[RPG] Should I be able to use the Gloom Stalker ranger’s Dread Ambusher class feature when attacking before initiative has been rolled to add a d8 damage

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There was a case in a in a session of my Homebrewy D&D 5e game that I played recently where I was playing a Gloom Stalker Ranger lvl 4 and was hidden from an enemy that was unaware of an incoming attack. In the spirit of the ambusher that is the Gloom Stalker my DM allowed me to role the extra d8, normally granted to me by Dread Ambusher feature on the bonus attack that I would get on the first turn of initiative order, for the damage that I dealt to the creature; similarly to a rogues sneak attack.

Should a Gloom Stalker Ranger always get a additional d8 when attacking an unaware creature outside of initiative order?

Best Answer

Mechanically speaking, it is not possible to attack an unaware creature outside of initiative order.

Such a situation should be resolved by an initiative roll in which the unaware creature is Surprised until the end of their first turn - and then the Dread Ambusher feature applies as normal, during the Gloom Stalker's first turn bonus attack.


Thematically speaking, if your DM adjucates surprise with an attack "outside of initiative", applying the extra d8 to a Gloom Stalker's attack is appropriate.