Damage: Difference between revisions

''For a comprehensive summary of the mechanics behind all rolls and modifiers, see: [[Die Rolls]]''

For example, a successful hit with a [[Dagger]] will lead to a d4 being rolled to determine the damage (referred to as 1d4 damage), whereas a successful attack with a [[Greatsword]] will lead 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.

For attacks made with [[Weapons]], various [[Die Rolls#Modifiers|Modifiers]] can affect the total value of the roll, such as the attacking creature's Ability Score Modifier, Proficiency Bonus, or Advantage / Disadvantage.  For the damage of spell attacks, no such modifiers apply.

The Ability Score used for the Modifier of a weapon attack is either Strength or Dexterity, depending on the weapon.  Melee weapons use the Strength Modifier, unless they have the [[Finesse]] property (such as [[Dagger]] or [[Rapier]]), in which case Dexterity can be used instead.  The same rules apply to melee weapons with the [[Thrown]] property (such as [[Dagger]] or [[Handaxe]]) when they're thrown for a ranged attack: they use the Strength modifier, unless they have both Thrown and Finesse (such as [[Dagger]]), in which case Dexterity can be chosen again.  Regular ranged weapons (such as Bows and Crossbows) always use Dexterity.

For rolls involving multiple dice, such as 2d4, the multiple dice are rolled together, and this is considered a single roll insofar Modifiers are concerned. For example, the Proficiency Bonus will be applied to the total result of the 2d4 roll, not to each d4 roll.  Similarly, when Advantage applies, the entire 2d4 roll is done twice, and the higher of the two totals is taken.