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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Paul Farquhar" data-source="post: 7794915" data-attributes="member: 6906155">The thing to remember about skill rolls is they only apply when success or failure is uncertain. Walking towards a guard down an empty corridor? No roll. Seeing a Shadow in a shadow? no roll.A Mimic does not need to make a skill roll to look like a chest. It automatically looks exactly like a chest, and no amount of perception or investigation will reveal otherwise.Now, a Shadow does not actually have the "False Appearance" trait in it's stat block, but stat blocks are just a guide, it's up to the DM to dictate the actual situation in the game world.Overall, it's unlikely that monsters will ever get the drop on players simply by sneaking (there is even a Sword of Warning in the DMG that makes it impossible) - always assume the party will spot the monsters unless they have some special ability or magical assistance. But that supports the notion that the PCs are heroes - you wouldn't expect to sneek up on Aragorn would you?It's quite common for success or failure to be automatic in 5e. For example the "researcher" feature allows the character to automatically find any book in the library - no skill roll needed.</blockquote>