4e-combat-reference.md

Combat and Actions Overview

All Attack Types Modifiers

Modifier	Melee Attacks	Ranged Attacks
Combat Advantage against foe	+2	+2
Attacker is prone	-2	-
Target has normal cover	-	-2
Target has superior cover	-	-5
Charge Attack	+1	-
Target has concealment	-	-2
Long Range	-	-2
Target is prone	-	-2
No line of sight	-5	-5

1. Start of Your Turn

• Ongoing damage and regeneration
• End some effects, as specified

2. Actions! In Any Order, One of Each:

• Standard Action
  • Basic Attack, or
  • Use a Standard Action power
  • Charge (move at least 2 and up to your move and attack at +1, no other actions afterward)
  • Second Wind (spend healing surge and regain hp, get +2 to all defenses until start of next turn - usable only once per encounter)
  • Substitute a Move or a Minor Action
  • Somewhat complicated tasks (administering a potion to a fellow character, making a heal check, etc.)
• Move Action
  • Walk (move up to your speed), or
  • Shift (1 square without provoking an Opportunity Attack - can’t move into difficult terrain)
  • Run (your speed +2, grants Combat Advantage)
  • Some skill checks (acrobatics, stealth, etc.) cost some or all of your movement
  • Substitute a Minor Action
• Minor Action
  • Drawing a weapon, closing a door, opening a chest, use a Minor Action Power, etc.
• Free Actions (as many as you like, within reason)
  • Talking, dropping stuff, etc.
  • Can be performed during other combatant’s turns as well

3. End of Your Turn

• Make Saving Throws for some ongoing effects. Roll 1d20 (10 or higher breaks it, 9 or lower, it continues).
• End some effects, as specified.

Action Points

Most often spent to take a single extra action during your turn.

• You start with one per day. After an Extended Rest (which can only be done once per day), you reset back to one.
• More can be gained through adventuring and acts of heroism, per your DM.
• Can only be used once per encounter.

Combat Advantage

All opponents with Combat Advantage against you gain a +2 bonus to their attack if they have line of sight (see chart above).

• Granted to flankers when combatant is flanked (opposite squares).
• Granted when combatant is stunned or blinded, and other effects (p.13 in KotS).
• Granted to adjacent melee attackers when prone.

Critical Hits

Other Notes

• A rolled natural 20 (unmodified by bonuses) always hits your opponent.
• If the modified result is enough to hit your opponent’s AC, it automatically deals the maximum amount of damage.

Dying

• When your current hit points drop to half your maximum, you are bloodied. This affects some powers.
• When your current hit points drop to zero or lower, you fall unconscious and are dying.
  • Make a saving throw each round. 3 failed saves (not necessarily in a row) result in death. A fellow PC may be able to heal or stabilize you, preventing you from having to make any more.
  • If your hit points reach a negative number equal to half your maximum (through sustained damage), you die.

Immediate Actions

Occur on other combatant’s turns.

• Come in two flavors: Interrupts and Reactions, as defined by the power.
• You can only take one Immediate Action between your turns.

Opportunity Actions

Sometimes you get to act on another combatant’s turn, as specified below:

• Attack triggered when an opponent leaves a square adjacent to you (note that this means reach no longer always grants it).
• Attack triggered when an adjacent enemy makes a Ranged or Area attack (unlike spells and other Powers designated as Close).
• Can only use a melee basic attack, not a power.
• Can only take one Opportunity Action on each combatant’s turn.
• Interrupts (happens before, but does not necessarily negate) the action that triggered it.