Swashbuckler FAQ
How does Rakish Audacity change Sneak Attack?
Rakish Audacity allows a Swashbuckler to Sneak Attack a creature in a clean one-on-one melee situation: you must be within 5 feet of the target, no other creatures can be within 5 feet of you, and you cannot have disadvantage. It also adds your Charisma modifier to initiative. It does not remove the finesse/ranged weapon or once-per-turn Sneak Attack rules.
It is an additional way to qualify
The normal Sneak Attack methods still work. Rakish Audacity simply adds another qualifying situation.
The spacing condition is about creatures around you
The feature rewards isolation and dueling. Crowded melee can disable this special route, though normal ally-based Sneak Attack may then become available instead.
Disadvantage still blocks it
Rakish Audacity does not override the base Rogue rule that prevents Sneak Attack when the attack has disadvantage.
Fancy Footwork supports the duel
After making a melee attack, you can usually step away from that creature without provoking from it. This makes it easier to choose a new duel or protect yourself between turns.
Charisma has real mechanical value
Adding Charisma to initiative and using Panache later means a Swashbuckler gains more from Charisma than most Rogue archetypes.