3,890
editsAd placeholder
Damage: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
clarify wording; remove improvised weapon info that doesn't apply
m (clarify wording; remove improvised weapon info that doesn't apply) |
|||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
A '''Damage Roll''' happens when the game wants to determine the damage done by a successful attack, area of effect spell, trap, and so on. It can involve one or many dice of any type. This is not to be confused with the [[Attack Roll]], which is a D20 roll deciding whether the attack hits at all. | A '''Damage Roll''' happens when the game wants to determine the damage done by a successful attack, area of effect spell, trap, and so on. It can involve one or many dice of any type. This is not to be confused with the [[Attack Roll]], which is a D20 roll deciding whether the attack hits at all. | ||
For example, a successful | For example, a successful attack with a [[Dagger]] leads to a D4 being rolled to determine the damage (referred to as 1d4) for a total damage of 1 to 4, and a successful attack with a [[Greatsword]] leads to two D6 being rolled (referred to as 2d6) for a total damage of 2 to 12. Being caught in a [[Fireball]] will cause 8d6 points of damage, though a successful [[Saving Throw]] can reduce it to half. | ||
== Modifiers == | == Modifiers == | ||
For [[Weapons|Weapon]] attacks, the attacking creature's [[Ability Score Modifier]] for Strength or Dexterity | For [[Weapons|Weapon]] attacks, the attacking creature's [[Ability Score Modifier]] for Strength or Dexterity is added as a bonus to the total value of the damage roll. For the damage of [[Spell]] attacks, no such modifier exists, unless explicitly granted by a magical item, spell, or class feature (such as the '''Agonizing Blast''' [[Eldritch Invocation]] for [[Warlock]]s). | ||
The [[Proficiency Bonus]] and [[Advantage]] | The [[Proficiency Bonus]] and [[Advantage]] mechanics don't apply to Damage Rolls. | ||
=== Ability Score Modifier === | === Ability Score Modifier === | ||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
A bonus or penalty may be applied to the result of the roll based on either Strength or Dexterity. For rolls involving multiple dice, such as 2d4, the dice are rolled together, and the modifier is applied to the total result, not to each die. | A bonus or penalty may be applied to the result of the roll based on either Strength or Dexterity. For rolls involving multiple dice, such as 2d4, the dice are rolled together, and the modifier is applied to the total result, not to each die. | ||
Whether Strength or Dexterity is used depends on the weapon | Whether Strength or Dexterity is used depends on the weapon: usually Strength for melee weapons and Dexterity for ranged weapons. The exceptions to this rule are [[Finesse]] weapons, which automatically select Strength or Dexterity, whichever score is higher; and [[Thrown]] weapons, which use Strength for both melee and ranged attacks. If a weapon is both Thrown and Finesse, it uses the higher of Strength and Dexterity for both melee and ranged attacks. | ||
Some examples, to make the possible combinations of Finesse and Thrown easier to understand: | Some examples, to make the possible combinations of Finesse and Thrown easier to understand: | ||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
* Shooting a [[Longbow]] for a ranged attack always uses Dexterity. | * Shooting a [[Longbow]] for a ranged attack always uses Dexterity. | ||
* Throwing a [[Handaxe]] (Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength. | * Throwing a [[Handaxe]] (Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength. | ||
* Throwing a [[Dagger]] (Finesse & Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength or Dexterity | * Throwing a [[Dagger]] (Finesse & Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength or Dexterity, whichever is higher. | ||
Whether it's Strength or Dexterity that ends up being used, the following table defines the value of the modifier: | Whether it's Strength or Dexterity that ends up being used, the following table defines the value of the modifier: | ||