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Hit points: Difference between revisions

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m (Added further example illustrating how Constitution modifier affects maximum HP)
(Verify the logic about new temp HP overwriting, or not, based on the *initial* value instead of the *current* value; I used Dark One's Blessing and False Life to confirm. Also add a few more scenarios around hit point maximums.)
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Taking damage affects how injured your character appears, with more cuts and bruises appearing as HP percentage drops.
Taking damage affects how injured your character appears, with more cuts and bruises appearing as HP percentage drops.


The maximum number of Hit Points possessed by a player character is primarily determined by their [[Class]]:
A character's Hit Point maximum is primarily determined by their [[Class]]. Martial classes have more, and spellcasters less.


* {{Class|Barbarian}}s start with 12 HP and gain +7 with every level up.
* {{Class|Barbarian}}s start with 12 HP and gain +7 with every level up.
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* {{Class|Sorcerer}}s and {{Class|Wizard}}s start with 6 HP and gain +4 with every level up.
* {{Class|Sorcerer}}s and {{Class|Wizard}}s start with 6 HP and gain +4 with every level up.


Characters also receive additional Hit Points equal to their {{Ability|Constitution}} [[Ability Score Modifier|modifier]] for each character level. For example a level 3 {{Class|Fighter}} with a Constitution Score of 15 and thus a modifier of +2 would have a Hit Point maximum of 10 + 6 + 6 + (+2 * 3) = 28. This also applies for negative Constitution modifiers, which reduce the maximum HP possessed by a character.
A character's {{Ability|Constitution}} [[Ability Score Modifier|modifier]] also affects their Hit Point maximum. At first level, and at every level thereafter, the character's Hit Point maximum increases by this value (or decreases, if the character's Constitution is less than 10).


The Hit Point maximum is adjusted up or down accordingly if a character's Constitution modifier changes. For example, if the Fighter with 28 HP above reaches level 4 and increases their Constitution using [[Ability Improvement]], raising their modifier to +3, their new max HP will be 10 + 6 + 6 + 6 + (+3 * 4) = 40.
For example, a level 1 [[Fighter]] with a Constitution of 15 has a Constitution modifier of +2, and therefore a Hit Point maximum of 10 + 2 = 12 HP. At level 2, this increases by 6 + 2 (from the Fighter and Constitution bonuses, respectively) for a total of 12 + 6 + 2 = 20 HP. At level 3, it increases by +8 again to 28 HP.


Characters cannot have fewer than zero Hit Points, or more than their Hit Point maximum, except for Temporary Hit Points.
By contrast, a level 1 [[Wizard]] with a Constitution of 8 has a Constitution modifier of -1, so their starting Hit Point maximum is only 6 - 1 = 5 HP. At level 2, it increases by 4 - 1 = 3, for a total of 8 HP. At level 3, it's another +3, up to 11 HP.
 
=== Changing the maximum ===
 
There are several ways that this basic Hit Point maximum can change:
* If a character's Constitution modifier changes, it changes the Hit Point maximum retroactively, as though they'd had this modifier from level 1.
** For example, take the level 3 Fighter from above, with a Hit Point maximum of 28 HP. When they reach level 4, they would normally add another +8 HP, for a total of 36 HP max. But say they take [[Ability Improvement]] as their Feat and increase their Constitution by 2, to 17. Now their Constitution modifier is +3, and their new Hit Point maximum is (10 + 3) + (6 + 3) + (6 + 3) + (6 + 3) = 40 HP. <p>At the same time, our Wizard takes the [[Elemental Adept]] Feat, so they gain their normal +3 HP, for a maximum of only 14 HP - barely a third of what the Fighter has at the same level!
** This also applies to temporary Constitution adjustments, like those granted by spells or items.
* Some spells adjust a target's Hit Point maximum - [[Aid]] increases it, while [[Harm]] decreases it.
* Some abilities add additional bonuses. For example, both [[Dwarven Toughness]] and [[Draconic Resilience]] increase the Hit Point maximum by 1 HP per level.
* Other conditions may also affect the Hit Point maximum, like [[Thoroughly_Stuffed_(Condition)|Thoroughly Stuffed]], which adds 12.
 
At level 10, [[Necromancy School|Necromancy School Wizards]] gain [[Inured to Undeath]] and cannot have their Hit Point maximum reduced.
 
=== Going below 0 HP ===
 
Characters cannot have fewer than zero Hit Points, or more than their Hit Point maximum.
 
Temporary Hit Points are not the same as Hit Points. They are a separate pool, and gaining or losing Temporary Hit Points does not affect your Hit Points or your Hit Point maximum.


==Temporary Hit Points==
==Temporary Hit Points==
'''Temporary Hit Points''' are additional Hit Points that are lost before your base Hit Points.
'''Temporary Hit Points''' are additional Hit Points that are lost before your base Hit Points.


You can only have one set of Temporary Hit Points at a time, and healing can't restore them. A second source of Temporary Hit Points will overwrite the first if the second gives more Temporary Hit Points than the first source's ''initial'' value, regardless of how much of that initial value remains.{{Verify}}
You can only have one set of Temporary Hit Points at a time, and healing can't restore them. A second source of Temporary Hit Points will overwrite the first if the second gives more Temporary Hit Points than the first source's ''initial'' value, regardless of how much of that initial value remains.


Example: Level 1 [[Heroism]] applies 5 Temporary Hit Points when cast, and again each turn until it expires; and Level 1 [[False Life]] gives a one-time 7 Temporary Hit Points. If you have Heroism on you, and then you use False Life, you will have 7 Temporary Hit Points instead of 5. If you take 4 damage, you will have 4/7 Temporary Hit Points, but Heroism's 5 will still not overwrite that, neither through its per-turn applications, nor if you receive another casting of Heroism. However, if you lose that remaining 4/7 Temporary Hit Points, the next per-turn application of Heroism (if it's still active) will give  you 5/5 Temporary Hit Points.
Example: Level 1 [[Heroism]] applies 5 Temporary Hit Points when cast, and again each turn until it expires; and Level 1 [[False Life]] gives a one-time 7 Temporary Hit Points. If you have Heroism on you, and then you use False Life, you will have 7 Temporary Hit Points instead of 5. If you take 4 damage, you will have 4/7 Temporary Hit Points, but Heroism's 5 will still not overwrite that, neither through its per-turn applications, nor if you receive another casting of Heroism. However, if you lose that remaining 4/7 Temporary Hit Points, the next per-turn application of Heroism (if it's still active) will give  you 5/5 Temporary Hit Points.

Revision as of 01:36, 4 October 2023

HP Icon.png

Hit Points (or HP) is a number representing a creature's life force, or an object's structural integrity. It indicates how much damage you or party members can take before being Downed, and how much damage creatures and items can take before being killed or destroyed.

Taking damage affects how injured your character appears, with more cuts and bruises appearing as HP percentage drops.

A character's Hit Point maximum is primarily determined by their Class. Martial classes have more, and spellcasters less.

A character's Constitution Constitution modifier also affects their Hit Point maximum. At first level, and at every level thereafter, the character's Hit Point maximum increases by this value (or decreases, if the character's Constitution is less than 10).

For example, a level 1 Fighter with a Constitution of 15 has a Constitution modifier of +2, and therefore a Hit Point maximum of 10 + 2 = 12 HP. At level 2, this increases by 6 + 2 (from the Fighter and Constitution bonuses, respectively) for a total of 12 + 6 + 2 = 20 HP. At level 3, it increases by +8 again to 28 HP.

By contrast, a level 1 Wizard with a Constitution of 8 has a Constitution modifier of -1, so their starting Hit Point maximum is only 6 - 1 = 5 HP. At level 2, it increases by 4 - 1 = 3, for a total of 8 HP. At level 3, it's another +3, up to 11 HP.

Changing the maximum

There are several ways that this basic Hit Point maximum can change:

  • If a character's Constitution modifier changes, it changes the Hit Point maximum retroactively, as though they'd had this modifier from level 1.
    • For example, take the level 3 Fighter from above, with a Hit Point maximum of 28 HP. When they reach level 4, they would normally add another +8 HP, for a total of 36 HP max. But say they take Ability Improvement as their Feat and increase their Constitution by 2, to 17. Now their Constitution modifier is +3, and their new Hit Point maximum is (10 + 3) + (6 + 3) + (6 + 3) + (6 + 3) = 40 HP.

      At the same time, our Wizard takes the Elemental Adept Feat, so they gain their normal +3 HP, for a maximum of only 14 HP - barely a third of what the Fighter has at the same level!

    • This also applies to temporary Constitution adjustments, like those granted by spells or items.
  • Some spells adjust a target's Hit Point maximum - Aid increases it, while Harm decreases it.
  • Some abilities add additional bonuses. For example, both Dwarven Toughness and Draconic Resilience increase the Hit Point maximum by 1 HP per level.
  • Other conditions may also affect the Hit Point maximum, like Thoroughly Stuffed, which adds 12.

At level 10, Necromancy School Wizards gain Inured to Undeath and cannot have their Hit Point maximum reduced.

Going below 0 HP

Characters cannot have fewer than zero Hit Points, or more than their Hit Point maximum.

Temporary Hit Points are not the same as Hit Points. They are a separate pool, and gaining or losing Temporary Hit Points does not affect your Hit Points or your Hit Point maximum.

Temporary Hit Points

Temporary Hit Points are additional Hit Points that are lost before your base Hit Points.

You can only have one set of Temporary Hit Points at a time, and healing can't restore them. A second source of Temporary Hit Points will overwrite the first if the second gives more Temporary Hit Points than the first source's initial value, regardless of how much of that initial value remains.

Example: Level 1 Heroism applies 5 Temporary Hit Points when cast, and again each turn until it expires; and Level 1 False Life gives a one-time 7 Temporary Hit Points. If you have Heroism on you, and then you use False Life, you will have 7 Temporary Hit Points instead of 5. If you take 4 damage, you will have 4/7 Temporary Hit Points, but Heroism's 5 will still not overwrite that, neither through its per-turn applications, nor if you receive another casting of Heroism. However, if you lose that remaining 4/7 Temporary Hit Points, the next per-turn application of Heroism (if it's still active) will give you 5/5 Temporary Hit Points.

Taking damage to your Temporary Hit Points will still cause a Concentration check (when Concentrating), even if the damage doesn't overflow into your base Hit Points.

Temporary Hit Points do not remove Downed and disappear after a Long Rest.


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