Quote Originally Posted by da newt View Post
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So an attack is anything that you roll a D20 for and compare to AC - Some spells are attacks, but some use saving throws - anything with a saving throw isn't an attack it's a ------ (please fill in the blank)

Thanks again. I'm just jumping back into D&D - last time I played was in the 80s.
There are actually two attacks that don't use an attack roll bit an ability check.
Grapple and shove.

Grappling
When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple. If you're able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them.
Shoving a Creature
Using the Attack action, you can make a special melee attack to shove a creature, either to knock it prone or push it away from you. If you're able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them.
This is from the PHB. Chapter 9: Combat