Flat-footed is being especially vulnerable to attacks at the beginning of a battle. Characters are flat-footed until their first turns in the initiative cycle. A flat-footed creature loses its Dexterity, Tumble and Dodge bonuses to Armor Class (as well as penalties) and cannot make attacks of opportunity. By default, Uncanny Dodge does not avoid losing these bonuses.
Characters are considered flat-footed only when:
- They are performing a non-combat task.
- Not currently engaged in combat.
- Attacked by an undetected opponent.
- They are stunned, paralysed, or asleep.