What’s the Best Number to Roll in D&D? The Truth About Nat 20s and Beyond
The simple answer? The best number to roll in Dungeons & Dragons is a 20 on a 20-sided die (d20), commonly referred to as a “natural 20” or “nat 20“. This result is often a cause for celebration, frequently guaranteeing success, but there’s more to the story than just one number. While a nat 20 is the best in most situations, it’s crucial to understand the nuances of different rolls and their impact on the game. A deeper exploration shows how luck, probability, and the specific situation in D&D all play a significant role in what constitutes a “good” roll. Let’s dive in and explore the world of D&D dice.
The Glory of the Natural 20
Automatic Success
In most cases, a natural 20 is an automatic success. This means that regardless of your character’s skills or the difficulty of the task, a nat 20 bypasses the usual mechanics of skill checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. Imagine attempting a seemingly impossible climb on a crumbling wall, or trying to convince a notoriously stubborn king – a natural 20 can turn the tide in your favor.
More Than Just Success
The beauty of a natural 20 isn’t just the automatic pass; it’s often accompanied by narrative flourish. A Dungeon Master (DM) might describe your character’s action as exceptionally skillful or even miraculous. A simple attack might become a brutal critical hit, dealing extra damage and potentially devastating your enemy. This is where the storytelling aspect of D&D comes to life, enhancing the excitement and drama of the game.
When a 20 Isn’t Enough
While incredibly powerful, a natural 20 isn’t always the key to victory. Some DMs might apply house rules, and certain spells or abilities might override a nat 20 or impose limitations, but these are very specific exceptions, and most of the time a nat 20 is going to have a great outcome. There are also situations where a task is simply impossible due to the inherent nature of the task itself. In such cases, even a nat 20 wouldn’t allow you to, say, breathe water without some magical assistance. The D&D 5e Player’s Handbook does not specify the automatic success of a Nat20 on ability checks or saving throws, only on attacks, but most DMs do rule that Nat20’s are automatic successes for almost all rolls.
Beyond the Nat 20: Understanding Probability and Good Rolls
The Importance of Modifiers
The basic premise of D&D is to roll a d20 and add relevant modifiers that reflect your character’s skills and abilities. For example, if your character has a +5 to their Dexterity modifier, this number will be added to every dexterity check you perform, which means that a 12 on the die could become a 17, which might lead to success. Thus, while a nat 20 is always ideal, a high roll combined with strong modifiers is the key to consistently performing well.
Understanding Target Numbers
D&D mechanics revolve around rolling at least the target number determined by the DM. This target number is known as the difficulty class (DC). A high modifier can make low-to-middle rolls good rolls as long as they reach or exceed the DC. For instance, a skill check with a DC of 15 doesn’t need a 20 to succeed; a roll of 10 with a +5 modifier achieves the same goal.
The Worst Roll: The Natural 1
Just as a natural 20 is a triumph, a natural 1 is usually a disaster. This is often an automatic failure, regardless of any modifiers, and may also come with negative consequences like a fumble or other unexpected outcomes. However, the rules do state that on saving throws and ability checks you can get below a DC and still succeed, just not as intended.
Rolling More Than One Die
While the d20 is the central die in D&D, the game also utilizes other dice. When rolling multiple dice, such as for damage, you want the highest numbers possible, maximizing the output. In these cases, there is no singular “best” roll; rather, the highest possible value for each die contributes to the overall effect.
The Role of Luck and Strategy
Managing Risk
D&D is a game of risk management. Players must weigh the odds of success and choose their actions accordingly. Knowing your character’s strengths and weaknesses is critical in determining when to take a chance and when to play it safe. For instance, an action that relies solely on a high d20 roll will often be more risky than an action that benefits from a character’s skill proficiency, where a lower roll might still yield a successful result.
The Importance of Teamwork
D&D is often a cooperative game. Players working together, combining their strengths, and mitigating weaknesses, will often find that they can avoid the need for individual “perfect” rolls. Support spells, character assistance, and well-coordinated actions will allow for more predictable outcomes, and reduce the dependence on luck.
The Storytelling Element
Ultimately, D&D is a game about stories and characters. While a nat 20 is usually fantastic, and a natural 1 is usually terrible, the game is ultimately about the experiences and adventures that you share. Sometimes, even a failure or a mishap can be a hilarious moment that defines a memorable D&D session. The best D&D moments are not always defined by the best number rolled, but by the stories it helps to create.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate the world of D&D dice rolls:
1. What happens on a natural 20 attack roll?
A natural 20 on an attack roll is a critical hit, meaning you do extra damage. The standard is rolling all damage dice twice.
2. Does a natural 20 always succeed on ability checks and saving throws?
The standard rules of D&D 5e do not state that a natural 20 is an automatic success for ability checks and saving throws. However, many DMs use house rules where a natural 20 always succeeds on these rolls.
3. What happens on a natural 1 on an attack roll?
A natural 1 on an attack roll is an automatic miss and often comes with a negative consequence or a fumble.
4. Does a natural 1 always fail on ability checks and saving throws?
Similar to natural 20s, official rules do not state that natural 1s are automatic failures for ability checks and saving throws, but most DMs use house rules where a natural 1 is always a failure.
5. What are modifiers in D&D?
Modifiers are numbers added to your d20 rolls based on your character’s abilities, skills, and other factors, that reflect their individual proficiency in these areas.
6. What is a Difficulty Class (DC)?
The DC is the target number that you must meet or exceed on your d20 roll to succeed at a particular task.
7. How do you roll percentile dice (d100)?
You roll two ten-sided dice; one indicates the tens digit, and the other indicates the ones digit, combining the numbers into one between 1 and 100.
8. What is considered a “good” roll besides a nat 20?
A roll is considered good when the d20 roll plus the modifiers meet or exceeds the DC of a given task.
9. Is a 7 the best roll in a 2d6 game?
Yes, when rolling two 6-sided dice (2d6), 7 is the most common sum. It has the highest probability.
10. Why do we use a d20 in D&D?
The d20 offers a broad range of possibilities which allows for diverse outcomes that the game depends on for the balance of risk and reward.
11. How does damage work in D&D?
Damage is typically determined by rolling a combination of different dice (such as d4, d6, d8, d10, and d12), which are based on weapons, spells, and abilities.
12. What is the purpose of other dice in D&D?
Other dice (d4, d6, d8, d10, and d12) are primarily used for calculating damage and the impact of other spells and abilities.
13. How do critical hits work in D&D?
Critical hits usually involve rolling the damage dice twice and are usually associated with the roll of a natural 20.
14. What is the luckiest roll in D&D?
While a nat 20 is generally considered the luckiest roll, a good roll combined with strong modifiers, that helps you get out of a bind might be considered the luckiest in other circumstances.
15. Should I always try to roll a 20?
While it’s great to get a natural 20, having strong modifiers is the key to being consistent and avoiding the need to rely solely on a high roll to succeed, making you a more reliable party member.
In conclusion, while the allure of a natural 20 is undeniable, a “good” roll in D&D is often a blend of luck, skill, and situational awareness. Understanding the mechanics of dice rolls and target numbers can help you succeed in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Remember that the best moments in the game are the ones that create the most memorable stories and experiences, regardless of the specific number you roll.