There are many rules and mechanics that you need to learn when playing Dungeons and Dragons. Players, new and old, often find some of the rules confusing to interpret, needing some refreshing on certain technicalities. One case for this is the mechanics for critical hits.
- Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Background
- Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Map
- Crit Damage Dnd 5e
- Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Character
- Crit Damage Dnd 5e
For example, if you score a critical hit with a Dagger, roll 2d4 for the damage, rather than 1d4, and then add your relevant ability modifier. If the Attack involves other damage dice, such as from the rogue’s Sneak Attack feature, you roll those dice twice as well. If your Attack Roll results in a miss, you will not need to do a Damage Roll. During an Attack Roll, your aim is to get a value higher than the target’s AC. AC stands for Armor Class. In DnD 5e, this basically represents how hard to hit the target will be, either due to their armor or fast reflexes.
First thing’s first…
Contents
What Is A Critical Hit 5e?
In Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition, a critical hit is when you roll a natural 20 during an attack roll. Critical hits will ignore all modifiers and AC (armor class), automatically hitting the target. During the damage roll, all the dice used are doubled to increase the damage output.
If you’re looking for more beginner guides, I’ll leave an interactive infographic below that can help you or a friend understand the game better. Be sure to check it out!
Basically, when you score a critical hit, it’s an automatic hit on the target and you get to double the dice you use to roll for damage. So, it’s a sure hit, with the chance to deal as much as twice the damage. Better yet, some DM’s opt to give you a chance to describe in detail how the hit occurs.
It’s a fun mechanic that can make you feel really good when you get it. It’s also a lifesaver when it comes to really hard enemies, and you roll a 20. It could literally save your character or party when you’re in a pinch.
There are other ways to get critical hits other than rolling a natural 20, or a nat20, which will be discussed below. We will also be laying out the formula of critical hits, and how to calculate for the overall damage, as well as how critical hits interact with various skills/features and situations in the game.
Specifically, we will be discussing:
- How to calculate damage
- How to get crits
- If crits always hit
- If Divine Smites crits
- If Sneak Attack crits
- If Spell Attacks crits
- Ways to increase the chance of a critical hit
These are tackled in order, so feel free to scroll to your desired section or topic.
I’ve placed an interactive infographic on some of the DnD basics beginners might want to learn about further down. Be sure to check it out as well.
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Calculating Damage For Critical Hits
As mentioned above, scoring a critical hit will let you double the dice you use for the damage rolls.
Take for example a greatsword. A greatsword would normally deal 2d6 slashing damage on a normal attack. If you were to score a critical hit with a greatsword, you would be dealing 4d6 worth of damage.
Should a level 1 Barbarian with a strength modifier of 2 using a greatsword attack normally, the resulting formula for the attack calculation would be:
= (weapon damage) + (Strength Modifier)
= 2d6 + 2
If the same Barbarian scores a critical hit, the resulting formula for the damage calculation would be:
= 4d6 + 2
As you can see, the critical hit only affects the number where there are dice involved. The additional 2 damage from the strength modifier is untouched because there is no dice involved. The same will apply for any bonus damage that does not require a dice roll.
Take the same Barbarian attacking while raging, should he score a critical hit, the formula for the damage calculation would be:
= (2x dice for weapon damage) + (Strength Modifier) + (Rage Bonus)
= 4d6 + 2 + 2
Both the strength modifier and rage bonus do not get multiplied by 2 since they do not roll dice. These are referred to as Static Damage, and all static damage will not get doubled by a critical hit.
Another instance of critical hits not doubling a value is when another dice roll to determine the hit or saving throw occurs. For example, a Rogue using Dagger of Venom will not enjoy the benefit of doubled dice since the skill needs to roll for a saving throw before it hits.
How Do You Get Critical Hits In D&D 5e?
In Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition, You can get critical hits through these methods:
- Rolling a natural 20 with a d20
- Rolling a 18 or 19 with a d20 when your character has certain class features
- Situational advantages like your enemies being under certain Conditions
The first and most common way of getting a crit is by rolling a natural 20, or nat20. This is the standard way of getting a crit that is available to all characters in the game. Once you do get the crit, you will score an automatic hit, and roll twice the amount of dice.
Rolling an 18 or 19 will also score a critical hit if you have certain class features like a Fighter Champion’s Improved Critical Hit. Multiclassing is a great way to access this class feature, even if only level-dipping into the fighter class until level 3.
Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Background
For more on level-dipping and our 10 best multiclasses, click here!
There are also situational advantages like when your enemy is under certain Conditions like unconscious and paralyzed. Should you hit the enemy within a five feet range, you will score an automatic critical hit.
Now, there have been differences in interpreting this rule. Some say you can only score an automatic hit when you roll a nat20, some say a critical hit is a critical hit. So, let’s see what the game designers have to say about this…
Do Crits Always Hit In DnD 5e?
In Dungeons and Dragons 5e, critical hits achieved by rolling natural 20 will always hit, regardless of the armor class (AC) or modifiers. Critical hits achieved through feats that extend crit range (i.e. rolling 18 or 19) will also hit as per Jeremy Crawford via Sage Advice.
Yes, a critical hit is a critical hit.. At least according to Jeremy Crawford.
If you’re wondering who Jeremy Crawford is, he’s one of the main game designers of Dungeons and Dragons. It’s a question that has long been asked, and he answered. For the twitter thread where he did, see below:
So there you have it. Scoring a Critical hit, whether by rolling and 18, 19, or 20, will score an automatic hit.
Of course, you don’t have to follow this if you don’t want to. There are certain groups who make their own rules regarding certain mechanics, calling it house rules. You can still have it that your group only scores automatic hits when rolling nat20’s.
Does Divine Smite Crit DnD 5e?
In Dungeons and Dragons 5e, Divine Smite and Improved Divine Smite are also doubled when attacking with a critical hit. Both features will double the dice used, and can also be stacked. This means you can score a critical hit, double your normal attack, Divine Smite, and Improved Divine Smite.
Yes. Divine Smite and Improved Divine Smite crits. Yes, they have really big burst damage… but that’s only 10% of the time as crits only have that much odds of happening.
So basically, when they DO HAPPEN, here’s the formula for the damage calculation:
Normal Attack With Improved Divine Smite and 2 instances of Divine Smite at Level 1 with an undead monster:
= Normal Attack + Ability Modifier + Improved Divine Smite + Divine Smite Level 1 + Divine Smite Level 1 + Additional Undead Damage
= 2d6 + X + 1d8 + 2d8 +2d8 + 1d8
Normal Attack With Improved Divine Smite and 2 instances of Divine Smite at Level 1 with no undead monster:
Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Map
= Normal Attack + Ability Modifier + Improved Divine Smite + Divine Smite Level 1 + Divine Smite Level 1
= 2d6 + X + 1d8 + 2d8 +2d8
Critting With Improved Divine Smite and 2 instances of Divine Smite at Level 1 with an undead monster:
= Normal Attack + Ability Modifier + Improved Divine Smite + Divine Smite Level 1 + Divine Smite Level 1 + Additional Undead Damage
= 4d6 + X + 1d8 + 4d8 +4d8 + 1d8
Critting With Improved Divine Smite and 2 instances of Divine Smite at Level 1 with no undead monster:
= Normal Attack + Ability Modifier + Improved Divine Smite + Divine Smite Level 1 + Divine Smite Level 1
= 4d6 + X + 1d8 + 4d8 + 4d8
For a guide on Divine Smite and how to do the all the calculations, click here.
Does Sneak Attack Crit 5e?
In Dungeons and Dragons 5e, scoring a critical hit with a sneak attack will double the damage dice used. This means that instead of the normal 1d6, you will use 2d6 when using sneak attack during a critical hit.
Yes, critical hits apply to sneak attacks. In fact, this is the very example used in the Player’s Handbook.
It’s fairly simple to do, just double the dice used when calculating for the damage. As with Divine Smite, here’s the formula for the damage calculation:
Normal Attack With Sneak Attack:
= Normal Attack + Ability Modifier + Sneak Attack
= 1d4 + X + 1d6
Crit Damage Dnd 5e
Critting With Sneak Attack:
= Normal Attack + Ability Modifier + Sneak Attack
= 2d4 + X + 2d6
Do Spell Attacks Crit?
In Dungeons and Dragons 5e, spells that require dice to hit, or spells that use attack rolls can score critical hits. The mechanics are the same, in that a natural 20 must be rolled to achieve the critical hit.
As long as there is an attack roll, you can score a critical hit. Here’s a great example from reddit:
What are all the ways to increase the chance of a critical hit?
There is only a 10% chance of rolling a natural 20 with a 20 sided dice, however, there are many ways to increase the odds of scoring one. Here are a few:
- Improved Critical Class Feature
- Assassinate Class Feature
- Portent Class Feature
- Curse Class Feature
- Attacking Paralyzed and Unconscious Enemies
- Attacking with Advantage
Improved Critical Class Feature
This is a class feature for Fighters with the Champion archetype. You gain it at level 3 and level 15, increasing the crit range from 19 to 18, respectively.
At level 15, you have a 27.75 chance of scoring a critical hit. Add that to the 3 extra attacks, you will have a 72.75 chance of critting.
Assassinate Class Feature
This is a class feature for Rogues with the Assassin archetype. This allows you to score critical hits when you successfully strike a surprised opponent.
Portent Class Feature
This is a class feature for Wizards under the School of Divination. This allows you to roll 2 d20’s for later use. This means that if you roll a nat20, you or your allies can use it later on.
Curse Class Feature
This is a class feature for Hexblade Warlocks. Curse allows you to pick out an opponent and score a critical hit on it if your attack rolls are 18 or 19.
Attacking Paralyzed and Unconscious Enemies
Again, as mentioned above, these Conditions will let you score automatic critical hits on your opponents.
Attacking With Advantage
Attacking with advantage means that you get to reroll your attack roll and pick the higher result. This means you get another chance to score a crit with your roll.
As nat20’s normally have a 10% chance of occurring, by rolling with advantage, you get to increase that to 20%. This literally doubles your chances of getting a crit.
Crit Dmg Dnd 5e Character
This guide is an unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Here are the infographics I promised. Feel free to swipe left or right!
Crit Damage Dnd 5e
Here’s an infographic you can share with your friends!