D&D ThatOneDude’s D&D Forge Open the builder

Prone 5e condition

How the prone condition works in the 2014 rules (SRD 5.1) and the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2), what changed, and which spells and monsters cause it.

Jump to: 2014 rules · 2024 rules · What changed · Spells · Monsters

Prone in the 2014 rules (SRD 5.1)

Prone in the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2)

While you have the Prone condition, you experience the following effects.

Restricted Movement. Your only movement options are to crawl or to spend an amount of movement equal to half your Speed (round down) to right yourself and thereby end the condition. If your Speed is 0, you can't right yourself.

Attacks Affected. You have Disadvantage on attack rolls. An attack roll against you has Advantage if the attacker is within 5 feet of you. Otherwise, that attack roll has Disadvantage.

What changed in 2024

How Prone works

A prone creature is lying on the ground. It has disadvantage on its own attack rolls. Attacks against it have advantage if the attacker is within 5 feet of it, and disadvantage if the attacker is farther away. So knocking an enemy down helps your melee fighters and hurts your archers.

Dropping prone costs nothing. Standing up costs half your speed, 15 feet for a speed of 30, and you can’t stand if you don’t have enough movement left or your speed is 0. While prone you can only crawl, which costs 1 extra foot for every foot, or move by magic such as teleportation.

Knocking creatures down, and using it

What changed in 2024

Almost nothing at the table. The 2024 condition moves the standing-up rule into the condition itself: your only movement options are to crawl or to spend half your Speed (rounded down) to right yourself, and you can’t right yourself if your Speed is 0. The attack effects are the same.

Shoving changed along with grappling. In 2024 it’s an option of an Unarmed Strike: the target makes a Strength or Dexterity saving throw against DC 8 + your Strength modifier + your proficiency bonus, or is pushed 5 feet or knocked prone.

Common questions

Do ranged attacks against a prone creature have advantage?

No, disadvantage, unless the attacker is within 5 feet. An archer standing next to the prone target gets advantage from the condition but disadvantage for shooting while next to a hostile creature that can see it and isn’t incapacitated, so the two usually cancel.

How much movement does standing up cost?

Half your speed: 15 feet if your speed is 30, leaving you 15 to move. If your speed is 0, for example because you’re grappled, you can’t stand up at all.

Does standing up provoke an opportunity attack?

No. Opportunity attacks are provoked by leaving a creature’s reach, and standing up doesn’t move you anywhere.

Does prone affect saving throws?

No. Prone changes attack rolls and movement only. It doesn’t give disadvantage on Dexterity saves; that’s restrained.

Can a prone creature cast spells?

Yes, normally. Spell attacks have disadvantage like any other attack roll, but spells that call for a saving throw are unaffected.

What happens to a flying creature that’s knocked prone?

It falls, unless it can hover or is held up by magic such as the Fly spell.

Prone compared with similar conditions

ConditionHow it compares
RestrainedAdvantage for every attacker at any range, disadvantage on the creature’s attacks and Dexterity saves, and no moving at all.
GrappledSpeed 0 but no attack penalties in 2014. Combine the two and a prone creature can’t stand up.
BlindedAttackers have advantage from any distance, not just within 5 feet, and the creature attacks with disadvantage.
Hideous Laughter1st level: prone and incapacitated on a failed Wisdom save, and the target can’t stand up until it saves.

Spells and the prone condition

From the SRD 5.1 spells: 5 spells can leave a creature prone.

Spells that cause it

Monsters and the prone condition

Monsters whose attacks or traits cause it (59)

Monsters immune to it (25)

Rules that mention prone

Other conditions