D&D 5E Ensnaring strike and surprise

[daimaru42]

If my ranger hits a monster while using Ensnaring Strike and the monster is taken by surprise, does it still get to make a strength check to escape or does it have to wait another turn until it is no longer surprised?

 

[Gladius Legis]

It can't take that Strength check without being able to take an action, so it'd have to wait another turn.

 

[Soul Stigma]

If my ranger hits a monster while using Ensnaring Strike and the monster is taken by surprise, does it still get to make a strength check to escape or does it have to wait another turn until it is no longer surprised?

Without double checking in books (none with me!) I'd say the creature waits until its initiative turn before trying to escape. If memory serves, the STR check is not a saving throw, so is not an instant reaction.


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[Hriston]

The monster makes a Strength saving throw on the ranger's turn to avoid being restrained. If the monster fails the save, it has to wait until its turn in round 2 when it is no longer surprised to make a Strength check to escape.

 

[Soul Stigma]

The monster makes a Strength saving throw on the ranger's turn to avoid being restrained. If the monster fails the save, it has to wait until its turn in round 2 when it is no longer surprised to make a Strength check to escape.

If there is a STR save, which I did not recall, saves are instantaneous.


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[daimaru42]

The monster makes a Strength saving throw on the ranger's turn to avoid being restrained. If the monster fails the save, it has to wait until its turn in round 2 when it is no longer surprised to make a Strength check to escape.

That makes sense. So, if the monster fails its saving throw, it would still take 1d6 piercing damage at the start of it's turn in round 1 even though, being surprised, it can't take action to escape? Then again in round 2 at the start of its turn?

 

[abirdcall]

A surprised creature still gets a turn.

They just can't take actions on that turn.

In this case they can't take an action to try to get free of the spell because they can't take any action.

 

[Hriston]

If there is a STR save, which I did not recall, saves are instantaneous.

There's both a save and (if applicable) an ability check. So your answer to the OP's question was correct!

That makes sense. So, if the monster fails its saving throw, it would still take 1d6 piercing damage at the start of it's turn in round 1 even though, being surprised, it can't take action to escape? Then again in round 2 at the start of its turn?

Yes, once it is restrained (because it fails the save), it takes damage twice before getting an opportunity to escape.