Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter. If you are surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn in combat, and you can’t take a reaction until that turn ends. A member of a group can be surprised even if other members aren’t.
Does using misty step provoke opportunity attacks?
The Misty Step spell says that you are briefly surrounded by silvery mist, you teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space that you can see. So as near as I can figure, the Misty Step spell does not provoke an Attack of Opportunity.
Can a surprised character take a reaction?
When a character is surprised, they can’t move or take actions (including bonus actions) on their first turn, and they can’t use a reaction until the end of their first turn.
What happens on the first turn of combat?
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. So, whomever rolls the higher initiative still goes first. If it’s the surprised creature, however, they cannot effectively take a turn.
Do you roll initiative before a combat action?
If you declare a combat action (e.g. an attack), you roll initiative before the combat action is resolved.
Can you prepare an attack outside of combat?
You can’t ready an attack outside of combat; otherwise, literally every character would have an attack readied as they wander around a dungeon. The point of initiative is to resolve the order in which creatures that are prepared for combat (i.e. not surprised) act. Your first interpretation is correct. Initiative is rolled as always.
When does combat start and surprise take place?
But the Basic Rules, the PHB, and the DMG, do not actually explain when the encounter begins. In your example, the DM has ruled that the combat encounter begins as soon as you want to attack, but that isn’t the only way. A band of adventurers sneaks up on a bandit camp, springing from the trees to attack them.
