Mastering the Dice: A Comprehensive Guide to Saving Throws in D&D 5e

Saving throws are a fundamental mechanic in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5e), representing a character’s ability to resist a variety of negative effects. Whether it’s dodging a fireball, shaking off a magical charm, or maintaining your grip on a crumbling cliff face, saving throws are crucial for survival and success in your adventures. Understanding how they work and how to calculate them accurately is essential for every player. This comprehensive guide will break down the process step-by-step, providing you with everything you need to master this important aspect of the game.

What are Saving Throws?

In D&D 5e, a saving throw is a dice roll made by a creature to avoid or reduce the impact of a harmful effect. These effects can come from various sources, such as spells, traps, poisons, diseases, and environmental hazards. When a situation calls for a saving throw, the game master (GM) will typically specify which ability score is used for the throw and the difficulty of the check, represented by a ‘DC’ or Difficulty Class.

Think of it this way: your character has certain natural strengths (represented by ability scores) and levels of training in those areas (represented by proficiency). When faced with danger, they call upon these strengths and training to try and avoid the harm. This is the core concept of a saving throw.

The Six Ability Scores and Their Corresponding Saving Throws

There are six core ability scores in D&D 5e, each associated with a specific type of saving throw. These are:

• Strength (STR): Used for physical feats of power, such as resisting being shoved or pushed, or preventing yourself from falling.
• Dexterity (DEX): Used for reflexes and agility, such as dodging a spell or leaping out of the way of a falling object.
• Constitution (CON): Used for physical resilience and endurance, such as resisting poison or disease, or maintaining concentration.
• Intelligence (INT): Used for mental acuity and knowledge, such as resisting illusions or dispelling magic.
• Wisdom (WIS): Used for insight and intuition, such as resisting mental domination or understanding an enemy’s motive.
• Charisma (CHA): Used for force of personality and presence, such as resisting fear or being charmed.

Each character has a modifier for each ability score. This modifier, which can be positive, negative, or zero, is determined by the score itself. A higher score results in a higher modifier, improving your chances of success.

Step-by-Step Guide to Calculating Saving Throws

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to calculate a saving throw in D&D 5e:

1. Identify the Saving Throw Type:

   The first step is to determine which ability score the saving throw is based on. This information will always be provided by the GM or the description of the effect causing the save. For example, a fireball will typically require a Dexterity saving throw to avoid taking full damage. A spell that charms a creature might call for a Wisdom saving throw.

2. Determine Your Ability Score Modifier:

   Once you know the ability score, find your character’s modifier for that ability score. The modifier is determined by the following chart:

   Ability Score	Modifier
   1	-5
   2-3	-4
   4-5	-3
   6-7	-2
   8-9	-1
   10-11	+0
   12-13	+1
   14-15	+2
   16-17	+3
   18-19	+4
   20-21	+5
   22-23	+6
   24-25	+7
   26-27	+8
   28-29	+9
   30	+10

   For example, if your character has a Strength score of 14, their Strength modifier would be +2. If they have a Wisdom score of 8, their Wisdom modifier would be -1. This modifier represents your inherent talent in the respective ability.

3. Check for Proficiency:

   Some characters are proficient in certain saving throws. This means they add their proficiency bonus to the saving throw in addition to their ability score modifier. Proficiency is earned through your character’s class, race, or background. Your proficiency bonus starts at +2 at level 1 and increases as you level up. It is +2 for level 1-4, +3 for level 5-8, +4 for level 9-12, +5 for level 13-16 and +6 for level 17-20.

   To determine if you are proficient, check your character sheet. It will typically list which saving throws you are proficient in. If you are not proficient in the required saving throw, you simply do not add your proficiency bonus. For example, if your character is proficient in Constitution saving throws and the current situation calls for it, you would add your proficiency bonus to your roll.

4. Roll the d20:

   Now, it’s time to roll a twenty-sided die (d20). This die roll represents the randomness of fate and your character’s luck in the situation.

5. Calculate the Total:

   Add your ability score modifier to the number you rolled on the d20 and if you are proficient in the saving throw also add your proficiency bonus. This sum is the total of your saving throw roll. This number must equal or exceed the DC of the saving throw, set by the GM.

   Total Saving Throw Roll = d20 Roll + Ability Score Modifier (+ Proficiency Bonus if proficient)

6. Compare to the Difficulty Class (DC):

   The GM will tell you the Difficulty Class (DC) for the saving throw. This number represents how challenging the effect is to resist. If your total saving throw roll is equal to or greater than the DC, you succeed on the saving throw and often take reduced or no damage, or you completely avoid the negative effect. If your total saving throw roll is lower than the DC, you fail the saving throw and suffer the full consequences of the effect. For example, if the DC is 15 and you rolled a total of 16, you succeed, but if you rolled 14 you fail.

7. Apply the Effects

   If the saving throw is successful, you may take no damage or take reduced damage. If it’s a negative effect you may avoid it all together. If it fails, then you suffer the full consequences of the effect.

Example of Calculating a Saving Throw

Let’s walk through an example:

Imagine your Level 3 human fighter, named “Arion,” is standing near a magical blast. The GM says, “You must make a Dexterity saving throw to avoid being knocked prone. The DC is 13.”

1. Identify the saving throw: This is a Dexterity saving throw.

2. Determine ability score modifier: Arion has a Dexterity score of 16, giving them a modifier of +3.

3. Check for proficiency: Arion is not proficient in Dexterity saving throws according to his character sheet.

4. Roll the d20: Arion rolls a 10 on the d20.

5. Calculate the total: Arion adds his Dexterity modifier (+3) to the die roll (10). 10+3 = 13.

6. Compare to DC: Arion’s total of 13 matches the DC of 13. Therefore, Arion succeeds on the saving throw and is not knocked prone.

7. Apply Effects: Since the saving throw was a success, Arion suffers no negative effects from the magical blast.

Now let’s try an example where Arion fails.

Imagine Arion is caught in a web spell, the GM says, “You must make a Strength saving throw to break free of the web. The DC is 15.”

1. Identify the saving throw: This is a Strength saving throw.

2. Determine ability score modifier: Arion has a Strength score of 14, giving them a modifier of +2.

3. Check for proficiency: Arion is proficient in Strength saving throws according to his character sheet, and since Arion is Level 3, his proficiency bonus is +2.

4. Roll the d20: Arion rolls a 9 on the d20.

5. Calculate the total: Arion adds his Strength modifier (+2), proficiency bonus (+2) to the die roll (9). 9+2+2 = 13.

6. Compare to DC: Arion’s total of 13 is less than the DC of 15. Therefore, Arion fails the saving throw and remains stuck in the web.

7. Apply Effects: Since the saving throw failed, Arion remains stuck in the web and might suffer other negative effects depending on the spell description.

Advantage and Disadvantage on Saving Throws

Sometimes, a situation might grant you advantage or disadvantage on a saving throw. These conditions affect the d20 roll:

• Advantage: When you have advantage, you roll two d20s and use the higher result. This increases your chance of success. Examples of advantage include being under cover, having a spell that grants you advantage, or being a rogue with the uncanny dodge ability.
• Disadvantage: When you have disadvantage, you roll two d20s and use the lower result. This decreases your chance of success. Examples of disadvantage include being prone, restrained, or being in a dark space with no darkvision.

Advantage and disadvantage do not stack. If you have both advantage and disadvantage, you simply roll one d20 as normal. Other conditions may affect your dice rolls such as a bard using his inspiration to give you a bonus.

Critical Successes and Failures

Unlike attack rolls, there are no critical successes or failures on saving throws. If your saving throw roll equals the DC or higher, you succeed, and if it is lower, you fail. A nat 20 or 1 do not grant automatic success or failure like attack rolls do.

Common Saving Throw Scenarios

Here are some common scenarios where you’ll need to make saving throws:

• Spell Effects: Many spells require a saving throw to avoid or reduce their effects.
• Traps: Traps often require a Dexterity saving throw to avoid triggering or to lessen their impact.
• Poisons and Diseases: Constitution saving throws are used to resist the effects of these hazards.
• Environmental Hazards: Falling, extreme weather, and other environmental dangers often require saving throws.
• Monster Abilities: Many monsters have abilities that force saving throws.

Tips for Improving Your Saving Throws

While luck plays a part in saving throws, here are some ways to improve your odds of success:

• Choose Your Class Wisely: Some classes are naturally better at certain saving throws than others. For example, a fighter is generally more proficient in Strength and Constitution saves, while a rogue is more proficient in Dexterity saves.
• Increase Your Ability Scores: Improving the relevant ability score can significantly boost your saving throw modifier. Leveling up allows you to increase your ability scores.
• Gain Proficiency: Look for ways to gain proficiency in saving throws that you commonly encounter. Certain feats and class features provide proficiency options.
• Acquire Magic Items: Magic items can grant bonuses to ability scores or provide advantage on saving throws.
• Utilize Advantage: Seek out situations that grant you advantage on saving throws, such as gaining cover or utilizing specific spells or character abilities.
• Strategic Positioning: Be mindful of your positioning in battle. Staying out of the range of some area of effect attacks will not require saving throws.

Conclusion

Saving throws are an essential part of D&D 5e. Understanding how to calculate them and knowing when to use them can make the difference between victory and defeat. By following this guide and practicing, you’ll become a master of the dice, able to navigate even the most perilous situations. Remember to always pay attention to the GM’s instructions, check your character sheet, and consider all the factors that might influence your saving throw. With time and practice, you will confidently roll those dice and triumph in your adventures.

Good luck, and may your rolls be ever in your favor!