Why D&D Opportunity Attacks Are Important In 5e (& How They Work)
Opportunity attacks, or attacks of opportunity, have been a signature mechanic of combat since second edition, but 5e opportunity attacks work a bit differently from some prior editions and many players still handle them incorrectly. The mechanic did not appear in the original rules of 2e but was added in the supplement. The long-running 3e rules built off of, integrating many of its concepts into the core rules of. Opportunity attacks make battles more complex and interesting, and understanding them is important, which for some players involves moving past old habits from earlier editions.
Classes like ’s barbarian and fighter are more fun than some players think, and playing an effective melee character may require more tactical decisions than playing a spellcaster, especially where opportunity attacks are concerned. Opportunity attacks make positioning and movement important, as characters cannot simply run past their foes to close with whoever they wish. A character with a high armor class and hit points can more effectively protect vulnerable allies, thanks to opportunity attacks. Where the tactical focus of a spellcaster tends to happen before a fight, as they prepare the most useful spells, a melee specialist needs to focus on in-battle positioning and taking advantage of opportunity attacks.
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In 3e and 4e opportunity attacks were triggered when an enemy left a threatened square. The 5e approach is different, as the attack only happens when the foe leaves an enemy’s entire threatened reach. This leads to some bizarre rule interactions, and as strange as some campaign settings are, the rules can seem stranger. A player can freely run circles around a
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