"The creature prefers ambushes over direct combat" --Direct combat?

[VirgilCaine]

Several creature entries in the MM note that they prefer "direct combat" to ambushes.

Gee, I thought an ambush was direct combat, as opposed to just setting traps and hiding far away? Both sides shooting at one another? Isn't that pretty direct?

 

[Sarellion]

They probably meant open combat without ambush. The creature wh prefere open combat just stands in the middle of the road and says "Duel me!"

 

[IronWolf]

Ambushes are combat, but I think "they prefer "direct combat" to ambushes" refers to a creature that isn't going to try and be sneaky when attacking an enemy by setting up an ambush. They will have no pretenses with just wading in and being fully confrontational with said enemy.

 

[BOZ]

yep, just the difference between hidey sneaky guys, and guys that rush in and fight head-on.