Incapacitated
An incapacitated creature can’t take Actions, Bonus Actions, or Reactions.
Causes
Common Causes: the spell Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Harpies, Yolchols, Corpse Flowers,
Affected Groups
Why it matters to players: This is as close as you’ll get to a battlefield pause button. Its benefits are simple and straightforward: the target stops doing anything. Barring rider effects, all they can do is run for cover. This is particularly good for enemies with devastating attacks or have Reactions that protect them. When a target cannot take its action, it cannot take bonus actions either. You cannot Misty Step as a bonus action while Incapacitated.
This one often comes with additional rider effects. Tasha’s Hideous Laughter actually specifies that they fall prone and Hypnotic Pattern inflicts this condition on a whole slew of targets while also Charming them and reducing their movement to 0.
Why it matters to DMs: Read the terms on the abilities that Incapacitate carefully and communicate that in-game exceptionally well. A big part of good game design is counterplay, especially in D&D.
Understanding how a creature inflicts this condition and the ability of players to respond to it, either through the creative use of their abilities or preparation, makes these Incapacitating abilities a lot more exciting than “you have to sit there and wait till it wears off.”
This one often comes with additional rider effects. Tasha’s Hideous Laughter actually specifies that they fall prone and Hypnotic Pattern inflicts this condition on a whole slew of targets while also Charming them and reducing their movement to 0.
Why it matters to DMs: Read the terms on the abilities that Incapacitate carefully and communicate that in-game exceptionally well. A big part of good game design is counterplay, especially in D&D.
Understanding how a creature inflicts this condition and the ability of players to respond to it, either through the creative use of their abilities or preparation, makes these Incapacitating abilities a lot more exciting than “you have to sit there and wait till it wears off.”
