Melee attack

Melee attacks occur when you strike an enemy within reach, usually 5 feet. To make a melee attack roll, you roll a d20 and add your Strength modifier (or Dexterity for finesse weapons), plus proficiency if applicable. If the result meets or exceeds the enemy’s AC, the attack hits.

Opportunity attacks are a core melee mechanic. If an enemy leaves your reach without disengaging, you may use your reaction to make a melee attack. This makes positioning extremely important and rewards frontline characters for controlling space.

Weapons come in many forms: simple, martial, light, heavy, finesse, reach, and more. Unarmed strikes allow you to attack without a weapon, and grappling allows you to restrain enemies instead of damaging them. Grapples use contested checks rather than attack rolls and are powerful tools for battlefield control

Melee attacks are the most common form of combat in D&D. They are reliable, consistent, and essential for controlling enemies. Characters with high HP and AC, such as Fighters, Paladins, and Barbarians, excel here because they can survive prolonged engagements.

Melee becomes unavoidable when enemies close the distance. At that point, opportunity attacks, positioning, and teamwork define the flow of combat. Frontline fighters protect weaker allies, block chokepoints, and force enemies into disadvantageous positions.