D&D 5E Ranger Extra Attack and Horde Breaker

[joshinminn]

I'm playing an elf Ranger 10. Does the extra attack gained at 5th level stack with the Horde Breaker feature gained at 3rd, in effect, giving three attacks under the conditions that they are on two creatures within 5 feet of each other and I use the same weapon?

 

[kbrakke]

Yes, Hoard Breaker is one of the few free attacks in the game.

 

[Zaruthustran]

For extra fun, take three levels of Fighter and get Pushing strike. With the ability to first move (to get the right angle) and then shoot the target in such a way as to push him/her/it to within 5' of another target, your Horde Breaker feature will trigger more often.

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

I have had DM's rule differently on the "within 5' of one another".

Some rule they need to be adjacent....but why then didnt they just write it as another creature adjacent to your first target?

And had a couple others rule that they can be adjacent or have 5' between them for the attack.

I was just wondering how others play it. I am fine with either ruling and go with whichever ruling the DM I am playing with prefers.

 

[kbrakke]

Within 5 feet to me means adjacent. About half the time I use a grid in my 5e games, so within five feet is any of the 8 adjacent squares. It's the same range as a melee attack and things like the protection fighting style. If there is five feet of space in between them, they are not within five feet. I'm pretty sure these things are intended to be used with characters in melee range. So horde breaker is used against hoards of enemy creatures in close formation.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Within 5 feet to me means adjacent. About half the time I use a grid in my 5e games, so within five feet is any of the 8 adjacent squares. It's the same range as a melee attack and things like the protection fighting style. If there is five feet of space in between them, they are not within five feet. I'm pretty sure these things are intended to be used with characters in melee range. So horde breaker is used against hoards of enemy creatures in close formation.

This is exactly how I interpret it as well. Not only from how it was intended, but from a literal view as well. A medium sized creature isn't 5' wide, but takes up a 5' grid. That means there is some room between the figure and the edge of the grid. So if you have a 5' grid in between two creatures, that's more than 5' away between the two. Therefore, 5' reach/etc means adjacent.

 

[steeldragons]

Another "adjacent" vote..."within 5' " does not mean "5' +"...and I've never played a single game with minis or grid in my life. Just seems the obvious/common sense ruling to make.

Not to mention, the ability is that of the "Horde Breaker", not the "Neatly spaced out for your convenience Breaker." If your foes are, essentially, all bum-rushing/charging/trying to overrun you (i.e. in adjacent squares), you can lay down the extra smack down...and thus the mechanics and the flavor/story come together in a neat little package. Love it when that happens.

 

[Rune]

The horde breaker ability specifically neglects to specify weapon type, specifies only that the second target must be within 5ft. of the first target and within the weapon's range, and that the ability only works once on your turn.

From this, we glean:

• The ability requires that the targets of both attacks either be tiny, or adjacent.
• The ability works at range.
• The only thing that extra attack adds to horde breaker is it's own single extra attack and a corresponding wider range of possible targets for horde breaker.

 

[houser2112]

The only thing that extra attack adds to horde breaker is an extra chance to apply it if one attack misses.

I'm AFB, so I can't be positive, but I don't think the free attack from Horde Breaker is contingent on hitting anything, it just says you get the free attack when the conditions are present.

 

[Rune]

I'm AFB, so I can't be positive, but I don't think the free attack from Horde Breaker is contingent on hitting anything, it just says you get the free attack when the conditions are present.

This is true. That bullet point should read:

• The only thing that extra attack adds to horde breaker is it's own single extra attack and a corresponding wider range of possible targets for horde breaker.