On your turn in combat, you can do **a small number of things**. Understanding what you can do — and _when_ — is key to playing smoothly. #### The Core Rule (Read This First) > **On your turn, you usually get one Action, one possible Bonus Action, and movement. > Reactions happen outside your turn.** --- #### Action (Your Main Thing) An **Action** is the main thing you do on your turn. ##### Common Actions - **Attack** - **Cast a Spell** - **Dash** (move extra distance) - **Disengage** (move without opportunity attacks) - **Dodge** (harder to hit) - **Help** (give advantage) - **Hide** - **Use an Object** - **Ready** (explained below) You only get **one Action** per turn. --- #### Bonus Action A **Bonus Action** is something quick. Examples: - Rogue’s Cunning Action - Two-Weapon Fighting - Certain spells (e.g. Misty Step) You can only use **one Bonus Action per turn**. #### Movement (Free, but Limited) - You can move up to your speed - You can split movement before and after actions - Difficult terrain costs extra movement Movement does **not** use your action. #### Ready Action (Prepare Something) The **Ready Action** lets you prepare to act **later in the round**. ##### How Ready Works 1. Use your **Action** to ready 2. Choose: - **Trigger** (“If X happens…”) - **Response** (“I do Y”) 3. When the trigger occurs, you use your **Reaction** to act Example: > “If the door opens, I shoot the first thing through it.” Note: If the trigger never happens, the action is wasted. #### Reactions (Out of Turn) A **Reaction** is a quick response to something happening. ##### Key rules: - You get **one Reaction per round** - It resets at the start of your next turn - Happens **outside your turn** ##### Common Reactions - **Opportunity Attacks** - **Counterspell** - **Shield** - Readied actions triggering #### Casting Spells & Action Economy (Important!) If you cast a spell as a **Bonus Action**: - You **can’t cast another levelled spell** that turn - You can still cast a **cantrip** with your action Example: - Misty Step (Bonus Action) ✅ - Fire Bolt (Action cantrip) ✅ - Fireball (Magic Action) ❌ #### How It All Fits Together (Example Turn) > “I move behind the pillar, > cast Fire Bolt as my Action, > and use my Bonus Action to hide.” Later: > “When the enemy runs past me, I use my Reaction to make an opportunity attack.” #### DM Rule of Thumb > **If an ability says it uses an action type, it does — no substitutions.** #### Summary > **One action on your turn, bonus actions only if you have them, reactions happen outside your turn.** #### Quick Reference |Type|When|Limit| |---|---|---| |Action|Your turn|1| |Bonus Action|Your turn|Only if you have one| |Reaction|Outside turn|1 per round| |Ready|Uses Action|Costs Reaction to trigger|