BLINDSIGHT AND BLINDSENSE
Some creatures have blindsight, the extraordinary ability to use a nonvisual sense (or a combination of such senses) to operate effectively without vision. Such sense may include sensitivity to vibrations, acute
scent, keen hearing, or echolocation. This ability makes
invisibility and
concealment (even magical
darkness) irrelevant to the creature (though it still can't see ethereal creatures). This ability operates out to a range specified in the creature description.
• Blindsight never allows a creature to distinguish color or visual contrast. A creature cannot read with blindsight.
• Blinding attacks do not penalize creatures using blindsight.
• Deafening attacks thwart blindsight if it relies on hearing.
• Blindsight works underwater but not in a vacuum.
• Blindsight negates displacement and blur effects.
Blindsense: Other creatures have
blindsense, a lesser ability that lets the creature notice things it cannot see, but without the precision of blindsight. The creature with
blindsense usually does not need to make
Spot or
Listen checks to notice and locate creatures within range of its
blindsense ability, provided that it has line of effect to that creature. Any opponent the creature cannot see has total
concealment (50% miss chance) against the creature with
blindsense, and the blindsensing creature still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have
concealment. Visibility still affects the
movement of a creature with
blindsense. A creature with
blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to
Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.