Table of Contents

How Do You Pick a Saving Throw?

Choosing the right saving throw in situations like spellcasting, monster abilities, or environmental hazards comes down to understanding what the saving throw represents, what the effect is trying to do, and what your target is likely to be good at resisting. A saving throw is essentially a last-ditch effort to mitigate or avoid a negative effect. To pick the appropriate one, assess the nature of the threat and its target, then match the threat to the saving throw that best represents the resistance being tested. Consider the attacker’s intent. Is it to break the target’s focus (Constitution)? Deceive their mind (Wisdom)? Or physically restrain them (Strength or Dexterity)? The more information you have, the more accurate your choice will be.

Understanding Saving Throws

Saving throws are a core mechanic in many role-playing games, including Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) 5e, and are used to determine whether a character or creature resists a harmful effect. There are six main saving throws, each tied to one of the six ability scores:

Strength (STR): Represents physical power and the ability to exert force.
Dexterity (DEX): Represents agility, reflexes, and balance.
Constitution (CON): Represents health, stamina, and vitality.
Intelligence (INT): Represents reasoning, knowledge, and mental acuity.
Wisdom (WIS): Represents perception, insight, and willpower.
Charisma (CHA): Represents force of personality, persuasiveness, and leadership.

Each saving throw represents a different kind of resistance. To properly pick a saving throw, you need to think about what kind of resistance is needed to avoid the effect.

Factors Influencing Saving Throw Selection

Several factors come into play when selecting the appropriate saving throw:

Nature of the Effect: This is the most crucial factor. What is the effect trying to accomplish? Is it poisoning the target, charming them, or pushing them off a ledge?
Target of the Effect: Who or what is being targeted? A creature with high strength is more likely to resist being pushed, while a creature with strong willpower might resist being charmed.
Source of the Effect: Where is the effect coming from? A magical effect might rely on different saving throws than a physical one.
Descriptive Language: The specific wording of the ability or spell often provides clues. Look for keywords that might point to a particular saving throw.

Common Scenarios and Saving Throws

Here’s a breakdown of common scenarios and the saving throws that typically apply:

Physical Attacks:
- Being Pushed, Shoved, or Restrained: Strength saving throw to resist being moved or grappled. Dexterity saving throws can sometimes apply in situations where agility helps avoid the effect.
- Falling Damage: Dexterity saving throw to attempt to land safely and reduce the damage taken.
Mental and Emotional Effects:
- Fear, Charm, or Domination: Wisdom saving throw to resist manipulation of the mind and emotions.
- Illusions: Intelligence saving throw to see through deceptive images or sounds.
Environmental Hazards:
- Poisons and Diseases: Constitution saving throw to resist the harmful effects.
- Extreme Temperatures: Constitution saving throw to endure the harsh conditions.
- Traps and Pitfalls: Dexterity saving throw to avoid or mitigate the effects of traps.
Magical Effects:
- Direct Damage Spells (Fireball, Lightning Bolt): Dexterity saving throw to reduce the damage taken.
- Spells that Alter Reality (Polymorph, Flesh to Stone): Constitution saving throw to resist transformation.
- Spells that Control the Mind (Suggestion, Dominate Person): Wisdom saving throw to resist control.

Examples of Saving Throw Selection in Action

Let’s consider a few examples to illustrate the selection process:

A Giant Attempts to Shove a Character: The giant is using physical force to move the character. The appropriate saving throw is Strength. A character with high Strength is more likely to resist being shoved.
A Sorcerer Casts the Charm Person Spell: This spell attempts to manipulate the target’s mind. The appropriate saving throw is Wisdom. A character with high Wisdom is better at resisting mental manipulation.
A Character Falls into a Pit Filled with Poisonous Snakes: The character needs to avoid the snakes and resist the poison. There are two saving throws involved: a Dexterity saving throw to avoid falling deeper into the pit and a Constitution saving throw to resist the poison from the snake bites.

General Guidelines

Here are some general guidelines to help you select the right saving throw:

When in doubt, consider what the effect is directly targeting.
Refer to similar spells or abilities for guidance.
Read the descriptive text carefully for clues.
Consider the target’s strengths and weaknesses.
If multiple saving throws seem appropriate, choose the one that best represents the resistance being tested.
When creating your own abilities, be consistent and fair with your saving throw choices.

FAQs about Saving Throws

1. What is a “Saving Throw DC”?

The Saving Throw DC (Difficulty Class) is the numerical target a creature must meet or exceed on their saving throw roll to avoid or reduce the effect. It’s typically determined by the attacker’s ability score bonus plus their proficiency bonus, plus any other relevant modifiers.

2. How is a Saving Throw Calculated?

A saving throw is calculated by rolling a d20, adding the creature’s relevant ability score modifier, and any other applicable bonuses. If the result is equal to or greater than the saving throw DC, the creature succeeds on the saving throw.

3. What does it mean to have “Advantage” or “Disadvantage” on a Saving Throw?

Having Advantage means rolling two d20s and taking the higher result. Having Disadvantage means rolling two d20s and taking the lower result. These conditions can significantly increase or decrease the chances of success.

4. What happens when a creature is “Proficient” in a saving throw?

Being Proficient in a saving throw means adding your proficiency bonus to the roll, increasing your chances of success significantly as you level up.

5. Can a creature choose to fail a Saving Throw?

Typically, a creature cannot choose to fail a saving throw. However, the Dungeon Master (DM) has the final say and may allow it in specific circumstances. Some effects might specify that the target can choose to fail.

6. What is the difference between an “Attack Roll” and a “Saving Throw”?

An Attack Roll is used when a creature directly attacks another creature with a weapon or spell, and the attacker rolls to see if they hit. A Saving Throw is used when a creature is subjected to an effect that they might resist, and they roll to see if they avoid or mitigate the effect.

7. If an ability doesn’t specify a Saving Throw, what do I do?

If an ability doesn’t specify a saving throw, it likely means it doesn’t allow for one. The effect happens automatically. Consult with your DM for clarification.

8. How do Magic Resistance and similar abilities affect Saving Throws?

Magic Resistance and similar abilities grant advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects. This significantly improves the chances of successfully resisting those effects.

9. What are common Saving Throws for resisting Poison?

The most common saving throw for resisting Poison is Constitution. This represents the body’s ability to fight off toxins and harmful substances.

10. What Saving Throw is most often used to resist being Frightened?

Wisdom is the most common saving throw to resist being Frightened, as it represents the character’s willpower and mental fortitude to overcome fear.

11. Can Armor affect Saving Throws?

Armor typically does not directly affect saving throws. Armor provides benefits to Armor Class (AC), which determines whether an attack hits. However, certain magic armor might grant bonuses to specific saving throws.

12. How does the “Lucky” feat interact with Saving Throws?

The Lucky feat allows a player to reroll a saving throw, giving them a second chance to succeed. This is a very powerful ability that can turn the tide of battle.

13. Is it always obvious which Saving Throw to use?

No, it is not always obvious. Sometimes the description of the effect may be vague, requiring you to consider the intent of the effect, the target’s vulnerabilities, and similar effects. If you are a player, ask the DM for clarification.

14. Do monsters have Saving Throws?

Yes, monsters have saving throws. Their stat blocks list their ability scores, and their saving throw modifiers are calculated based on those scores, potentially including proficiency if applicable.

15. Can I improve my Saving Throws?

Yes, you can improve your saving throws through various means, including:

Increasing your ability scores.
Gaining proficiency in a saving throw.
Acquiring magic items that grant bonuses to saving throws.
Benefiting from spells or abilities that enhance your defenses.

Selecting the right saving throw is a crucial part of understanding the rules and mastering gameplay. By understanding the various ability scores, the nature of different effects, and the strengths and weaknesses of creatures, you can make informed decisions that will help you and your party succeed.

How do you pick a saving throw?