Mounted Combat 5e (Dnd) – 5th Edition d&d (Guide) 2023

Mounted combat 5e offers you an upper hand when it comes to speed and mobility. You could be a knight on a horse, or a wizard on a griffon, or a cleric on top of a Pegasus. Any creature can become your mount as long as its at least one size larger than you and has proper anatomy for it. Another reason why this feature is quite beneficial is that attacking someone below you is much easier than vice versa.

More about mount 5e

Every player must keep at least 3 properties of a mount in mind, and they are as follows –

1. A willing creature – The foremost thing is to ensure that the animal is ready to be your mount as there aren’t any rules for involuntary mounts. You can use grappling rules, but it’d be risky.
2. At least one size larger than you – Whichever animal you choose, it must be one size larger than you, like a horse, mastiff, or a pony.
3. Appropriate anatomy – The correct anatomy is subjective because horses, ponies, mules and donkeys are all excellent as mounts. However, if you consider a Zebra, its bones are weak; therefore, they aren’t used in real life. Even real dogs can’t carry weight, but they do so in D&D. You can always rely on your DM in case of such a dilemma.

The mount should be able to carry the rider for an indefinite period. For the same reason, humanoids won’t make suitable mounts.

Drawbacks of 5e mounted combat

There aren’t many setbacks with this attribute, but here are the ones that you might face.

1. Your horse can’t trample other people because attacking in this way isn’t allowed. You can go for Trampling Charge, though, which would enable the warhorse to make a hoof attack.
2. They aren’t fit for rugged terrains as they’d get injured easily.
3. Their prices are pretty high.
4. You might be unable to afford the one you want either because they aren’t available or are for specific classes only.
5. Mounts would require basic care and a feeding routine to stay healthy; otherwise, they are worthless.
6. If they aren’t under training, then it might go against you in combat.
7. It’s easier to spot them due to their large size, and they might make unnecessary noise revealing your position to the enemy.
8. There are places where you can’t venture in with a horse, such as a ravine, rope bridges, ladders, caves, etc.
9. They are monsters’ favorite mean rendering them vulnerable.
10. A mount might refuse to go to a particular place because of the terrain, a foul smell, unholy magical vibes, etc.
11. Thieves, Bandits, and Indians consider them as valuable; thus, being a threat to them.

Benefits of having a mount

1. Similar to a real-life mount, you can carry much more weight. For instance, a riding horse can carry 480lb, and a 15-strength PC’s capacity is 75 lb.
2. You won’t have to walk long distances and feel fatigued; thus, preparing you for the fight.
3. It helps the slow, injured, and terrified players to move at the same speed as others.
4. Better visibility
5. They can be a good partner during a fight if you use their skills effectively.
6. Their keen senses would warn you of danger beforehand.
7. They’d act as a companion, so you don’t go insane with no one to talk to.
8. You appear as a force of nature and courage.
9. In dire situations, they could be an alternative for food.

Rules regarding mounting and dismounting

It’s necessary to follow the rules to the T when it comes to DnD mounted combat. So absorb these rules well into your mind to avoid any mistakes.

1. When your move begins, you can mount or dismount any creature within 5 feet of you, which would count as a movement and not an action. So you can’t use your movement to jump from one mount to another. Also, this would result in a movement equivalent to half of your speed. For instance, if your speed is 30 feet, then 15 feet of it would be utilized to mount a horse. As a result, if your speed is less than 15 or 0, you can’t mount.
2. If your mount moves due to an effect unwillingly like a grapple, shove, thunderwave, or a fall, for instance, then you must be victorious on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw; otherwise you’d fall off the mount and land prone within 5 feet of it. This will be problematic if you’re flying. Whatever the case, you must fall within 5 feet of your mount’s new position.
3. Similarly, if you’re knocked prone while mounted, then go ahead with the same saving throw. Your mount wouldn’t be affected if you’re prone; however, it’s unclear as to what would happen if you’re knocked prone, but you use the saving throw.
4. On the other hand, if your mount is knocked prone, you can use your Reaction to dismount it before it falls on your feet. Although, if you used an Opportunity attack or something before, then nothing can save you.

A pro tip – You can use half of your speed to reach the mount before climbing atop it. Once you’re on it, use your next turn to dismount and move half of your speed again.

Apart from these ways, a rider can also be dismounted by grappling, shoving or displacing them violently.

How does a mounted combat work DnD 5e?

A mount is controlled or left independent. Creatures such as a dragon act independently, whereas a mount, trained to allow a rider, is easier to manage. For instance, trained horses make suitable mounts while a dragon or other wild animal works independently, and you’re just dragged along with them.

Controlled mounts – When you mount a trained animal, it’d listen to your commands and can only use three actions: dash, disengage and dodge. Dash action 5e would allow you more movement, clear you to move without triggering Opportunity attacks. Whenever you don’t require the first two, your mount can dodge.

If your mount has action, then it’d also acquire bonus ones. However, warhorses still can’t trample opponents using Trampling Charge as an action. They can take reactions, though, to make an opportunity attack. Although controlling a mount is simple, one of its drawbacks is that it has limited features. For instance, a warhorse has CR ½ and doesn’t do more than a player with 18 Strength and a greatsword.

Another pro tip – You still have half of your movement left after mounting/dismounting. So you can climb onto your mount, move its entire movement, and dash. Or else, if you’re already mounted, then your mount can dash and use twice its speed. Afterward, you can dismount and move the rest of your speed.

It’d also be beneficial to restrict your mount’s actions. If they had already exhausted their action when they were mounted, then they can’t use it any further. On the other hand, if a rider dismounts before the mount has taken any action, their actions (dash, dodge, disengage) would anyway vanish. If you roll the initiative at the beginning of the turn, their initiative score returns. However, if they didn’t roll initiative, they must do it then and assume that result for their subsequent turn.

The benefits of a controlled mount are

1. You can control your mount without using an action.
2. If your mount is attacked, you can use protection.
3. The mount would act on your initiative, unlike an uncontrolled one, which has its own initiative.
4. You can use a Lance from a distance of 10 ft. without triggering any opportunity attacks if you aren’t in a dire situation. For instance, if your enemy has a reach weapon.
5. If you’re a Paladin, your extra attack doesn’t rely on your oath. Every Paladin acquires it. So you can move in > attack > move > attack > move the remaining speed.

You can use half your speed to mount and rely on the mount’s movement to reach the target and attack. Now use your mount’s disengage to leave without provoking the Opportunity Attack, if required.

Independent mounts – If this question is nagging you as well that “can you fight while mounted 5e?” here is the answer. The initiative order of an independent mount doesn’t change. A rider doesn’t influence the mount’s action, so it can move or do whatever it wants. They can flee from the battlefield, impulsively rush in to attack and eat the opponent, etc. Independent mounts can do anything against your wish.

These creatures have an above 5 intelligence and aren’t trained to accept a rider. For example, wild animals, dragons, and other party members. You can try to persuade your mount to work according to you, but it’d be an impossible task.

Some of the setbacks you’d face with an independent mount are –

1. You might be unable to do anything productive in combat.
2. You can’t reposition your mount because it doesn’t move on your turn. So you’d have to dismount and then reposition.
3. Mount rules 5e doesn’t allow you and your independent mount’s initiative scores close together. The DM can permit this, but it’d be counted as a house rule then. In the case of no such restrictions, you can try for your mount’s turn to happen before you so that when it’s your turn, he can position himself effectively.

Advantages of being a mounted combatant

When you’re mounted, there are certain benefits you gain such as –

1. You’d have the upper hand with melee attacks against unmounted opponents.
2. If an attack is meant for your mount, you can change its target to yourself.
3. If an effect that would allow your mount to take only half the damage after using the Dexterity save, then they’d face no harm if they succeed, or only take half the damage when it falls.
4. You’d have an option to distribute the damage.
5. A Paladin rider and its mount are bound telepathically within a one-mile radius. If they’re with you in battle, they will share all your buffs.

Opportunity Attacks while mounted

If a mount triggers an Opportunity attack, then the enemy can target either you or the mount. When you’re on a controlled creature, they’d most likely take the hit, whereas, in the case of an independent mount, they might make you the target. Controlled mounts understand that they have the three actions, including Disengage, but with an independent one, you can only hope.

Actions to use on a mount

There are a few actions you can use in the following ways when on DnD 5e mounts.

1. Spellcasting on the move – Spellcasters can cast spells while the mount disengages at a higher speed than your enemy. It’s especially beneficial in the case when your opponents don’t have ranged weapons.
2. Blitz – Some enemies focus solely on Ranged Attacks or Spellcasting and attempt to keep you at a distance since melee isn’t their strong point. Goblins, on the other hand, would keep attacking their opponent until they’re dead. Moreover, if you’re mounted, they can’t have a higher speed than you or maintain a distance; thus, leading to your opponent’s defeat.
3. Lance – One of the most easy-to-use weapons is this one, which you can wield in one hand, with a 10’ Reach, and deals 2d6 damage. The Reach of the weapon is essential because it enables you to attack an enemy outside of their threatened space. The best defense is a mount and the ability to attack someone without exposing yourself to a counter-attack.

To make this happen, you command your mount to dash while maintaining a 10 ft. distance from the enemy. So you can attack them while passing by and protecting yourself from an Opportunity Attack as well due to the distance. Afterwards end your movement far away from them so that they can’t catch up to you in the next turn.

You can buy an AC 11 or AC 16 Warhorse for 300 gp only, which is easy as you reach higher levels.

Paladin mount

A Paladin/Find Steed mount has unique features, which makes it one of the best mounts. Here are its attributes –

1. Their telepathic connection with you makes your coordination instinctive.
2. They are immortal creatures, and if they are killed, you can summon them back after a day when you prepare the Find Steed again.
3. A Paladin Mount has an intelligence of 6.
4. They are the most loyal creatures.

How do I keep my mount alive?

There are 3 ways to keep your mount alive –

1. Horse armor – Although horse armor costs a lot, it’d eventually come under your budget once you acquire more levels. Moreover, animals aren’t used to wearing armor, so it’d negatively impact their attack rolls, dexterity saves, and dexterity checks. AOE spells are the ones that can kill a rider and their mount.
2. Dodge – A mount’s default action is a dodge, and you should use it when you aren’t using disengage or dash.
3. Mounted combatant – Two-third of the rider’s task is to keep their mount alive. If the mounts use dodge, they will gain an advantage on dexterity saving throws, and if they succeed, they can ignore the AOEs.

How do I fight mounted enemies?

The best way to fight mounted enemies is to kill their mounts. Although enemies can redirect your attack to target them, that’d be foolish. If you use a Fireball, it’d be pretty valuable. Mounted combatants can grant Dexterity Saving Throws and Evasion to the mount, but a warhorse only possesses +1 dexterity saves, so your attack would still be advantageous. For instance, if a warhorse only has 19 hit points, you deal 38 damage, which is only possible with high-level spells.

Your second option is to separate the rider from its mount with Thunderwave, Lightning Lure, etc. however, if the rider and mount fall adjacent to each other, it wouldn’t be beneficial. A distance of even 5 feet would do because it’d take the enemy more movement and action to remount their mount.

How do feats affect mounted combat?

Here are a few feats that affect mounted combat –

1. Charger – It doesn’t go with mounted combat as it needs you and not your mount to use an action to dash.
2. Defensive duelist – If you don’t use Reaction frequently, then you can use this defensive strategy. It’s specifically helpful for when you take an attack meant for your mount.
3. Mounted combatant – The first bullet is considered the only offensive part in this feat. This inevitably means that you need a massive-sized mount. Medium-sized ones like ponies or mastiffs won’t do much good for this feat.

The second and third bullets are the ones that keep your mount alive, and this is essential since a mount’s basic capabilities won’t increase. A warhorse with CR ½ would be the same at level 1 and level 10. However, you shouldn’t worry about this if you take the hits.

FAQs

Conclusion

It might seem like a lot initially, but once you acquaint yourself with all the rules, it’d get much easier. Mounted combat 5e is one of the most valuable features in the game, and you can’t survive without in the battle for long. So give it a try.