Rollune
The d20 decides whether you succeed (attacks, checks, saves). The d4, d6, d8, d10 and d12 mostly roll damage, healing and hit points. The percentile pair (two d10s) makes a d100 for random tables. One set is enough to start; a few extra d6 help for big spells.
The standard seven-die set
| Die | Shape | Main uses in D&D 5e |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | pyramid | Daggers, darts, Magic Missile, Bless/Guidance bonus |
| d6 | cube | Shortswords, Sneak Attack, Fireball, rolling ability scores |
| d8 | octahedron | Longswords, rapiers, Cure Wounds, many hit dice |
| d10 | pentagonal trapezohedron | Heavy weapons, Fire Bolt, fighter/paladin/ranger hit dice |
| d12 | dodecahedron | Greataxe, barbarian hit dice |
| d20 | icosahedron | Attack rolls, ability checks, saving throws, initiative |
| d% | d10 marked 00–90 | With a d10, makes a d100 for percentile tables |
The d20: success or failure
In D&D, "roll a d20, add modifiers, beat a target number" is the core rule. Attacks try to meet the target's Armor Class; checks and saves try to meet a Difficulty Class. A natural 20 on an attack is a critical hit; a natural 1 always misses. More in critical hits and fumbles.
Damage dice: d4 to d12
Once you hit, smaller dice say how much. Weapons list their damage die (a longsword is 1d8), spells list theirs (Fireball is 8d6), and your ability modifier is usually added to weapon damage. Bigger dice are swingier: a d12 can roll 1 or 12, while 2d6 clusters around 7. See dice probability.
Hit dice
Each class has a hit die: d6 for sorcerers and wizards; d8 for bards, clerics, druids, monks, rogues and warlocks; d10 for fighters, paladins and rangers; d12 for barbarians. It sets your hit points per level and what you can roll to heal on a short rest. See hit points and hit dice.
Percentile dice
Roll the tens die (00, 10, 20…) and a regular d10 together: 40 and 7 make 47; 00 and 0 make 100. D&D uses them for random tables like Wild Magic Surge; systems like Call of Cthulhu use them for every skill roll. Try the d100 roller.
How many dice do you need?
One set per player is plenty to begin. Many players collect more, both for style and to roll big pools at once. A digital roller helps too: the online dice roller handles 8d6 in one tap, and the Rollune app saves it as a preset.
