D&D Dice Explained: What Each Die Does and How to Use It

A set of Dungeons & Dragons dice can look a little unusual when you first open the bag. Alongside the familiar six-sided die, you will find pyramids, diamonds and shapes with more sides than you might reasonably expect a die to need.

The good news is that D&D dice are much easier to understand than they first appear. Each die is named after its number of sides, and the rules or your character sheet will normally tell you exactly which one to roll.

In this guide, we will explain what comes in a standard D&D dice set, what each die is commonly used for and how to read expressions such as 2d6 or 1d20 + 4.

If you are completely new to the game, our guide to what Dungeons & Dragons is and how you play is a helpful place to begin.

What dice do you need for D&D?

A standard D&D dice set contains seven polyhedral dice:

• One four-sided die, called a d4
• One six-sided die, called a d6
• One eight-sided die, called a d8
• Two ten-sided dice, normally a d10 and a percentile die
• One twelve-sided die, called a d12
• One twenty-sided die, called a d20

The letter “d” simply means die or dice. The number tells you how many sides the die has. A d8 is therefore an eight-sided die, while a d20 has twenty sides.

One complete set is enough for a new player. As you become more familiar with your character, you may find it convenient to have extra copies of the dice you use most often.

How do you read D&D dice notation?

D&D rules use short expressions to tell you what to roll. If an attack deals 1d8 damage, roll one eight-sided die. If a spell deals 3d6 damage, roll three six-sided dice and add their results together.

You may also see a modifier after the dice. For example, 1d20 + 5 means that you roll a twenty-sided die and add five to the result.

• 1d4 means roll one d4.
• 2d6 means roll two d6s and add them together.
• 1d8 + 3 means roll one d8 and add three.
• 4d10 means roll four d10s and add all four results.

Your character sheet, weapon description, spell or adventure will tell you which dice and modifiers apply.

What is a d20 used for?

The d20 is the die you will probably roll most often. It is used when the outcome of an action is uncertain and the game needs to decide whether you succeed.

The three main types of d20 roll are:

• Ability checks, such as trying to climb a wall, search a room or persuade a guard.
• Attack rolls, which determine whether an attack hits its target.
• Saving throws, which help determine whether your character resists or avoids a dangerous effect.

You normally roll the d20, add the relevant modifier from your character sheet and compare the total with a target number.

What happens when you roll a natural 20?

A natural 20 means the d20 itself shows 20 before any modifiers are added. When you roll a natural 20 on an attack roll, the attack hits and becomes a critical hit. A natural 1 on an attack roll automatically misses.

Natural 20s and natural 1s do not automatically succeed or fail on ordinary ability checks. The Dungeon Master still compares the final result with the required Difficulty Class. Some groups enjoy adding their own dramatic results, but that is a house rule rather than the standard rule.

What are advantage and disadvantage?

When you have advantage, you roll two d20s and use the higher result. With disadvantage, you roll two and use the lower result. You can roll the same d20 twice if you only own one, although having a second d20 makes the process quicker.

What is a d12 used for?

The d12 is associated with some of the heaviest attacks and toughest characters in D&D. A greataxe traditionally uses a d12 for its damage, while the barbarian uses a d12 as its Hit Die. Adventures and monster abilities may use d12s for other powerful effects too.

You may not roll your d12 as frequently as your d20 or d6, but it tends to appear when something substantial is happening.

What is a d10 used for?

A d10 is a ten-sided die, usually numbered from 0 to 9. When you roll it on its own, the 0 normally represents 10.

D10s are used for weapon damage, spell damage, class Hit Dice and other effects. A heavy crossbow, for example, deals damage using a d10, while spells such as Eldritch Blast also use one or more d10s.

Your set will normally include a second ten-sided die marked 00, 10, 20 and so on. This is the percentile die, which works with the ordinary d10 to produce a result from 1 to 100.

How do percentile dice work?

To make a percentile roll, roll the two ten-sided dice together. The percentile die provides the tens digit and the ordinary d10 provides the units digit. A roll of 40 and 7 gives you 47. A result of 00 and 0 represents 100.

Percentile rolls are often used with random tables. A Dungeon Master might use one to determine treasure, an encounter or an unexpected event. Certain character features and magical effects may also ask for a percentile roll.

What is a d8 used for?

The d8 appears regularly in weapon damage, healing and character Hit Dice. Weapons such as longswords and rapiers commonly use a d8 for their damage. Clerics, druids, monks, rogues and warlocks also use d8 Hit Dice under the current rules.

Healing effects frequently use d8s too. The revised Cure Wounds spell, for example, uses multiple d8s, with the number increasing when the spell is cast at a higher level.

What is a d6 used for?

The d6 is the familiar cube found in many traditional games, but it has plenty of important jobs in D&D.

Shortswords and some other weapons use d6s for damage. A rogue’s Sneak Attack adds increasing numbers of d6s as the character gains levels, while spells such as Fireball can require a sizeable handful.

D6s may also be used when creating character ability scores, depending on the method your group chooses. Because effects often ask for several d6s at once, this is one of the first dice that many players begin collecting in larger quantities.

What is a d4 used for?

The d4 is the small pyramid-shaped die. It does not travel far when rolled, but it appears in several familiar attacks, spells and items.

Daggers use a d4 for damage. The Bless spell adds a d4 to certain rolls, while Magic Missile uses d4s to determine damage. Standard Potions of Healing also use d4s when calculating the number of Hit Points restored.

A d4 can be awkward to pick up and surprisingly uncomfortable to step on, so a dice tray is a useful way to keep it on the table.

Do you need more than one set of D&D dice?

One seven-piece set is enough to begin playing. You can always roll the same die several times when an effect calls for multiple dice.

Additional sets are useful rather than essential. They allow you to roll several damage dice together, keep different characters’ dice separate or simply choose colours that suit a favourite character.

The Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set already includes the dice needed for its guided adventures, making it a particularly convenient introduction for a completely new group.

If you are deciding what else you need, our D&D beginner’s buying guide explains which items are essential and which can wait until later.

A complete introduction to D&D

How should you choose a set of D&D dice?

The best dice are the ones you can read easily and enjoy using. Before choosing a set, consider:

• Readability: Numbers should stand out clearly from the background.
• Size: Standard-sized dice are comfortable for most players and easy to store.
• Material: Resin and acrylic dice are light and practical, while metal dice feel heavier and benefit from a padded dice tray.
• Style: Colours and patterns can complement a character, campaign or personal collection.
• Storage: A pouch or dice box helps prevent individual dice from disappearing between sessions.

Mystery Dice Goblin products are a fun option if you enjoy the surprise of discovering a new design. They are suitable for D&D and make entertaining gifts for players, Dungeon Masters and gaming groups.

Discover your next set of dice

Are special dice required for the Dungeon Master?

Dungeon Masters use the same types of dice as the players. They may roll more frequently and control several creatures at once, so additional dice can be convenient.

A Dungeon Master might keep multiple d20s for attacks and saving throws, several damage dice for monsters and a percentile pair for random tables. However, there is no requirement to own a huge collection before running your first game.

Our guide to essential Dungeon Master accessories can help you decide which additions will genuinely make your sessions easier.

Ready to roll?

D&D dice may look complicated at first, but the basic idea is simple. The d20 normally determines whether an uncertain action succeeds, while the other dice commonly measure damage, healing and the effects of abilities.

Your character sheet and the rules will tell you what to roll. After a few encounters, recognising each die becomes second nature.

One standard set is enough to begin, so choose something clear, readable and enjoyable to use. You can always add more dice as your characters and adventures develop.

Explore Bomran’s Dungeons & Dragons range for starter sets, rulebooks, dice and tabletop accessories, or visit us in Corringham if you would like help choosing something suitable.

Put Your Dice to Work

New players can continue with our complete D&D beginner guide and learn how to create a character. When the group is ready to roll, our D&D game-night guide will help you prepare the table and keep the first session organised.