Crits Decoded: What Damage Gets Doubled on a Critical Hit?
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When the dice gods smile upon you and you roll that natural 20, triggering a critical hit, the excitement is palpable. But amidst the cheers and triumphant declarations, a crucial question often arises: what exactly gets doubled? The core rule is that you double all of the attack’s damage dice as well as all of the damage dice the attack “involves”. Understanding the nuances of critical hits can significantly impact your combat effectiveness, so let’s dive into the details.
The Core Mechanic: Dice, Dice, and More Dice
The fundamental principle is that a critical hit allows you to roll all of the attack’s damage dice twice and add them together. This includes the weapon’s base damage dice. For instance, if you’re wielding a longsword (1d8) and score a critical hit, you’d roll 2d8 instead of the usual 1d8. The real complexity arises when considering additional damage sources tied to the attack.
It is important to note the rules specify damage dice, not flat damage bonuses. These flat bonuses will not get doubled.
Dissecting Damage Types: What Stays, What Doubles?
Not all damage is created equal when it comes to critical hits. Some damage sources are directly tied to the attack roll and are doubled, while others are static modifiers that remain unchanged. Let’s break it down:
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Weapon Damage Dice: Absolutely doubled. A greataxe (1d12) becomes 2d12 on a critical hit.
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Sneak Attack (Rogues): Yes, doubled! Since Sneak Attack is expressed as dice (e.g., 2d6, 3d6, etc.) and is part of the attack’s damage, it’s a prime candidate for doubling.
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Hunter’s Mark: Another “yes”! Hunter’s Mark adds a damage die (1d6), making it part of the attack’s damage and thus doubled on a critical hit.
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Divine Smite (Paladins): Similar to Sneak Attack, the extra radiant damage from Divine Smite is expressed in dice (e.g., 2d8, 3d8, etc.) and is doubled when you crit.
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Rage Damage (Barbarians): This is a flat bonus. For example “+2 while raging”. Flat bonuses are not doubled on critical hits.
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Ability Score Modifier (Strength, Dexterity): Like Rage Damage, your Strength modifier (e.g., +3) is a flat bonus and does not get doubled.
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Sharpshooter Feat (The +10 Damage): The bonus damage from the Sharpshooter feat is a static +10. Again, flat bonuses are not doubled.
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Booming Blade: The initial weapon damage is doubled. However, the secondary damage that happens when the target moves is not considered part of the initial attack, and the extra damage is therefore not doubled.
In Short: If the damage is determined by rolling dice as part of the attack, it doubles. If it’s a fixed bonus, it doesn’t.
Why This Matters: Strategic Implications
Understanding this distinction is crucial for character optimization. Building a character around maximizing dice-based damage can make critical hits devastating. Rogues, Paladins, and certain Rangers are excellent examples of classes that can leverage critical hits to deal massive bursts of damage.
For example, consider a Rogue wielding a rapier and benefiting from Sneak Attack. At higher levels, a critical hit can result in rolling multiple d6s twice, significantly amplifying their damage output. Conversely, relying heavily on flat damage bonuses might make your critical hits feel less impactful.
FAQs: Critical Hit Conundrums Answered
1. Does a critical hit automatically hit?
Yes. A roll of a natural 20 is always a hit in D&D 5th Edition. If you roll a 20, your attack is a critical hit and succeeds regardless of the target’s Armor Class (AC).
2. Is precision damage doubled on a crit?
Yes, if it is expressed in dice form. An example is the Sneak Attack ability a Rogue has, which is expressed in dice form. The critical hit lets you roll double your damage dice.
3. Does rage damage double on a crit?
In general, only the number of damage dice being rolled is doubled from a crit and not flat damage from things like your STR modifier or Rage bonus damage.
4. Does sharpshooter damage double on a crit?
No. Only damage dice are doubled. The sharpshooter feat adds flat damage to an attack and is not rolled.
5. Does Hunter’s Mark damage double on a crit?
Yes, the damage from Hunter’s Mark is also doubled on a crit. The section on critical hits says that: “If the attack involves other damage dice, such as from the rogue’s Sneak Attack feature, you roll those dice twice as well.”
6. Does Booming Blade secondary damage double on a crit?
No, the damage Booming Blade does whenever the target moves is not multiplied on a critical hit. The rules on critical hits state that the damage must come from the initial attack.
7. Does arcane jolt double on a crit?
No. Critical hits double damage dice. The healing effect of Arcane Jolt has nothing to do with the damage of the attack.
8. Does crit affect poison?
Critical Strike Multiplier does not affect Poison damage by default, unless a character (or minion) has the Perfect Agony keystone. A character has by default +50% to Damage over Time Multiplier for Ailments from Critical Strikes.
9. What is the difference between crit rate and crit DMG?
Crit Rate represents the chance players have of dealing increased damage with an attack, while Crit Damage is the amount of extra damage that will be dealt by landing a critical hit.
10. What is the perfect crit rate?
Crit rate standards depends on the person you talk to. People who like seeing bigger numbers can be seen running ratios such as 50/200, while people who like to be consistent can be seen running things like 80/160.
11. What is the crit damage multiplier in Pokemon?
This means an attack does 100% (2x) extra damage after calculating the Type weakness. Most attacks have a 6.25% chance of becoming a Critical Hit.
12. How much does a crit boost damage?
Crit Boost will increase the damage dealt by crits, stacking additively. With 50% crit boost, the crits will do 200% instead of 150% damage.
13. Does 100% crit rate mean every hit is a crit?
If the CRIT Rate is equal to 100% or greater, an attack is guaranteed to be a Critical Hit. If the CRIT Rate is equal to 0% or lesser, an attack can never be a Critical Hit.
14. What is the best crit to crit damage ratio?
Generally, you want to aim for a 1:2 ratio of crit rate to damage.
15. How does crit DMG and crit rate work?
CRIT Rate measures how much bonus DMG you deal when you get a CRIT Hit. Higher percentages means more bonus DMG output. Every character has a base CRIT DMG of at least 50%.
Beyond the Rules: Critical Thinking
The core rule for critical hits is clear: double the damage dice. However, as with many aspects of role-playing games, rulings at the table can vary. If your Dungeon Master (DM) has a different interpretation or introduces house rules, understanding the fundamental principle allows you to adapt and engage in informed discussions about how critical hits function in your game.
Remember, the goal is to have fun! A well-timed critical hit can turn the tide of battle and create memorable moments. By mastering the mechanics of critical hits, you can enhance your strategic decision-making and fully embrace the thrill of combat. Consider exploring the insights shared by the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org on how game mechanics can create engaging learning experiences.