Dodge Action

The Dodge action focuses entirely on avoiding attacks, making you significantly harder to hit until your next turn.

How it works: Until the start of your next turn:

• Any attack roll made against you has disadvantage, if you can see the attacker.
• You make Dexterity saving throws with advantage.

Ends early if:

• You are incapacitated (stunned, paralyzed, etc.).
• Your speed drops to 0 (grappled, exhaustion level 5, etc.).

Uses your action: You cannot attack or cast most spells on a turn you Dodge. This is a purely defensive choice.

When to Dodge:

• You're surrounded and can't escape — Dodge is often better than attacking one enemy while three others hit you freely.
• You're a tank trying to absorb damage while allies deal with threats.
• You're concentrating on an important spell and want advantage on CON saves to maintain it.
• You're waiting for an ally to arrive or for a condition to change.

Interaction with other effects:

• Disadvantage from Dodge and advantage from another source cancel out (you roll normally).
• Dodge + high AC creates an extremely defensive posture.
• Dodge grants advantage on Dexterity saves, helping against fireball, lightning bolt, and similar AOE spells.

Monks — Patient Defense: Spend 1 ki point to Dodge as a bonus action, freeing your action for attacks. This makes Monks exceptionally durable.