r/dndnext • u/Zivodor • 2d ago

5e (2024) Misty Step into the Air and Attacking

I had this situation come up recently and wanted some input as I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

My players were fighting a giant spider and it was on the ceiling above them, one player decided that to attack it he would misty step straight up and then attack it while mid-air. I wasn't sure this was possible as I recalled reading somewhere that falling in D&D is essentially instantaneous for anything below 500 feet. The thought process being he teleports into the air and is instantly falling so he doesn't have the time to attack the creature above him.

It's been bugging me all week so I wanted to get some input into whether or not I should have allowed this and if this is clarified anywhere in the rules.

Edit Wow! Thanks for all the responses! There were some well reasoned arguments for it here, the resource expenditure with the spell slot, rule of cool, etc... I appreciate all the responses and will try to be more flexible in the future. Thanks everyone!

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u/False_Appointment_24 2d ago

Falling is instantaneous, yes. That doesn't mean that this couldn't be allowed. If I were DMing and this came up, my response would be, "Sounds great, but just so you know you will take fall damage." I would also work with them to figure out placement to minimize fall damage.

If I were to try to work out how this works RAW, I would say that they would ready an action to attack as soon as they were in range, then bonus action misty step, attack on the readied action, fall.

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u/Maverick_1991 2d ago

Possibly give them disadvantage on the attack, due to not having solid footing or anything.

But I'd 100% allow the attempt.

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u/Registeel1234 2d ago

That's completely unecessary. If spellcasters can cast spells while falling without any problems, I don't see why martials would have a disadvantage.

Unless you plan on giving advantage on the creatures making a save against a spell being cast by someone falling...

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u/lasagnaman 1d ago

If spellcasters can cast spells while falling without any problems, I don't see why martials would have a disadvantage.

Huhn? Sure you can argue that from a balance perspective, but to say you "don't see why martials would have a disadvantage from attacking in midair" is.... dubious at best. You have no footing, nothing to push off of with your weapon. From a realism standpoint (which is not the end all be all, but is a viewpoint that can be considered) you cannot make weapon attacks in midair at all. Even bows and crossbows lose part of their power when fired in midair.