Are zombies "smart" enough to take AoO's?

[Lopke_Quasath]

Would a creature with no Intelligence take an AoO?

For example, a zombie ogre with 10ft reach: if a character tries to withdraw a normal ogre would get an AoO as the character leaves the second threatened 5ft square. Would a zombie ogre be "smart" enough to take advantage of this AoO?

Pro: Yes, the zombie ogre would take the AoO because it has a target still in reach.

Against: No, the zombie ogre would not take the AoO because it doesn't have the mental faculties to realize it has an advantage.


Are there any RAW to help clear this question? Is it made clear somewhere?
Is it DM's prerogative?

Cheers and thank you!

 

[MarkB]

A zombie who's trying to kill you will try to attack you whenever there's an opportunity to do so. Taking an AoO doesn't require being smart.

 

[cmrscorpio]

The way I see it, the rules of AoOs are just a way to describe a momentary lapse in defense. In a typical combat round, each character makes many jabs, thrusts, and parries. An AoO represents an attack that ordinarily wouldn't get through defenses, but due to special circumstances. An AoO is a moment of distraction where the defender momentarily takes his concentration away from the fight, and pays the price for it. It isn't necessarily a conscious decision on behalf of the attacker.

If anything, the intelligence would factor into a zombie (or anything else, for that matter) deciding *not* to take an AoO. Deciding to not take an AoO is a tactical decision based on the hope or belief that a more advantageous attack will be possible and that spending the energy to take advantage of a current weakness isn't the most wise course of action.

Personally, I play that a low Int or Wis creature *automatically* takes the first AoO that it is presented with. Only creatures approaching human intelligence and wisdom have the presence of mind to forgo an AoO in the hopes of making a more advantageous one later.

 

[Klaus]

Ditto

 

[irdeggman]

Animal intelligence creatures can take AoO so it is not really based on Intelligence. IMO it is more reflexive.

Heck a raging barbarian can take an AoO and they have very specific restrictions on using Intelligence - based actions.

 

[Someone]

What cmrscorpio said.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Ofc it would take the AoO. That said it would not be smart enough to save an AoO or not take one in some circumstances.
A mindless creature would always take the first AoO that presents itself in a round.

 

[Lopke_Quasath]

Cheers, thanks for the pretty much unanimous decisions.

 

[gnfnrf]

A mindless creature would always take the first AoO that presents itself in a round.

I would add "...that conforms to its instructions" to that. A golem ordered to attack only the spellcaster would take AoOs against only the spellcaster.

--
gnfnrf

 

[monboesen]

Actually I don't think I would let a Zombie take AOO since it is both mindless and slow*.


But that is a point of view based entirely on how I conceive Zombies and not in any way by the actual rules.



*For instance I would let the equally mindless Skeletons take AOO as they are quite fast in my minds eye.