Flanking
When two opponents Threaten you from opposite sides, you are considered flanked. While flanked, you grant an Advantage to all opponents that are attacking you in Melee because it is difficult to effectively divide your attention between them. You continue to grant this advantage as long as your opponents threaten you from this position. You can be flanked multiple times, with increasing levels of advantage granted to the attacking creatures as described below.
Single Flanked
Two opponents threaten you from exact opposite sides. While these opponents continue to threaten you from this position, you grant all melee attackers a single advantage.
Double Flanked
You have been flanked twice, with two pairs of threatening creatures on exact opposite sides of you. You are now considered double flanked. While double flanked you grant two advantages to all opponents attacking in melee.
Triple Flanked
If you are flanked by three pairs of opponents, you are considered triple flanked. You grant three advantages to all melee opponents.
Surrounded
If you are flanked by four or more pairs of opponents, you are considered surrounded and grant four advantages to all melee opponents.
Focusing
While flanked, you may choose to focus your attention on one creature, ignoring any other opponents that are attacking you. If you focus on an opponent, you no longer grant advantage to that opponent. However, for the duration of the focus you grant an additional advantage to all other opponents. To focus on a creature, you must declare you are doing so on your turn as a free action. The focus then lasts until your next turn, or until you attack a creature other than the one you are focusing on.
Flanking Larger Creatures
It is more difficult to flank creatures that are larger than you. When you flank a creature of two size categories larger (or more), the flank level is reduced by one. The flank level is reduced even if only one of the flanking creatures is two size categories smaller than their opponent. Below are some examples of situations where creatures are flanking larger targets.
- A party of kobolds (small creatures) attacks an ogre (a large creature). Four of the kobolds move in, double flanking their opponent. The ogre whirls around, able to watch most of them due to his larger stature. The kobold's double flank is reduced to a single flank; therefore the ogre only grants one advantage to the attacking kobolds.
- Kasis, your small gnome companion, is attacking a vicious troll (a large creature). You (a medium sized human) run up to join in the foray, coming up behind the troll to flank with your ally. The troll throws his club towards you, while still keeping an eye on Kasis. Your single flank is reduced to none and the troll grants you no advantage.
- You come across Eclipse the Dragon (a gargantuan creature) in his lair. As you and five other human companions flank the creature, your triple flank is reduced to a double flank, and the dragon only grants two advantages to you and your companions attacking in melee.