Damage: Difference between revisions

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m (clarify wording; remove improvised weapon info that doesn't apply)
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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 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 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 can affect the total value of the roll.  For the damage of spell attacks, including [[Cantrips]], no such modifier exists, unless explicitly granted by a magical item or class feature.  For example, [[Agonizing Blast]] allows a [[Warlock]] to add their Charisma Modifier to the damage of [[Eldritch Blast]], and a weapon magically imbued with [[Shillelagh]] will use the Wisdom Modifier.
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]] system don't apply to Damage Rolls at all.
The [[Proficiency Bonus]] and [[Advantage]] mechanics don't apply to Damage Rolls.


=== Ability Score Modifier ===
=== Ability Score Modifier ===
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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.  Usually, it's Strength for melee weapons, and Dexterity for ranged weapons.  The exceptions are [[Finesse]] weapons, where the higher one of Strength and Dexterity will be used; and [[Thrown]] weapons, which use Strength for both melee and ranged attacks.  If a weapon is both Thrown and a Finesse weapon, it will use the higher of Strength and Dexterity both for melee and ranged attacks.
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:
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* 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; whichever the attacking creature has a higher score in.
* Throwing a [[Dagger]] (Finesse & Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength or Dexterity, whichever is higher.
 
If you use a weapon in a way it's not designed for at all, such as throwing a Maul at someone, or hitting someone over the head with a Longbow for a melee attack, then no Ability Score Modifier is applied at all.  That being said, [[Improvised Weapon Proficiency]] can negate this penalty.


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:
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