses Divine Smite on a reaction-based hit. ⚡
Reactions keep combat dynamic — players can respond to danger even when it’s not their turn.
🗡️ Opportunity Attacks (OA): Don’t Run From Me!
An Opportunity Attack happens when a creature you can see moves out of your reach.
It’s your chance to take a quick swing before they flee!
Rules for Opportunity Attacks:
Use your reaction to make one melee attack.
Triggered only when an enemy leaves your reach, not when they enter it.
Requires no special ability — all characters can do it.
The attack happens before the target leaves your reach.
Example:
An Orc runs past your Fighter to reach your Wizard.
Your Fighter uses their reaction to make a melee attack.
If the hit lands, the Orc takes damage before getting away. 💥
🛡️ Avoiding Opportunity Attacks
You can’t always fight back, but you can avoid triggering them:
Disengage Action: Move safely without provoking attacks.
Teleportation: Doesn’t trigger OA (e.g., Misty Step).
Being Forced to Move: Shoved, pulled, or pushed? No OA triggered.
Reach Weapons: Extend your control area — great for locking enemies down!
💡 Tactical Tips
Control the battlefield: Place melee fighters between enemies and your casters.
Use OA to punish poor positioning.
Save your reaction wisely — you might need it for a spell or defense.
Feats like Sentinel or War Caster make reactions even more deadly.