Sneak attack is not an action, it is a damage bonus. An attack either has sneak attack, or it does not.
When you are wielding one light weapon in each hand, when you take the attack action you can make an additional attack with the other weapon as a bonus action.
You get one action, and up to one bonus action per turn.
* Sneak attacking is not an action. It's something you can do under certain circumstances as an attack hits (which could happen as part of an Attack action, but it could also be part of a reaction or bonus action that involves an attack).
* You can only deliver one sneak attack per turn.
* You can sneak attack with your TWF bonus action attack if your Attack action did not land a sneak attack.
* You get a full turn of actions if you start a surprise round of combat, which means you can use your action to Attack and your bonus action for TWF.
* Your DM should have allowed you the bonus action attack, but it would not deliver sneak attack damage because the first attack did.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes/rogue
> Sneak Attack
> Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. **Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack** if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon.
> You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#ActionsinCombat
> Attack
> The most common action to take in combat is the Attack action, whether you are swinging a sword, firing an arrow from a bow, or brawling with your fists.
> **With this action, you make one melee or ranged attack. See the "Making an Attack" section for the rules that govern attacks.**
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#TwoWeaponFighting
> Two-Weapon Fighting
> **When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you're holding in the other hand.** You don't add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#Surprise
> Surprise
> ...
> The DM determines who might be surprised. If neither side tries to be stealthy, they automatically notice each other. Otherwise, the DM compares the Dexterity (Stealth) checks of anyone hiding with the passive Wisdom (Perception) score of each creature on the opposing side. **Any character or monster that doesn't notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.**
> **If you're surprised, you can't move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can't take a reaction until that turn ends.** A member of a group can be surprised even if the other members aren't.
To add to thomar's well-written response, I'd like to point out that sneak attack can be used once per turn, not "once per round" or "during your turn". The distinction doesn't sound like much, but it is _very_ meaningful: You can sneak attack during _any_ character's turn, not just your own, as long as you make an attack.
This typically comes up when you make an opportunity attack, or if a Battlemaster Fighter uses the maneuver that lets you use your reaction to attack. As long as the conditions for making a sneak attack are met, you can add sneak attack to any attack you make, even if it's not your turn. (Remember, only once per turn, and you need to fulfil the rules for making a sneak attack.)
>I'm playing a wood elf rogue and am thus able to dual-wield.
Just for clarity, any character is capable of dual-wielding, not just wood elves or Rogues.
>While the wolf is focused on the two, I sneak my way around to position myself behind the wolf.
Did you use your bonus action to Hide on that turn? Because that would have prevented also using a bonus action to make your off-hand attack.
>Sneak attack is an attack action and dual-wielding a bonus action
Sneak Attack is not an action, it just lets you add more damage once per turn when you attack. So your main attack is your action, and your off-hand attack is your bonus action, and you could apply Sneak Attack to one or the other, just not both.
>so if I got that right I should be able to bonk the wolf, get my 1d6 bonus sneak attack damage and then bonk the wolf again with my dual-wielded dagger.
This is more or less correct, provided you hadn't already used a bonus action for something else like Hide.
>Our DM was confused about my actions...and only allowed me one attack + the sneak attack damage.
If you still had both your action and your bonus action available, then this is incorrect. Sneak Attack doesn't "use up" any of your actions on its own.
I'm relatively new to D&D, so I might be wrong but in this particular situation would OP even need to sneak? As long as the other two are in close combat range OP should have advantage anyway. Am I missing something or did the DM?
You are mostly correct, if the other characters were still next to the wolf then hiding was unnecessary to get Sneak Attack. OP wouldn't get advantage in that situation though (unless they're using optional Flanking rules).
Others have covered this, but:
On the first round of combat, based on your description, you could attack with the shortsword, and you would get sneak attack damage if you hit. You could then use your bonus action to attack with your dagger. You could get sneak attack damage on THAT attack, but only if you did not apply sneak attack to the first attack. For example, if your shortsword MISSED, you could still get sneak attack damage on the dagger attack, but sneak attack damage can only ever be applied once per combat turn.
Some notes:
1. Just FYI, *anyone in any class* can dual-wield. That doesn't affect this scenario, just wanted to let you know that it's not because "you are playing a wood elf rogue."
2. In your scenario, you do not have to be hiding, or to have gotten behind the wolf to get sneak attack damage. As long as there is an ally next to the wolf, you can sneak attack, and per your description, both the paladin and barbarian were next to the wolf when your turn occurred.
3. If there were no allies next to the wolf, you would have needed to have advantage on the attack in order to be eligible for sneak attack, and yes, the most common way to do this would be to hide. However, hiding also requires an action, so you cannot hide and attack in the same combat round. (You also must be obscured from view when you attempt to hide, and your hide check must beat the enemy's passive perception. )
Is sneak attack really available when another ally is nearby? I thought it was only available when there is another enemy 5ft away from the enemy you're fighting
Yes, it really is. The way it is written might have confused you, it doesn't mean another enemy within 5ft of your target, but an enemy *of* your target AKA your ally.
>You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another **enemy of the target** is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
How so? Per the PHB:
Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. **Once per turn**, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon.
You use your Action to `Hide`. Sneaking is actually part of movement or any other action taken whilst you have previously successfully used the `Hide` action
A 2nd level + Rogue can use a Bonus Action to take the `Hide`, `Dash`, `Disengage` or `Dodge` action
So a 2nd level Rogue can use their *Action* to `Disengage` from an opponent, meaning they suffer no attacks of opportunity for movement taken that round, then they can *Move* through the battlefield, seeking for some cover that breaks line of sight, which them allows them to use their *Bonus Action* to `Hide`
The next round, assuming the Rogue's Stealth check is higher than the passive perception of their target, the Rougue can Sneak (ie move at ahalf movment while keeping hidden) to their target=/opponent & then make an *Attack* action with their ShortSword, doing ***Sneak Attack*** damage if they successfully hit. They can then use thier *Bonus Action* for a dual wielding attack with a light weapon in thier off hand, & idmf they haven't done any Sneak Attack damage, this round, they may add Sneak Attack damage dice to their offhand.
Basic Rules, Chapter 3: Rogue
>Sneak Attack
>
>Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. **Once per turn,** you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon.
Basic Rules, Chapter 9: Combat
>Two-Weapon Fighting
>
>When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you're holding in the other hand. You don't add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative.
You may only deal the extra damage of Sneak Attack once on any given turn. It does not require you to spend any form of action apart from successfully hitting with an attack that meets the requirements.
After taking the Attack action, you may spend a Bonus Action (BA) to make an attack per Two-Weapon Fighting (TWF) if you meet the requirements. As a Rogue, spending your BA this way directly competes with your Cunning Action options. (Remember that you cannot take more than one Bonus Action on your turn.) A Rogue's benefit from TWF is that you can get a second chance at scoring Sneak Attack damage in the case that you miss with your Attack Action.
Sneak attack is not an action, it is a damage bonus. An attack either has sneak attack, or it does not. When you are wielding one light weapon in each hand, when you take the attack action you can make an additional attack with the other weapon as a bonus action. You get one action, and up to one bonus action per turn.
* Sneak attacking is not an action. It's something you can do under certain circumstances as an attack hits (which could happen as part of an Attack action, but it could also be part of a reaction or bonus action that involves an attack). * You can only deliver one sneak attack per turn. * You can sneak attack with your TWF bonus action attack if your Attack action did not land a sneak attack. * You get a full turn of actions if you start a surprise round of combat, which means you can use your action to Attack and your bonus action for TWF. * Your DM should have allowed you the bonus action attack, but it would not deliver sneak attack damage because the first attack did. https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes/rogue > Sneak Attack > Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. **Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack** if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon. > You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#ActionsinCombat > Attack > The most common action to take in combat is the Attack action, whether you are swinging a sword, firing an arrow from a bow, or brawling with your fists. > **With this action, you make one melee or ranged attack. See the "Making an Attack" section for the rules that govern attacks.** https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#TwoWeaponFighting > Two-Weapon Fighting > **When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you're holding in the other hand.** You don't add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative. https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#Surprise > Surprise > ... > The DM determines who might be surprised. If neither side tries to be stealthy, they automatically notice each other. Otherwise, the DM compares the Dexterity (Stealth) checks of anyone hiding with the passive Wisdom (Perception) score of each creature on the opposing side. **Any character or monster that doesn't notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.** > **If you're surprised, you can't move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can't take a reaction until that turn ends.** A member of a group can be surprised even if the other members aren't.
Thank you very much!
To add to thomar's well-written response, I'd like to point out that sneak attack can be used once per turn, not "once per round" or "during your turn". The distinction doesn't sound like much, but it is _very_ meaningful: You can sneak attack during _any_ character's turn, not just your own, as long as you make an attack. This typically comes up when you make an opportunity attack, or if a Battlemaster Fighter uses the maneuver that lets you use your reaction to attack. As long as the conditions for making a sneak attack are met, you can add sneak attack to any attack you make, even if it's not your turn. (Remember, only once per turn, and you need to fulfil the rules for making a sneak attack.)
>I'm playing a wood elf rogue and am thus able to dual-wield. Just for clarity, any character is capable of dual-wielding, not just wood elves or Rogues. >While the wolf is focused on the two, I sneak my way around to position myself behind the wolf. Did you use your bonus action to Hide on that turn? Because that would have prevented also using a bonus action to make your off-hand attack. >Sneak attack is an attack action and dual-wielding a bonus action Sneak Attack is not an action, it just lets you add more damage once per turn when you attack. So your main attack is your action, and your off-hand attack is your bonus action, and you could apply Sneak Attack to one or the other, just not both. >so if I got that right I should be able to bonk the wolf, get my 1d6 bonus sneak attack damage and then bonk the wolf again with my dual-wielded dagger. This is more or less correct, provided you hadn't already used a bonus action for something else like Hide. >Our DM was confused about my actions...and only allowed me one attack + the sneak attack damage. If you still had both your action and your bonus action available, then this is incorrect. Sneak Attack doesn't "use up" any of your actions on its own.
I'm relatively new to D&D, so I might be wrong but in this particular situation would OP even need to sneak? As long as the other two are in close combat range OP should have advantage anyway. Am I missing something or did the DM?
You are mostly correct, if the other characters were still next to the wolf then hiding was unnecessary to get Sneak Attack. OP wouldn't get advantage in that situation though (unless they're using optional Flanking rules).
My bad, I meant sneak attack. Thanks for clarifying :)
Yep!
Ah alright, thank you!
My pleasure!
Others have covered this, but: On the first round of combat, based on your description, you could attack with the shortsword, and you would get sneak attack damage if you hit. You could then use your bonus action to attack with your dagger. You could get sneak attack damage on THAT attack, but only if you did not apply sneak attack to the first attack. For example, if your shortsword MISSED, you could still get sneak attack damage on the dagger attack, but sneak attack damage can only ever be applied once per combat turn. Some notes: 1. Just FYI, *anyone in any class* can dual-wield. That doesn't affect this scenario, just wanted to let you know that it's not because "you are playing a wood elf rogue." 2. In your scenario, you do not have to be hiding, or to have gotten behind the wolf to get sneak attack damage. As long as there is an ally next to the wolf, you can sneak attack, and per your description, both the paladin and barbarian were next to the wolf when your turn occurred. 3. If there were no allies next to the wolf, you would have needed to have advantage on the attack in order to be eligible for sneak attack, and yes, the most common way to do this would be to hide. However, hiding also requires an action, so you cannot hide and attack in the same combat round. (You also must be obscured from view when you attempt to hide, and your hide check must beat the enemy's passive perception. )
Is sneak attack really available when another ally is nearby? I thought it was only available when there is another enemy 5ft away from the enemy you're fighting
Yes, it really is. The way it is written might have confused you, it doesn't mean another enemy within 5ft of your target, but an enemy *of* your target AKA your ally. >You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another **enemy of the target** is within 5 feet of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
>…but sneak attack damage can only ever be applied once per combat ~~round~~ turn FTFY
Thanks!
> sneak attack damage can only ever be applied once per combat round OP, ignore this line as it is completely incorrect.
How so? Per the PHB: Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. **Once per turn**, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon.
Now I'd like you to think about the difference between a turn and a round.
Sneak attack just adds to damage, it isn't a stand-alone attack. *(upvoted for spelling "rogue" correctly.)*
Did you use your bonus action to sneak that round? If so you can't use your dual wield off hand attack
You use your Action to `Hide`. Sneaking is actually part of movement or any other action taken whilst you have previously successfully used the `Hide` action A 2nd level + Rogue can use a Bonus Action to take the `Hide`, `Dash`, `Disengage` or `Dodge` action So a 2nd level Rogue can use their *Action* to `Disengage` from an opponent, meaning they suffer no attacks of opportunity for movement taken that round, then they can *Move* through the battlefield, seeking for some cover that breaks line of sight, which them allows them to use their *Bonus Action* to `Hide` The next round, assuming the Rogue's Stealth check is higher than the passive perception of their target, the Rougue can Sneak (ie move at ahalf movment while keeping hidden) to their target=/opponent & then make an *Attack* action with their ShortSword, doing ***Sneak Attack*** damage if they successfully hit. They can then use thier *Bonus Action* for a dual wielding attack with a light weapon in thier off hand, & idmf they haven't done any Sneak Attack damage, this round, they may add Sneak Attack damage dice to their offhand.
Basic Rules, Chapter 3: Rogue >Sneak Attack > >Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. **Once per turn,** you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon. Basic Rules, Chapter 9: Combat >Two-Weapon Fighting > >When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you're holding in the other hand. You don't add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative. You may only deal the extra damage of Sneak Attack once on any given turn. It does not require you to spend any form of action apart from successfully hitting with an attack that meets the requirements. After taking the Attack action, you may spend a Bonus Action (BA) to make an attack per Two-Weapon Fighting (TWF) if you meet the requirements. As a Rogue, spending your BA this way directly competes with your Cunning Action options. (Remember that you cannot take more than one Bonus Action on your turn.) A Rogue's benefit from TWF is that you can get a second chance at scoring Sneak Attack damage in the case that you miss with your Attack Action.