D&D 5E Auto Hits & Critical Hits

[Monk55]

Once upon a time, there was a thread (Difference between critical hit and automatic hits) examining whether, since a natural 20 auto hits and auto crits, a Champion fighter with Improved Critical rolling a 19 auto hits, even when the 19 would otherwise not hit (highly theoretical), because it is a critical hit. Both sides argued admirably! The tie seems to have been broken by a Mearls tweet saying that the 19 would auto hit. My question is this: Since assassins get auto crit with assassinate, does this mean they auto hit with assassinate?

 

[MG.0]

Once upon a time, there was a thread (Difference between critical hit and automatic hits) examining whether, since a natural 20 auto hits and auto crits, a Champion fighter with Improved Critical rolling a 19 auto hits, even when the 19 would otherwise not hit (highly theoretical), because it is a critical hit. Both sides argued admirably! The tie seems to have been broken by a Mearls tweet saying that the 19 would auto hit. My question is this: Since assassins get auto crit with assassinate, does this mean they auto hit with assassinate?

No.

 

[Monk55]

Then why would a Champion fighter get auto hit on a roll of 19 that would not otherwise hit, as Mearls indicates?

 

[Ahrimon]

One possibility is because he stilled rolled the attack and got a crit so it's an automatic hit. The assassin get's an automatic crit but he still has to roll to hit.

 

[thalmin]

In the Rogue's Assassinate paragraph, it states

In addition, any hit you score against a creature that is surprised is a critical hit.

It isn't a critical until you hit him.

 

[Monk55]

The Champion gets the auto hit precisely because he crits, the assassin does not get the auto hit even though he crits. Why the difference?

 

[Monk55]

Ahhh, thank you Thalmin!

 

[aramis erak]

In the Rogue's Assassinate paragraph, it states

It isn't a critical until you hit him.

Ahhh, thank you Thalmin!

Note also: against prone targets, any melee hit is a critical hit, but you still have to hit.

 

[Scorpio616]

Why the difference?

Because the text is different.

 

[Uller]

Note also: against prone targets, any melee hit is a critical hit, but you still have to hit.

Only the paralyzed and unconscious conditions cause this (if youare within 5 feet). Not prone. Prone just grants advantage.