Stunned vs paralyzed
Stunned is paralyzed without the automatic critical hits. Both incapacitate, both auto-fail Strength and Dexterity saves, and both give attackers advantage. Only paralyzed (and unconscious) turn hits from within 5 feet into crits.
What causes stunned
- •Monk's Stunning Strike (level 5): spend 1 ki/focus point when you hit; the target makes a Constitution save.
- •2014: on a failed save, stunned until the end of your next turn. Any melee weapon attack can trigger it.
- •2024: on a failed save, stunned until the start of your next turn. On a success, the target's speed is halved and the next attack against it has advantage. It works with a monk weapon or unarmed strike, once per turn.
- •Power Word Stun (8th level): no save to resist if the target has 150 hit points or fewer; it repeats a Constitution save at the end of each of its turns. In 2024, a target over 150 HP has speed 0 until the start of your next turn instead.
- •Otyugh's Tentacle Slam: grappled creatures make a Constitution save or are stunned until the end of the otyugh's next turn.
- •Vrock's Stunning Screech (2014): Constitution save or stunned until the end of the vrock's next turn.
- •Contagion (2014 only): the Slimy Doom disease stuns the target until the end of its next turn whenever it takes damage.
- •Symbol (7th level): the Stunning glyph.
How to end stunned
- •Wait it out. Most stuns last until the end or start of the attacker's next turn.
- •Repeat the save for longer effects like Power Word Stun.
- •Paladin, level 14 (2024): Restoring Touch removes stunned through Lay On Hands.
- •Lesser Restoration does not end stunned. It only covers blinded, deafened, paralyzed and poisoned.
Common rulings and edge cases
- •Concentration ends. Stunned includes incapacitated, which breaks concentration. Stunning a caster is one of the best ways to end their spell.
- •Legendary resistance and stunned. A monster with Legendary Resistance can choose to succeed on the Constitution save, which is why Stunning Strike often bounces off bosses at first.
- •Legendary actions stop too. Both editions say a monster can't take legendary actions while incapacitated.
- •Dexterity saves fail automatically. A stunned creature caught in a Fireball takes full damage. In 2024, Evasion doesn't help because it stops working while you're incapacitated; in 2014, Evasion still halves the damage on the failed save.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does stunned last in 5e?
It depends on the source. Stunning Strike lasts until the end of the monk's next turn (2014) or the start of the monk's next turn (2024). Power Word Stun lasts until the target succeeds on a Constitution save at the end of one of its turns.
Can a stunned creature move?
In 2014, no: the condition says it can't move. The 2024 stunned condition doesn't include that line, so a stunned creature can still move unless something else reduces its speed.
Do attacks against a stunned creature crit automatically?
No. They have advantage, but only paralyzed and unconscious creatures take automatic critical hits from attackers within 5 feet.
Can a stunned creature take reactions?
No. Stunned includes incapacitated, which removes actions and reactions (and bonus actions in 2024). No opportunity attacks, no Shield spell, no Counterspell.
Does stunned break concentration?
Yes, in both editions, because a stunned creature is incapacitated.
Rules checked against the D&D 5e SRD 5.1 (2014) and SRD 5.2.1 (2024).