Do You Get Superiority Dice Back on a Short Rest?
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The short answer is a resounding yes. If you’re playing a character with superiority dice, like a Battle Master Fighter, you absolutely regain all expended superiority dice when you complete a short rest. This is a fundamental mechanic for classes and subclasses that utilize maneuvers fueled by these special dice. Understanding how these dice work is crucial for maximizing your character’s combat effectiveness. Let’s delve deeper into the mechanics of superiority dice and explore some frequently asked questions.
Understanding Superiority Dice
Superiority dice are a unique resource that powers a character’s special combat maneuvers, primarily used by the Battle Master Fighter subclass. These dice aren’t just used for damage, but also to inflict status effects like prone, disarming or gain an advantage, making them incredibly versatile in combat. Unlike spells or other abilities, superiority dice are not a per-encounter resource. Instead, they are refreshed upon the completion of a short rest, typically an hour of downtime where a character rests, eats, and attends to their basic needs. This makes them a reliable resource that can be used several times throughout a longer adventuring day.
Short Rest Refresh
The key takeaway here is that a short rest restores ALL expended superiority dice. You don’t regain just some, or only a portion – you get them all back, regardless of how many you used. This system encourages tactical and strategic use of maneuvers, knowing you’ll be able to recover and use them again relatively quickly. This contrasts with other abilities, like some spell slots that only refresh on a long rest.
Superiority Dice Progression
The number of superiority dice a character has isn’t fixed. For example, the Battle Master Fighter starts with four d8 superiority dice, and gains one more at 7th level and one more again at 15th level, reaching a total of six. A feat like Martial Adept grants a character an additional superiority die which, unfortunately, is only a d6, and two maneuvers, if you don’t already have them.
How Many at Once?
While you might be tempted to use multiple maneuvers at the same time, you are generally limited to one maneuver per attack. So, even if you have multiple attacks, you only use one superiority die with each. However, certain abilities or feats might allow for more maneuvers in a single round. If you have additional attacks, from a feat, the Extra Attack class feature or some other source, you can use one additional superiority die per attack to use more maneuvers within the same round.
What happens when you use one?
A superiority die is expended when you use it. This means once you’ve rolled it for a maneuver, it’s no longer available until you have a short or long rest. They are expended regardless of if the maneuver succeeds or not, so if your opponent manages to resist an effect, you still lose the die. This resource management aspect encourages careful selection of the right maneuver for the job.
Frequently Asked Questions About Superiority Dice
To provide even more comprehensive information, let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions about how superiority dice work:
How many superiority dice does a Battle Master Fighter get?
The Battle Master Fighter starts with four superiority dice, which are d8s, and they gain an additional die at 7th and 15th level, for a total of 6 dice by level 15.
What is a superiority die?
A superiority die is a special die (usually a d8, but a d6 from the Martial Adept feat) used to fuel maneuvers, adding extra effects to attacks and actions.
What maneuvers are fueled by superiority dice?
Maneuvers are special combat techniques that a Battle Master Fighter or someone who has taken the Martial Adept feat can use, ranging from pushing an enemy, to disarming an enemy.
What is the Martial Adept Feat?
The Martial Adept feat gives you two Battle Master Maneuvers and another superiority die (a d6).
Do I need a superiority die to use a maneuver?
Yes. Superiority dice are required to use Maneuvers. Without them, you are unable to perform maneuvers.
Can I use two superiority dice in one turn?
You can only use one maneuver per attack. If you have additional attacks from a feature or feat you can use one additional superiority die per attack to use more maneuvers within the same round.
Can the DM give players feats?
Yes, the DM can award feats at moments where they believe it would enhance the story or character development, but there is no written rule to make this common practice.
What is Superior Technique?
Superior Technique allows a character to pick one maneuver and the use of a single d6 superiority die, granting them access to a maneuver without being a Battle Master Fighter.
What happens if I don’t have superiority dice?
If you don’t have any superiority dice, you cannot use any maneuvers that require them, until you recover them.
What are the most important fighter stats?
The most important stats for a fighter, and especially a Battle Master, are Strength (for melee attacks and damage), Constitution (for HP), and Dexterity (for AC and some saving throws).
What are some of the best maneuvers?
Some of the best maneuvers include Menacing Attack, Riposte, Disarming Attack, Pushing Attack, and Sweeping Attack. The best maneuver tends to depend on a characters specific build, and what they need.
How many hit dice can I recover on a long rest?
You recover hit dice on a long rest up to half your maximum number of hit dice, or a minimum of one.
Do superiority dice scale?
While the number of superiority dice you get may increase with level for Battle Master Fighters, the size of the dice does not. A Martial Adept feat die remains a d6.
What is the bait and switch maneuver?
The Bait and Switch maneuver allows a Battle Master to switch places with a willing ally as long as both are within 5 feet of each other.
What is a Battle Master?
A Battle Master is a martial subclass of the Fighter class. These fighters are students of tactics and the art of war. This style empowers their attacks, helps them maneuver their allies, and thwarts their opponents’ strategies.
Conclusion
Understanding the rules governing superiority dice is essential for anyone playing a character that utilizes them. The fact that you regain all expended dice on a short rest is a key part of that understanding. This mechanic allows for aggressive play with maneuvers being used tactically throughout an adventuring day. By managing your superiority dice effectively, you can take full advantage of your character’s combat potential and add versatility to your combat encounters. This allows you to create truly dynamic and engaging characters.