Helpless


 * "Paralyzed, held, bound, sleeping, unconscious, or otherwise completely at an opponent’s mercy. A helpless target is treated as having a Dexterity of 0 (-5 modifier). Melee attacks against a helpless target are automatic critical hits. You can always hit a helpless creature unless you roll a 1 on your attack roll." —from the in-game glossary

A PC or NPC is helpless when it is asleep, held, or has any of its Abilities reduced to zero. Note that paralysis will prevent action but not cause this condition, contrary to one of the loading screens. No action can be taken, objects cannot be interacted with (not even rest shrines or chests), and inventory items cannot be moved, traded, equipped or consumed. Any hit against a helpless character counts as a sneak attack. Any hit against a helpless character before update 9 was automatically considered a critical hit. Now helpless mobs take an extra 50% damage from all sources(including spells) except sneak attacks and glancing blows but are not automatically critically hit. A critical hit can still occur if the attacker rolls in his threat range.

Often this is caused by a spell such as Hold Person or Sleep.

In the case of a Hold Person spell, casting Freedom of Movement will end this condition and prevent future Hold Person spells while it lasts.

If this is caused by attribute damage it can be cured by any restoration spell or heal. Attribute damage also recovers with time.