In this series, I am sharing my research result about a specific aspect of 5E Rule. In this first of the series, my question was “Can multiattack trigger extra attack?”
What is this series for?
When game is played in DM-less mode, I am the DM. For me, this makes following the official rule as close as possible is of paramount. Otherwise, I feel either conscious or unconsciously cheating the system and make the game easier or harder than it should be. The amount of rule in 5E exceeds any other tabletop adventure board games. This means searching all information on various sources can be a time intensive task its own, but even with such details, due to complexity of the game rules, there could be some ambiguities and perhaps what may appear discordance. In this series, I share my research about certain aspects of 5E rule that confused me and required me to investigate. It is primarily created for myself for note taking but I hope this would be helpful to some that are facing the same situation as I did.
Answer
No. It does not trigger extra attack.
The character can either perform single multi-attack action or use an attack action to trigger extra attack, but not both.
Situation
This particular scenario arose in D&D essential kit adventure, Dragon of Icespire Peak. My character is a fighter class. During one of encounter he was bitten by a wererat. In D&D 5E, lycanthrope creature biting could make the character into lycanthrope.
Lycanthrope creature has Multiattack. When my character reached level 5, he acquired “Extra Attack” feature. Both allows the character to make additional attacks in every turn.
Does this mean my lycanthrope fighter can now attack 2 x 2 = 4 times each turn?
Background
A character who becomes a lycanthrope retains his or her statistics except as specified by lycanthrope type. The character gains the lycanthrope’s speeds in nonhumanoid form, damage immunities, traits, and actions that don’t involve equipment. The character is proficient with the lycanthrope’s natural attacks, such as its bite or claws, which deal damage as shown in the lycanthrope’s statistics. The character can’t speak while in animal form.
Monster Manual (p207)
First, we need to make sure that the situation as I described can really occur i.e. fighter can get multi-attack.
A creature that can make multiple attacks on its turn has the Multiattack ability. A creature can’t use Multiattack when making an opportunity attack, which must be a single melee attack.
Monster Manual Introduction – Multiattack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Basic Rule Chapter 3: Classes – Extra Attack
Assessment
The key information here is that Multiattack is a type of action, which is clearly depicted in the stat block as being entry under Actions.
Now, Extra Attack description states “whenever you take the Attack action” for it to have trigger.
Keep in mind that the grappling rule in the Player’s Handbook requires the Attack action, so a creature must take that action—rather than Multiattack or another action in the creature’s stat block—when it uses that rule. A monster, such as a roper, that has a special grappling attack doesn’t follow that rule when using its special attack.
Sage Advise Compendium
The above is from official D&D 5E errata. Although it is referring to some other action, the statement explicitly says Attack action is different from Multiattack action.
Therefore, Multiattack action will not trigger Extra Attack.
References
- D&D Basic Rule
- D&D Monster Manual
- Stack Exchange