[RPG] How does the Fire Giant Dreadnought’s Shield Charge actually work

dnd-5emonsters

If the Dreadnought misses his first attack is he stopped from further movement? Also, if the PC makes the strength save does that stop the dreadnought from further movement?

Best Answer

Nothing in the Shield Charge ability's description says that its movement is stopped by its attack during the Shield Charge. From its statblock:

Fireshield. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (4d6+8) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) fire damage plus 7 (2d6) piercing damage.

[...]

Shield Charge. The giant moves up to 30 feet in a straight line and can move through the space of any creature smaller than Huge. The first time it enters a creature’s space during this move, it makes a fireshield attack against that creature. If the attack hits, the target must also succeed on a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be pushed ahead of the giant for the rest of this move. If a creature fails the save by 5 or more, it is also knocked prone and takes 18 (3d6+8) bludgeoning damage, or 29 (6d6+8) bludgeoning damage if it was already prone.

Judging from that, the shield charge lets the fire giant dreadnought move up to 30 feet in a straight line, including through the space of any creature that is smaller than Huge. The attack is essentially incidental to the move; if the target succeeds its Strength save, it is unaffected.

You could flavor this as if the character that makes the save is actually holding the fire giant dreadnought back just long enough to move himself/herself out of the way, or however else you want to describe it.

The dreadnought could, of course, choose to stop before the end of the 30 feet, since the Shield Charge doesn't specify that it must move the full 30 feet.

Related Topic