What is a Dirty 20 DND?

A dirty 20 in D&D refers to a situation where a player’s total result on a d20 roll equals 20, but the d20 itself does not show a 20, instead, the player reaches 20 by adding modifiers and bonuses to their roll. This concept is crucial in understanding the nuances of D&D rules, particularly in differentiating between a natural 20 (nat 20) and a dirty 20, where the former is a direct roll of 20 on the d20, and the latter involves calculations to achieve the total of 20.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dirty 20 in DND

1. What is the Difference Between a Nat 20 and a Dirty 20?

The main difference is that a nat 20 is when the dice shows a 20, whereas a dirty 20 is when the total of the roll and the modifiers equals 20.

2. What Does a Nat 20 Mean in DND?

A nat 20 is usually considered an automatic success on whatever task the character is attempting, especially in attack rolls, but its implications can vary depending on the context, such as ability checks or saving throws.

3. Is a Nat 20 Always a Success?

No, a nat 20 is not always a guaranteed success, especially outside of attack rolls. Its success depends on the specific rules and circumstances of the game.

4. Can a Nat 20 Not Hit?

While a nat 20 on an attack roll is an automatic hit, the concept of a nat 20 not hitting doesn’t apply in the traditional sense, as it guarantees a hit. However, the damage or effect can vary.

5. Can a Nat 20 Beat a 30?

In terms of overcoming a difficulty or ** Armor Class (AC)** of 30, a nat 20 means the dice rolled a 20, but with high enough modifiers, it could indeed succeed against a high difficulty, though the nat 20 itself doesn’t automatically guarantee success against any difficulty.

6. What is Rule 0 of DND?

Rule 0 states that the Dungeon Master (DM) is the final arbiter of the rules, allowing for flexibility and creativity in the game.

7. What is the 27 Rule in D&D?

The 27 rule refers to the point-buy system for assigning ability scores, where a player has 27 points to distribute among their abilities.

8. What is the 5 Foot Rule in D&D?

The 5 foot rule or 5-foot step allows a character to move 5 feet as a bonus action on their turn without provoking opportunity attacks.

9. Does a Nat 20 Death Save?

Rolling a nat 20 on a Death Saving Throw means the character regains 1 hit point and becomes conscious.

10. How Likely is it to Roll a Nat 20?

The chance of rolling a nat 20 is 5%, as there is only one 20 on a d20.

11. What is a Saving Throw in D&D?

A saving throw represents an attempt to resist a spell, trap, poison, disease, or similar threats, often forced by the situation rather than chosen by the player.

12. What is a Critical Hit in D&D?

A critical hit occurs when rolling a 20 on an attack roll (or a 1 for an automatic miss), leading to doubled damage. Some abilities or weapons can alter the critical hit threshold.

13. What is the 65% Rule in D&D?

The 65% rule suggests that a character’s attack bonus should be high enough to hit a target 65% of the time to be effective, though the game doesn’t explicitly state this as a rule.

14. What is the Golden Rule of D&D?

The golden rule reinforces Rule 0, emphasizing the DM’s authority to make rulings that may contradict or supplement the written rules for the betterment of the game.

15. What is the Squeeze Rule in D&D?

The squeeze rule allows a creature to fit through a space one size smaller than itself, useful for navigating tight spots in dungeons or other environments.