What Are the Best Saving Throws?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The best saving throws are generally considered to be Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom, though the optimal choice depends heavily on the specific game system and the character class being played. These three saves frequently target common threats: Dexterity protects against area-of-effect damage like fireballs and traps; Constitution helps maintain concentration on spells and resist debilitating effects like poison and disease; and Wisdom defends against mental attacks like charms, fears, and illusions. However, a well-rounded character should aim to be proficient in at least one physical save (Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution) and one mental save (Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma) to avoid being vulnerable to common strategies.
Understanding Saving Throws
A saving throw is a die roll made by a character or creature to resist an effect, spell, or hazard. The DC (Difficulty Class) represents the challenge imposed by the effect. If the saving throw result meets or exceeds the DC, the target succeeds and avoids or mitigates the effect. Conversely, if the roll fails, the target suffers the full brunt of the consequence.
Saving throws are crucial for survival in many games. They represent a character’s ability to react quickly, withstand physical stress, or resist mental manipulation. Neglecting saving throws can lead to quick character death or debilitating conditions that significantly impact gameplay.
The Core Saving Throws and Their Importance
Each of the six ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma) is associated with a specific type of saving throw. Understanding the purpose and frequency of each save is key to assessing its value.
Dexterity Saving Throws: Evasion and Reflexes
Dexterity saving throws are arguably the most frequently rolled save in many games. They represent a character’s agility, reflexes, and ability to dodge out of the way of danger. Common uses include resisting:
- Area-of-effect spells: Fireballs, lightning bolts, and other spells that target a large area typically require Dexterity saves to reduce or avoid damage.
- Traps: Many traps involve quick reflexes to avoid, such as falling rocks, dart traps, and collapsing floors.
- Falling damage: A successful Dexterity save can reduce the damage taken from a fall.
Characters with high Dexterity and proficiency in Dexterity saving throws are significantly more resistant to many common threats, making it a highly valuable save.
Constitution Saving Throws: Endurance and Resilience
Constitution saving throws represent a character’s health, stamina, and ability to withstand physical stress. They are crucial for:
- Maintaining concentration: Spellcasters rely on Constitution saves to maintain concentration on spells when taking damage.
- Resisting poison and disease: Many poisons and diseases require Constitution saves to avoid their effects.
- Avoiding exhaustion: Certain activities or environmental conditions may require Constitution saves to avoid exhaustion.
- Enduring harsh environments: Resisting the effects of extreme temperatures and other environmental hazards.
Constitution is vital for almost every class. Front-line fighters need it to survive direct attacks, while spellcasters need it to maintain concentration.
Wisdom Saving Throws: Mental Fortitude
Wisdom saving throws represent a character’s perception, insight, and willpower. They are crucial for resisting mental manipulation and maintaining control over one’s own mind. Common uses include resisting:
- Charm and Dominate effects: Spells and abilities that attempt to control a character’s actions often require Wisdom saves to resist.
- Fear and Terror effects: Abilities that inflict fear or panic often target Wisdom.
- Illusions: Discerning illusions from reality often requires a Wisdom save.
- Mental attacks: Spells and abilities that directly attack the mind, such as psychic blasts, typically target Wisdom.
Wisdom saving throws are often considered crucial, as failing one can lead to a character being turned against their allies or incapacitated by fear.
Strength Saving Throws: Physical Power
Strength saving throws represent a character’s raw physical power and ability to resist being moved or restrained. They are used less frequently than Dexterity, Constitution, or Wisdom saves, but are important in specific situations such as:
- Resisting being shoved or grappled: Strength saves are used to avoid being forcibly moved or restrained by another creature.
- Breaking free from restraints: Escaping from bonds or other forms of physical restraint typically requires a Strength save.
- Resisting powerful winds or currents: Strength saves may be required to resist being blown away by strong winds or swept away by strong currents.
Characters who rely on Strength in combat, like Fighters and Barbarians, may find Strength saving throws more relevant.
Intelligence Saving Throws: Mental Acuity
Intelligence saving throws represent a character’s reasoning, knowledge, and ability to analyze information. They are the least frequently rolled saving throws in many systems, but are important for resisting specific types of mental attacks and illusions, which can include:
- Illusions: Discerning illusions from reality may require Intelligence saves to analyze and debunk them.
- Certain Mind-affecting Spells: Some spells and abilities that attack the mind, such as those that induce confusion or alter memories, might target Intelligence.
While not as common as other saves, failing an Intelligence save can have devastating consequences, such as losing memories or becoming easily manipulated.
Charisma Saving Throws: Force of Personality
Charisma saving throws represent a character’s force of personality, leadership, and ability to influence others. They are used to resist effects that attempt to manipulate or control their will, such as:
- Possession: Resisting attempts to take control of the character’s body.
- Banishment: Resisting spells or abilities that attempt to send the character to another plane of existence.
- Effects that alter personality: Resisting spells or abilities that attempt to change the character’s alignment or beliefs.
- Avoiding Deception: Resisting lies and attempts to be persuaded into actions that you would not normally choose.
Charisma saves are important for characters who rely on social interaction and leadership, such as Paladins, Sorcerers, and Bards.
Prioritizing Saving Throws: A Class-Based Perspective
The best saving throws to prioritize often depend on the character class. Here’s a general guide:
- Fighters: Constitution is paramount for survivability. Dexterity is also important for avoiding area-of-effect damage.
- Barbarians: Constitution and Strength are key for resisting damage and being moved or restrained.
- Rogues: Dexterity is essential for avoiding traps and area-of-effect spells. Wisdom can help resist mental manipulation.
- Clerics: Wisdom is crucial for resisting mental attacks and maintaining control of divine abilities. Constitution is also important for maintaining concentration.
- Wizards: Constitution is key for maintaining concentration. Dexterity is also important for avoiding area-of-effect damage. Wisdom is invaluable.
- Sorcerers: Constitution is crucial for maintaining concentration. Charisma is helpful for resisting manipulation.
- Bards: Charisma is essential for resisting manipulation. Dexterity and Constitution are very helpful.
- Paladins: Charisma, Constitution, and Wisdom are all very important, as Paladins are often front-line fighters with strong mental fortitude.
- Rangers: Dexterity and Wisdom are both important for Rangers. Constitution can add to their survivability.
- Monks: Dexterity, Wisdom, and Constitution are all important to Monks because of their reliance on dodging attacks and maintaining inner peace.
- Warlocks: Charisma is crucial for resisting manipulation. Constitution is key for maintaining concentration.
- Druids: Wisdom is crucial for resisting mental attacks and maintaining control of divine abilities. Constitution is also important for maintaining concentration.
FAQs About Saving Throws
1. What is the difference between a saving throw and an ability check?
An ability check is used when a character attempts to perform a task using their natural abilities. A saving throw is used to resist an external effect, spell, or hazard.
2. How is a saving throw calculated?
A saving throw is calculated by rolling a d20 and adding the character’s relevant ability modifier. If the character is proficient in the saving throw, they also add their proficiency bonus.
3. What is a saving throw DC?
The DC (Difficulty Class) is the target number that the saving throw result must meet or exceed to succeed. The DC is determined by the source of the effect.
4. What happens if I succeed on a saving throw?
Success on a saving throw typically means that the character avoids the full effect of the spell, ability, or hazard. They might take reduced damage, avoid a condition, or resist being controlled.
5. What happens if I fail a saving throw?
Failure on a saving throw typically means that the character suffers the full effect of the spell, ability, or hazard. This could include taking damage, becoming afflicted with a condition, or being controlled.
6. Can I choose to fail a saving throw?
In some cases, a character may choose to fail a saving throw, but the rules surrounding this are generally not included in most systems.
7. Can I get advantage on saving throws?
Yes, advantage can be gained on saving throws through various spells, abilities, or environmental conditions. Advantage allows you to roll two dice and take the higher result.
8. What is proficiency in saving throws?
Proficiency in a saving throw means that a character adds their proficiency bonus to the saving throw roll, making them more likely to succeed.
9. How do I gain proficiency in saving throws?
Proficiency in saving throws is typically granted by a character’s class or race at character creation or through specific feats or class features.
10. What is a death saving throw?
A death saving throw is a special type of saving throw made when a character is at 0 hit points. Rolling 10 or higher will stabilize the character.
11. Are there spells or abilities that improve saving throws?
Yes, many spells and abilities can improve saving throws, such as Bless, Shield, or Resistance.
12. What does it mean to have “resistance” or “immunity” to certain damage types?
Resistance means that a character takes half damage from a specific damage type. Immunity means that a character takes no damage from that damage type.
13. How important is it to have a balanced set of saving throws?
Having a balanced set of saving throws is ideal, but it’s more important to prioritize the saves that are most relevant to your character class and play style.
14. Can I reroll a saving throw?
Some abilities or spells allow a character to reroll a saving throw, giving them a second chance to succeed.
15. How do I improve my saving throws?
Saving throws can be improved by increasing the relevant ability score, gaining proficiency, acquiring magic items, or utilizing spells and abilities that grant bonuses to saving throws.