Incapacitated 5e

Incapacitated is a badly named condition that confuses lots of players. So how does incapacitated in 5e work?

“The Wizard took a heavy blow and lost all her will. But she still had her wits about her and could shuffle along. We draped her around our shoulders and whispered stories til the wee hours to keep her mind active until we found her asleep in our arms.”

What does Incapacitated mean in 5e?

Incapacitated is the lowest rung of the “impaired” conditions ladder in 5e. 

• Incapacitated creatures can’t act or react.
• Stunned creatures can’t act, react, or move.
• Paralyzed creatures can’t act, react, move, or speak.
• Petrified creatures can’t act, react, move, speak, or be aware of their surroundings.
• Unconscious creatures can’t act, react, move, speak, be aware of their surroundings, or hold anything.

Being incapacitated by itself does not give opponents advantage against you, like the other conditions listed above do. Incapacitated also does not fail Dexterity or Strength throws automatically, as the other conditions listed above do. Incapacitated also does not give auto crits within 5 feet of you, like Paralyzed and Unconscious do. 

Movement speed and Actions are separate things in 5e. If you’re incapacitated, you can’t take actions or reactions, but you can move and speak. If your “movement” is really an action like Dodge or Hide, or a reaction to an Action someone else takes, you can’t do it. But, you can use the “movement speed” of your character while Incapacitated.

You are basically useless while incapacitated in 5e, except for moving and speaking. This is a bit different from the real-life definition of incapacitated, which is being drained of power and strength and unable to function normally.

Here’s a table comparing abilities during conditions such as Incapacitated in 5e:

Here’s a table comparing vulnerabilities during conditions such as Incapacitated in 5e:

What are the conditions for incapacitated 5e?

The only conditions for incapacitated by itself in 5e are that you can’t take actions or reactions. You don’t automatically fail any saves, or get advantage against you. Enemies can make you incapacitated through spells, feats, and other innate abilities, and you can do the same to enemies. But making a creature incapacitated usually also inflicts another condition or status effect.

Remember that in 5e, the Paralyzed, Petrified, Stunned, or Unconscious conditions have the Incapacitated condition embedded within them. If you are incapacitated, you are usually one of these other conditions too. And most of the time, incapacitated states bring along another undesirable effect. It’s rare to just be Incapacitated and nothing else in 5e, but it happens.

Incapacitated in 5e with no other conditions:

Fighter: Arcane Archer’s Banishing Arrow. “While banished in this way, the target’s speed is 0, and it is incapacitated.”

Banishing Smite, and Banishment. (Cleric, Paladins, Sorcerers, Warlock, and Wizards) While banished, the target is incapacitated.

The symbol spell. (Bards, Clerics, Wizards) Under the effect Pain, this spell states: “Each target must make a Constitution saving throw and becomes incapacitated with excruciating pain for 1 minute on a failed save.“

The Wind Walk spell. (Druids) Reverting to normal form takes 1 minute, during which time a creature is incapacitated and can’t move.

The Tomb of Levistus Eldritch Invocation. (Warlocks) (Xanathar’s Guide to Everything) (Prerequisite: 5th level) After entombing yourself, when you take damage “you gain vulnerability to fire damage, your speed is reduced to 0, and you are incapacitated.“

Short Term Madness. (Dungeon Master’s Guide) The character becomes incapacitated and spends the duration screaming, laughing, or weeping.

Wild Magic Sorcerer’s Wild Magic Surge.  You turn into a potted plant until the start of your next turn. While a plant, you are incapacitated and have vulnerability to all damage. 

Tasha’s Hideous Laughter. (Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything) “The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or fall prone, becoming incapacitated and unable to stand up for the duration.”

Feign death. (Bards, Clerics, Druids, Wizards)“The target is blinded and incapacitated, and its speed drops to 0.”

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GameCows Tip: If you think your party will be attacked while sleeping (and thus incapacitated): yell, whoop, bang some pots! Xanathar’s Guide to Everything states “a sudden loud noise — such as yelling, thunder, or a ringing bell — also awakens someone that is sleeping naturally.” Hopefully, it’s not a false alarm.

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Incapacitated 5e FAQs

What is the difference between unconscious and incapacitated in 5e?

Unconscious means you can’t move or speak, are unaware of surroundings, drop everything, and fall prone. Incapacitated means you can’t act or react. Going unconscious in 5e makes you become incapacitated, but becoming incapacitated doesn’t make you go unconscious. Going unconscious also means you are in danger of dying if not stabilized or healed.

Can you bonus action while incapacitated?

No, the Incapacitated 5e bonus action rule is that an incapacitated character cannot take bonus actions. Page 189 of the Player’s Handbook states “Anything that deprives you of your ability to take actions also prevents you from taking a bonus action.” Incapacitated deprives you of your ability to take actions.

Can you maintain concentration while incapacitated in 5e?

No, the incapacitated 5e concentration rule is that you lose concentration when incapacitated. Under the factors that can break concentration, page 203 of the Player’s Handbook lists: “Being incapacitated or killed. You lose concentration on a spell if you are incapacitated or if you die.”

Can an incapacitated creature still move?

Yes, you can crawl, climb, jump, and even run while incapacitated. You cannot Dash, however, as Dash is a bonus action, and being incapacitated deprives you of all Actions. You also cannot Misty Step, teleport, or any other “movement” that falls under Actions or Bonus actions.

Can an incapacitated creature speak?

Yes, an incapacitated creature can speak in 5e, which during combat means “brief utterances and gestures”. If you are stunned, you can only speak falteringly. You generally cannot speak for more than 6 seconds during combat while incapacitated, or more than a few sentences. You can also not speak telepathically while incapacitated, and current telepathic communication is terminated. 

Does incapacitated stop legendary actions?

Yes, if any creature becomes incapacitated, it cannot perform actions, including legendary actions. Incapacitated creatures in 5e cannot perform any actions whatsoever.

Can an incapacitated creature make a save?

Yes, an incapacitated creature can still make a save in the 5e in the rules as written, but depending on context, your DM may give you disadvantage on the saving throw. For example, if you are Incapacitated from a bout of Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, your DM might give disadvantage on an Intelligence saving throw from a Mind Flayer’s Mind Blast.

Does incapacitated mean advantage?

No, opponents do not get advantage against you when you’re incapacitated in 5e. If you are just incapacitated and the spell or attack you were hit with says you can’t move or your speed is reduced to 0, you’ll just have to defend from where you are.

Does sleep count as incapacitated?

Yes, according to the Dungeon Master’s Guide on page 248, Sleeping creatures (whether by magic or naturally sleeping) are considered unconscious, which has incapacitated condition nested within it. This means attackers get advantage and auto crit within 5 feet of sleeping targets in 5e. 

Can you be immune to incapacitated 5e?

There’s no way to be immune to incapacitated in 5e except attuning to the wondrous artifact Mighty Servant of Leuk-o, a 10-foot tall machine that is immune to all conditions except invisible and prone. In this scenario, you would not yourself become immune to incapacitated, but only immune to incapacitated while controlling the huge animated construct.

Can you take reactions while incapacitated?

No, you can’t take reactions while incapacitated in 5e. Reactions are a game mechanic that is a response to a trigger of some kind and are usually significant and action-like, such as Opportunity attack, Shield, or Counterspell. If you’re incapacitated you aren’t allowed to have such drastic reactions.

Is incapacitated an auto crit in 5e?

No, unlike Paralyzed and Unconscious, incapacitated does not grant auto crits within 5 feet in 5e. 

If you still have the capacity, brush up on other DnD conditions like: Frightened 5e, Charmed 5e, and Prone 5e.