How Many Ways Are There to Avoid Being Surprised?

[RedGeomancer]

Please help me list ways that characters can avoid being surprised. Core rules, SCAG, and XGtE. No Unearthed Arcana.

Class Features


Feral Instinct (https://open5e.com/classes/barbarian.html#feral-instinct) (Barbarian 7, limited)


Feats


Alert


Spells


9th Level

Foresight (https://open5e.com/Spellcasting/spells_a-z/f/foresight.html) (Bard, Druid, Warlock, Wizard)



Magic Items


Ioun Stone - Awareness (https://open5e.com/equipment/magic-items/ioun-stone.html)
Weapon of Warning

[DarkKnightJin]

No, pretty sure that about covers it.
Not that I expect you should be getting surprised a lot, unless you have what seems like a 'gotcha!' DM..

[Nettlekid]

No, pretty sure that about covers it.
Not that I expect you should be getting surprised a lot, unless you have what seems like a 'gotcha!' DM..

To expand on this, Surprise is an uncommon condition to be under. A character isn't "surprised" if there's a tense stand-off where two people are eyeing each other up and then one of them whips out a hand crossbow and fires. A character isn't surprised if they chased a villain into a dark cave and get pounced on by the villain's allies lying in wait. A character isn't surprised if they had any expectation that combat could occur. A character is only surprised if they were entirely unaware that there is a threat. And even if one or more members of a group is Surprised, there's no such thing as a surprise round in 5e. An enemy team doesn't get a free volley of attacks because they decided to shoot first, even IF the PCs had no idea of the threat. The moment ANY combatant makes a hostile move, Initiative is rolled. If an ambushed-but-not-Surprised PC beats the initiative of an ambusher, the PC gets the first strike! If the PC is Surprised and beats the initiative of the ambusher then the PC can't take their turn that round, but the Surprised condition ends for them as soon as their turn ends and they could even take a Reaction before the ambusher goes if the situation comes up. This is why people emphasize Assassin Rogues needing high Initiative in order to use their Assassinate feature, because even if you get the drop on your opponent you need to go before them in order to attack (and get that auto-crit) while they're Surprised.

[ImproperJustice]

It appears that a firm understanding of the suprise rules should go on that list as well :)

[mephnick]

It appears that a firm understanding of the suprise rules should go on that list as well :)

Pfft as if a DM should actually read the rules. Free attacks for everyone!

[UrielAwakened]

There's an Ioun Stone that does it.

[RedGeomancer]

There's an Ioun Stone that does it.

Thanks, added to the list.

[Vaz]

Contingency: 'When I'm under the surprised condition, trigger X'. Wizard, or Bard.

Can be used to Sanctuary, Mage Armour, Haste, Stoneskin, etc

[Zene]

Also a high perception score.

[Tanarii]

Observant Feat helps by increasing Passive Perception.

Ranger's Natural Explorer helps in their chosen terrains by allowing them to Forage, Track, Map or Navigate and still use Passive Perception.

Edit: for that matter, standing in the front rank of the party helps. If you aren't, the DM may decide you can't notice it. (PHB 182, Noticing Threats.)


Also from same section, don't travel at a fast pace while exploring the dungeon or whatever. Since thats -5 (disadvantage) to your check. Although given a slow pace (to stealth) is 200 ft per minute, that's not really a problem.

[Demonslayer666]

These are not "you cannot be surprised", but more along the lines of avoiding an ambush.

Go undetected: Stealth, invisibility, disguise, hide in a barrel in the cart

Detect them first: use scrying, or use illusions or henchmen to trigger the ambush, or alarm to wake you up.

[RedGeomancer]

These are not "you cannot be surprised", but more along the lines of avoiding an ambush.

Hmm. I was definitely thinking more along the lines of "you can't be surprised" rather than "you reduce the likelihood of being surprised". Of course, Feral Instinct doesn't quite fit the mold, but it negates most of the ill consequences. (Still no reactions before your turn, though, since you can't rage until your turn.)

[DarkKnightJin]

Hmm. I was definitely thinking more along the lines of "you can't be surprised" rather than "you reduce the likelihood of being surprised". Of course, Feral Instinct doesn't quite fit the mold, but it negates most of the ill consequences. (Still no reactions before your turn, though, since you can't rage until your turn.)


If you are surprised at the beginning of combat and aren't incapacitated, you can act normally on your first turn, but only if you enter your rage before doing anything else on that turn.
Pretty sure you get your turn, minus the bonus action to Rage, with Feral Instinct.

[Vaz]

Pretty sure you get your turn, minus the bonus action to Rage, with Feral Instinct.

Still no reactions though

[DarkKnightJin]

Still no reactions though

How do you figure? Reactions are part of a 'normal turn'. Which you get if you announce a Rage as the first thing you do as Initiative is called for.

[Vaz]

You are still surprised, but can act normally during your turn. Until it is your turn, you cannot take reactions.

For example, you are surprised, and you are 2nd initiative order. Say you have Multiclassed Rogue 5/Barb 7. You cannot use Dodge as a Reaction to take half damage until your turn takes place.

[Tanarii]

How do you figure? Reactions are part of a 'normal turn'. Which you get if you announce a Rage as the first thing you do as Initiative is called for.Nope. It very clearly says "if you enter your rage before doing anything else on that turn". Not if you declare it when initiative is rolled. The requirement to rage, and the trigger for the benefits, kick in on your turn.

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As a side note, JC has apparently tweeted that there's no 'declaration' step to actions. It's intended that taking the action means doing the action. You declare and resolve the action all at the same point, which is when it's your turn and you're taking the action.

Even if this weren't the case, you'd still be declaring the rage on your turn, and then moving on to resolving it on your turn. Not when inititave is rolled. Or at the top of a round. Baring a house rule.