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Monks gain the Empty Body feature (PHB, page 79):

Beginning at 18th level, you can use your action to spend 4 ki points to become invisible for 1 minute. During that time, you also have resistance to all damage but force damage.

(...)

Confusion

"During that time" is a bit ambiguous to me. It implies that it's connected to the duration of one minute, but not necessarily to being invisible yet it isn't clear. However, this description doesn't mention any saves or concentration required for staying invisible, after taking damage for example. But since monks are all about controlling their own body and mind, it would make sense to me to become visible at will.

Is it possible to break the invisibility while keeping the resistances?

If so, how?

Being invisible for a minute can be handy, but as the sole frontliner of our party (bard, mystic, sorcerer) it's not always preferable in combat. Often I actually want the enemies to see me, but I wouldn't mind the resistances.

For this question I'm only interested in the RAW.

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    \$\begingroup\$ @Deceptecium That third long comment didn’t have anything to do with helping manage the content of the post, and instead appeared to be offering advice for the situation, which isn’t what comments are for and it has been removed. See this FAQ for more. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 20:13
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    \$\begingroup\$ Why is invisibility undesirable for a front liner? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 20:40
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    \$\begingroup\$ @DerekStucki Smarter enemies could figure that chasing down the invisible guy wouldn't be the best move in battle. Instead they would focus down my allies, which defeats my purpose in that scenario. But the answers show me there is some ways of actually using the invisibility in our favour, and I see more options. So it doesn't have to be undesirable. \$\endgroup\$
    – Vadruk
    Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 20:47
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    \$\begingroup\$ Somewhat related on How to guess the location of invisible enemies and knowing where something invisible is. \$\endgroup\$
    – NotArch
    Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 20:48

2 Answers 2

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Strictly RAW

You become invisible for 1 minute. This is not like the invisibility spell; it is the invisible condition.

Invisible

  • An invisible creature is impossible to see without the aid of magic or a special sense. For the purpose of hiding the creature is heavily obscured. The creature's location can be detected by any noise it makes or any tracks it leaves.

  • Any attack rolls against the creature have disadvantage and the creature's attack rolls have advantage.

There is no concentration. There is no using an action to end it by RAW. Attacking does not end it. And it lasts 1 minute. During that time you have resistance to all damage but force.

It is not possible without DM permission to be visible. However, the enemy can still know where you are based off sound so just make sure the enemies hear you as you attack them. Thus you get resistance and it's hard to hit you.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Thanks a lot, and welcome to the site! :) Could you please share the source of your quote? I found it on my DM screen. It's useful to share that kind of information. \$\endgroup\$
    – Vadruk
    Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 20:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ I would suppose that once you start attacking, the enemies will know where you are based on the wounds appearing on their fellows. \$\endgroup\$
    – Brilliand
    Commented Jan 29, 2019 at 0:08
  • \$\begingroup\$ @vadruk don't know exact page will look and edit in when home but phb has a condition section near back \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 29, 2019 at 0:13
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    \$\begingroup\$ It's in Appendix A: Conditions on p. 291. It's also in the basic rules, which I've added a link to (on D&D Beyond). \$\endgroup\$
    – V2Blast
    Commented Jan 29, 2019 at 0:28
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    \$\begingroup\$ Yes you can. You can use faerie fire, and it isn't RAW but someone could toss a bag of flour at you \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 29, 2019 at 5:32
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"During that time" is ambiguous and up to DM interpretation.

It could be interpreted as "During the time you are invisible", but it could also be interpreted as "During that minute" and I cannot find a substantial reason to favor one interpretation over another.

Either way, Empty Body does not include a way to end its effects early, let alone end just one of the effects. However, in some specific circumstances a monk may be visible to all or some creatures even while the monk benefits from Empty Body's resistances.

Methods that work with "During the time you are invisible"

These methods involve negating the benefits of being invisible, without removing or suppressing the invisible condition, so a monk would still benefit from Empty Body's resistances. Here are two examples:

  • Special senses such as truesight1 and blindsight2 allow a creature to perceive invisible creatures as though they were visible.
  • Faerie fire3 makes the monk unable to benefit from being invisible.

Methods that work with "During that minute"

These methods include all the above methods, plus any method that removes or suppresses the invisible condition. Here is one example:

  • A Lantern of Revealing4 makes invisible creatures within its light visible.

  1. PHB, page 185:

    A creature with truesight can, out to a specific range, see in normal and magical darkness, see invisible creatures and objects, automatically detect visual illusions and succeed on saving throws against them, and perceives the original form of a shapechanger or a creature that is transformed by magic. Furthermore, the creature can see into the Ethereal Plane.

  2. PHB, page 183:

    A creature with blindsight can perceive its surroundings without relying on sight, within a specific radius. Creatures without eyes, such as oozes, and creatures with echolocation or heightened senses, such as bats and true dragons, have this sense.

  3. PHB, page 239:

    Any attack roll against an affected creature or object has advantage if the attacker can see it, and the affected creature or object can't benefit from being invisible.

  4. DMG, page 179:

    While lit, this hooded lantern burns for 6 hours on 1 pint of oil, shedding bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet. Invisible creatures and objects are visible as long as they are in the lantern's bright light. You can use an action to lower the hood, reducing the light to dim light in a 5-foot radius.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Not ending effects within a given methodology is discussed in this sage advice. Might be a nice addition to support the statement. \$\endgroup\$
    – NotArch
    Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 20:45
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    \$\begingroup\$ @NautArch I appreciate it, but unfortunately that sage advice is specifically for spells and Empty Body doesn't involve spells. \$\endgroup\$
    – Ruse
    Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 20:58
  • \$\begingroup\$ Good point - although I now I wonder if they've talked about class abilities and ending things early :) \$\endgroup\$
    – NotArch
    Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 21:00
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    \$\begingroup\$ Could you please add citations for your quotes? Thanks! \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 28, 2019 at 21:48

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