5e24:Attack Roll
Attack Roll
[1] An attack roll is a D20 Test that represents making an attack with a weapon, an Unarmed Strike, or a spell.
[2] An attack roll determines whether an attack hits a target. An attack roll hits if the roll equals or exceeds the target’s Armor Class. Attack rolls usually occur in battle, described in “Combat” later in “Playing the Game,” but the GM might also ask for an attack roll in other situations, such as an archery competition.
Ability Modifier
[2] The Attack Roll Abilities table shows which ability modifier to use for different types of attack rolls.
| Attack Roll Abilities [2] | |
|---|---|
| Ability | Attack Type |
| Strength | Melee attack with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike (see “Rules Glossary”) |
| Dexterity | Ranged attack with a weapon |
| Varies | Spell attack (the ability used is determined by the spellcaster’s spellcasting feature, as explained in “Spells”) |
Some features let you use different ability modifiers from those listed. For example, the Finesse property (see “Equipment”) lets you use Strength or Dexterity with a weapon that has that property.
Proficiency Bonus
[2] You add your Proficiency Bonus to your attack roll when you attack using a weapon you have proficiency with, as well as when you attack with a spell. See weapon proficiencies.
Armor Class
[2] A creature’s Armor Class represents how well the creature avoids being wounded in combat. The AC of a character is determined at character creation, whereas the AC of a monster appears in its stat block.
Calculating AC. All creatures start with the same base AC calculation:
- Base AC = 10 + the creature’s Dexterity modifier
A creature’s AC can then be modified by armor, magic items, spells, and more.
Only One Base AC. Some spells and class features give characters a different way to calculate their AC. A character with multiple features that give different ways to calculate AC must choose which one to use; only one base calculation can be in effect for a creature.
Rolling 20 or 1
[2] If you roll a 20 on the d20 (called a “natural 20”) for an attack roll, the attack hits regardless of any modifiers or the target’s AC. This is called a Critical Hit.
If you roll a 1 on the d20 (a “natural 1”) for an attack roll, the attack misses regardless of any modifiers or the target’s AC
[ Previous: D20 Test ] [ Next: Advantage/Disadvantage ]
Sources and Notes
- Cannot access the database: :real_connect(): (HY000/1226): User 'a1618b_wiki5' has exceeded the 'max_user_connections' resource (current value: 10)Licensed: CC-BY
Back to Main Page → DnD → 5x → 5e24 → SRD 5.2
Attribution:SRD 5.2 CC-BY
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2 (“SRD 5.2”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode].