[RPG] Does skulker remove the attack penalty for targeting creatures in low-light? Also, does that stack with Darkvision

dnd-5efeatsroguesneak-attackvision-and-light

I'm developing an NPC whose area of expertise is night assault. Variant Human Rogue (Assassin) with Goggles of Night and the Skulker feat. My reasoning is thus:

  • Goggles of Night: Total darkness = dim light (within 60 feet).
  • (Variant Human) Skulker: dim light doesn't impose disadvantage on Wisdom (perception) checks.

Therefore, he can see fine at night within 60 feet. Therefore, he doesn't have disadvantage on attacks in dim light within 60 feet.

  • (Rogue 4) Mobility: disengage is not needed to avoid AoO against a target you attack

As such, by my reasoning, he'll be able to hide perfectly against characters without darkvision, and reasonably well against characters with darkvision that do not have skulker, so long as he is in total darkness (or anything else that lightly obscures). Therefore, sneak attacks for days until somebody turns the lights on.

Is this right, or is my logic on Skulker vastly overvaluing the feat?

Best Answer

Dim-light does not impose disadvantage on attacks, only on perception checks that require sight (PHB p. 183), so yes, he can sneak attack from dim light provided he has advantage from some other means.

Regarding lighting, only total darkness (or otherwise being unable to see your target) imposes disadvantage on attacks. So, you could effectively sneak attack from darkness using your goggles, however then you would no longer be hidden, and enemies could make attacks against you (at disadvantage if they can't see) until you hide again. If disadvantage were imposed upon you for some reason (magical darkness, blindness, etc), you would not be able to sneak attack because disadvantage and advantage cancel each other out.