Attack of Opportunity

Attack of Opportunity

Sometimes a combatant in a melee lets her guard down or takes a reckless action. In this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse in defense to attack her for free. These free Bonus Attacks are called attacks of opportunity.

Threatened Squares

You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your turn. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you're unarmed, you don't normally threaten any squares and thus can't make attacks of opportunity.

Reach Weapons

Most creatures of Medium or smaller size have a reach of only 5 feet. This means that they can make melee attacks only against creatures up to 5 feet (1 square) away. However, Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten more squares than a typical creature. In addition, many creatures that are sized-large or larger have a natural reach of 10 feet or more.

Provoking an Attack of Opportunity

Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened square and performing certain actions within a threatened square.

Leaving a Threatened Square

Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents. There are two common methods of avoiding such an attack — the 5-foot step and the withdraw action. Note that moving into a threatened square does not provoke an attack of opportunity, only leaving a threatened square.

Performing a Provocative Act

There are a number of actions that, when performed during combat, are too distracting to the acting creature to allow them to also avoid attacks of opportunity. These are considered 'provocative acts'. The table below lists most of these actions, and whether or not they provoke attacks of opportunity. Please note, however, that many exceptions exist to these general rules. Any feat, class feature, racial trait, or other ability that specifically states it doesn't provoke an attack of opportunity should be ruled as more specific, and therefore overruling these general rules.

Standard Actions

Provokes an Attack of Opportunity

Attack (melee)

No Attack (ranged) || Yes Attack (unarmed) || Yes Activate a magic item other than a potion or oil || No Aid another || No Cast a spell (1 standard action casting time) || Yes Channel divinity || No Concentrate to maintain an active spell || No Dismiss a spell || No Draw a hidden weapon (see Sleight of Hand skill) || No Drink a potion or apply an oil || Yes Escape a grapple || No Feint || No Light a torch || Yes Lower spell resistance || No Read a scroll || Yes Ready (triggers a standard action) || No Stabilize a dying friend (see Heal skill) || Yes Total defense || No Use extraordinary ability || No Use skill that takes a standard action || Usually Use spell-like ability || Yes Use supernatural ability || No Move Actions || Attack of Opportunity1 Move || Yes Control a frightened mount || Yes Direct or redirect an active spell || No Draw a weapon3 No Load a hand crossbow or light crossbow Yes Open or close a door No Mount/dismount a steed No Move a heavy object Yes Pick up an item (see FAQ) Yes (see FAQ) Sheathe a weapon Yes Stand up from prone Yes Ready or drop a shield3 No Retrieve a stored item Yes Full-Round Actions Attack of Opportunity1 Full attack No Charge4 No Deliver coup de grace Yes Escape from a net Yes Extinguish flames No Light a torch Yes Load a heavy or repeating crossbow Yes Lock or unlock weapon in locked gauntlet Yes Prepare to throw splash weapon Yes Run Yes Use skill that takes 1 round Usually Use a touch spell on up to six friends Yes Withdraw4 No Free Actions Attack of Opportunity1 Cease concentration on a spell No Drop an item No Drop to the floor No Prepare spell components to cast a spell5 No Speak No Swift Actions Attack of Opportunity1 Cast a quickened spell No Immediate Actions Attack of Opportunity1 Cast feather fall No No Action Attack of Opportunity1 Delay No 5-foot step No Action Type Varies Attack of Opportunity1 Perform a combat maneuver6 Yes Use feat7 Varies Note that a single action, such as a move action, can never provoke more than one attack of opportunity per enemy creature provoked, even if that creature is capable of making more than one attack of opportunity per round. For example, if you move in such a way that you are leaving more than one square threatened by the same enemy, you only provoke from that enemy a single time, because you only took one move action. Note that this "one attack of opportunity per action performed" rule applies per enemy, meaning that multiple enemies can each perform an attack of opportunity on you, if provoked, per action you perform which provokes. A full attack action is also considered a single action, for purposes of provoking an attack of opportunity, even though it could technically be severed. Making an Attack of Opportunity An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack, and most characters can only make one per round. You don't have to make an attack of opportunity if you don't want to. The to-hit roll of an attack of opportunity is always made at your highest attack bonus, even if you've already attacked this round. An attack of opportunity "interrupts" the action of the creature which provokes the attack, meaning it is resolved immediately. Only if the provoking creature survives the attack can it finish performing its action. In most cases, actions which are interrupted by an attack of opportunity can only be stopped by reducing the acting creature to 0 or fewer hit points. The attack of opportunity itself does not prevent the action from occurring, nor does it (usually) inflict any penalties on the action. Attacks of opportunity are only basic melee attacks. You cannot use a combat maneuver, cast a spell, or make a ranged attack as your attack of opportunity, unless you have an ability which specifically allows you to do so.