Do Rogues Get Extra Attack: This Explains What You Need To Know

Dungeons and Dragons have many classes from which a player can choose. There are fearless fighters, wise wizards, artificers, and paladins, amongst others.

These classes are versatile and unique in their way. However, no one has displayed the skill, agility, and masterful cunning of the Dungeons and Dragons’ rogue.

Defining a Rogue is a bit more challenging than the other classes. It is a lot more versatile than the others.

Dungeons and Dragons’ rogue does different things in different ways. For example, rogues can be dealers of death, expert arcane tricksters, or criminal masterminds. However, what defines a rogue is their ability to be sneaky during combat and nimble-finger tricks.

So, do rogues get an extra attack?

Do Rogues Get Extra Attack

No, rogues do not get extra attacks regardless of the level. The majority of their damage only applies to one attack per turn. So, it won’t be profitable if they get an extra attack.

But, other classes like barbarian, fighter, monk, paladin, and ranger get an extra attack.

However, multi-classing helps you get a second attack. And, it is excellent with the rogue’s assassination skill. Some rogues also use Two-Weapon Fighting to get a second attack. But, it requires a bonus action to do this.

The real trick to optimizing rogue damage is to get opportunity attacks with a free condition. And apply a sneak attack on your turn and the enemy’s turn.

Keep reading, and you’ll find other valuable information about this topic.

Class Features You Should Know As A Rogue

#1. Sneak Attack:

Rogues live for Sneak Attack in Dungeons and Dragon. Sneak attack enables a rogue to attack his enemy with a short bow or crossbow.

Rogues can also use weapons from the sling or light blade weapon groups. Attacking your enemies grants combat advantage to the rogue. And it adds extra damages to your attack.

However, the amount of damage is dependent on your level. So, you get additional 1d6 damage at level 1. And the amount increases by 1d6 after every two levels as you progress to higher levels.

Sneak attack is triggered when your target has another enemy other than yourself in melee range. Sneak attack is also triggered if you’re attacking with an advantage.

Interestingly, you can apply Sneak Attack to an acute attack. And, you’d get twice the amount of dice rolled for the Sneak Attack. However, a sneak attack is used once per round.

#2. Expertise:

Expertise is a unique class feature in Dungeons and Dragons. It allows you to become an expert in specific Proficiencies. Interestingly, for any ability checks, you make using your chosen proficiency, your Proficiency Bonus is doubled.

You get your first Expertise at the first level. Here, you can only select two proficiencies in which you become experts.

However, you get your second Expertise at level six. And, at this level, you get to pick two more Proficiencies.

However, once you declare your Expertise, it is permanent. So, it would be best if you decided what you want your character to be an expert in critically. You can choose to be an expert in; Investigation, Deception, Persuasion, or Thieves’ Tools.

An interesting fact about Expertise is that your bonus grows with your character as they go to higher levels.

#3. Evasion:

Evasion begins from the seventh level. It allows you to avoid specific area effects, like an Ice Storm spell or a red dragon’s fiery breath. So, you can survive attacks and spells.

So, your rogue evades any effect involving a dexterity saving throw only to take half damage.

Now, a successful dexterity saving throw would mean that you take no damage. However, when you take half damage, it means that the Dexterity saving throw failed.

Additionally, you don’t have to expend a Reaction to evade an effect. And, in Evasion, you’re not limited per round. You can dodge as many times as you can. So, Evasion applies to any effect with a Dexterity saving throw for half damage.

#4. Cunning Action:

Beginning from the second level, rogues get an ability called Cunning Action. It allows you to use Disengage, hide or dash as a Bonus Action rather than a Full Action. Cunning action will enable you to move around and slip through the battlefield quickly.

Dash doubles your movement speed. Hide allows you to make a Stealth check at the start or end of your turn. And it gives you an advantage on your next attack. And with Disengage, you can avoid hostile creatures in melee range without provoking an Opportunity Attack. Both are great for dipping in and out of fights.

#5. Thieves Cant:

Thieves’ Cant is a Secret mix of dialect, code and jargon. It allows you to hide messages in everyday conversation. And, only creatures that know the language can understand it.

Thieves’ Cant is more like a sub-language of codes in words, gestures, symbols, or body language. It allows you to signal things discreetly.

Usually, it will take you longer to convey a message using thieves’ chant than you would in a basic idea. So, you have to understand some set of symbols and secret signs to share short and straightforward messages

#6. Roguish Archetype

Beginning from the third level, you can choose a roguish archetype. There are three different archetypes to choose from. You have the Thief, Assassin, and Arcane Trickster archetypes.

Your archetype choice is a reflection of your focus. It describes your preferred Techniques. Also, archetype choice grants you some features at the third level. On the 9th, 13th, and 17th, you also have features.

Let’s have an understanding of what the different archetype does. The Thief archetype deals with rogues who steal. It gives bonuses for sleight of hand, sneaking, and climbing.

The Assassin archetype is a rogue who kills for a living. The rogue dispatch targets swiftly and creates false identities and poisons. The Arcane Trickster is quite an attractive archetype. It opens up a little magic to rogues that allows them to cast spells.

#7. Ability Score Improvement:

Ability score is a number that tells how well you can do something. For example, a muscular character is more likely to have a higher score for strength.

You can increase your ability score by using Ability Score Improvement. However, this is accessible from the fourth level. It is also available on the 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th levels.

Fighters get additional Ability Score Improvement at levels 6 and 14. Also, rogues get further Ability Score Improvement at level 10.

However, you can increase an ability score by two. Alternatively, you can increase two ability Scores by one.

Is Having An Extra Attack On A Multiclass Rogue Important?

The extra attack gives you additional damage. That makes it great. The exciting thing about it is that it saves your bonus action. And so, you do not have to use your bonus to get a second attack.

The extra attack also doubles your chances of landing your sneak Attack. However, it isn’t necessary to use an extra attack. The first attack is usually enough. So, if you strike with your first attack, a second attack is great but not required.

Is A Cunning Action A Bonus Action On Rogues

You’re entitled to one bonus action during your turn. You can choose when to take a bonus action. However, some bonus actions have specific timing.

Specific features, spells, or other elements have to grant you access to a bonus. Otherwise, you will not have a bonus action to take.

So, that’s where the cunning action comes in. it gives you options you can use as a bonus action. Cunning action can either allow you to hide and dash or disengage. You are entitled to choose only one of the actions on each of your turns in combat.

However, you can still do these things without cunning action. But, it would take full action to do any of them.

Understanding Rogues Cunning Action

The cunning action becomes available to you from level two. It gives you three bonus actions from which you can choose. You have the dash, hide or disengage to choose. Let’s explain these actions some more;

Dashing:

Dashing doubles your movement speed. For example, let’s say your movement is 20 feet. With dashing, you could move 40 feet in a single turn.

Disengage:

Disengage is another cunning action you’d love. It is excellent for dipping in and out of fights. It allows you to avoid your enemies in the melee range. And this happens without provoking an opportunity attack.

Hide:

The hide option is just like its name. What it does is allow you to hide from your enemy amid battle. So, enemies will be at a disadvantage anytime they try to attack you.

What Race Is Best For A Rogue

Because of the rogues’ dexterous character, Elves are usually the excellent choice of race.

The wood elf subrace grants your rogue more opportunities to run and hide. And the high elf is best for an arcane trickster.

Halfling is also a great choice of race for a rogue. Just like elves, a major benefit is an increase in skill. They benefit from the nimbleness trait as well. The nimbleness trait allows you to move through the space of another creature that’s larger than you.

Additionally, with the light-foot sub-race of Halflings, you can also hide behind creatures larger than them. And it increases the possibility of your rogue’s sneak and skulks.

Gnomes are also another choice to consider. Gnomes’ forest sub-race can increase your dexterity ability score. The most exciting feature about this race is that it helps with being unnoticed.

Conclusion

Rogues do not get extra attacks regardless of the level. However, other classes like barbarian, fighter, monk, paladin, and ranger get an extra attack.

Since most of their damage applies to one attack per turn, a second attack won’t be profitable. But, using multi-classing and Two-Weapon Fighting can get you a second attack.

You would need a bonus to apply Two-Weapon Fighting. Interestingly, cunning gives you options you can use as a bonus action. With the cunning option, you can hide and dash or disengage. However, you are allowed to choose only one action on each of your turns.