In many ways, the newest version ofDungeons and Dragonsis more like an expansion and remastering of the previous edition (the fifth edition) rather than a brand-new version that completely changes things. This was intentional by Wizards of the Coast since 5e isD&D’s most popular and approachable edition, so it makes sense forD&D 2024to expand upon it rather than attempt to do something brand new. Having said this, a few distinct changes and additions inD&D 2024have been significant in some ways and controversial in others.
Many of the changes to classes and subclasses have been hit or miss, and these largely depend on the individual and their preferences, butWizards of the Coast did incorporate some popular house rules here and there, such as using a healing potion as a bonus action. This became such a popularhouse rule that it was even used forBG3,but one variant rule that didn’t make it into that game andD&D2024is flanking. It isn’t mentioned anywhere in the new books, and this is definitely for the best.
D&D 2024 Never Brought Back Flanking
And This Is For The Best
Flanking is nowhere to be seen in theD&D 2024booksand was an optional rule forD&D5e that proved controversial. The idea of the flanking rule is popular, although its implementation has caused some concern, and many tables have decided to drop it as a result.
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InD&D5e, if an enemy is flanked (two player characters are directly opposite one another with an enemy in between), theflanking attacker gets an advantage on their melee attack role. This rule only applies to melee attack rolls.
Flanking is a rule tucked away in 5e’sDungeon Master’s Guide.
Flanking was always an optional rule, and it was up to the DM to enforce it. WithD&D 2024’s backwards compatiblenature, implementing 5e’s flanking rules is easy enough and could be the reason why it hasn’t been written in the new books. Its exclusion, however, clearly indicatesthat Wizards of the Coast would rather tables not use this optional rule again, at least the way it functioned in 5e. This is for several reasons, one being balance and how it affected many encounters.
Flanking Is Fun In Concept, But It’s A Mess In D&D
It Is Far Too Easy To Exploit
Flanking is a great concept, although giving the melee attacker advantage on their roles is far too powerful and does make a rogue seem less useful by comparison. Getting advantage on their one attack per round is vital to a rogue’s playstyle, since this is how they benefit from sneak attack damage, and everyone getting advantage to their attacks makes a rogue’s hiding feel a little obsolete.Flanking also benefits melee attacks greatly while offering nothing to those attacking at a range, especially if these ranged attackers get flanked, skewing the balance ofD&Dtoward the melee characters.
Rogues can benefit from flanking and use the advantage given to deal more damage with their sneak attack.
Some flanking rules are better than the one in 5e. A popular alternative is giving the flanking attacker a +2 bonus to their weapon attack, offering them a bonus for good positioning while not being as overpowered as the 5e optional rule. This is somewhat similar toPathfinder 2e’s flanking rule,where a flanked enemy is considered’off-guard’and has a -2 penalty to their ACwhen they are attacked. Both rules are probably better for the game’s balance than giving attackers advantage whenever they flank their enemies.
Cutting Flanking Entirely Works Best For Everyone
Those Who Want Flanking Can Just Homebrew It
Although the concept is good, the way 5e used flanking was messy, and it is probably for the best if it iscut fromD&D 2024.Those new to the system won’t try to implement it and find it easily exploited, whilethose familiar withD&Dwill use whatever flanking rule they wish. Experienced tables might like the optional 5e rule or another version of flanking and can just homebrew it intoD&D 2024if they want to anyway. It stops newer tables from dealing with the mess 5e’s flanking rules can bring.
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Not all the changes brought in byD&D 2024have been well received, butremoving 5e’s flanking rules is definitely better forDungeons and Dragonsmoving forward. There is always the option for experienced groups to bring it back in some way, andD&D 2024could introduce an alternate version of it in the future, but for now, its removal will help new players. 5e’s flanking is too easy to exploit, skews the game toward melee weapon users, and probably isn’t something new players should have to deal with.
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
