Where the d8 shows up
- Weapons. Longsword, rapier, battleaxe, warhammer, morningstar, flail, longbow and light crossbow all deal 1d8. The longsword, battleaxe and warhammer step up to a d10 held in two hands.
- Healing. Cure Wounds restores 1d8 plus your spellcasting modifier.
- Divine Smite. A paladin adds 2d8 radiant damage for a 1st-level slot, and 1d8 more for each slot level above that.
- Hit dice. Bards, clerics, druids, monks, rogues and warlocks roll a d8 per level, or take the fixed 5.
A d8 or a d10?
It is the most common mix-up in a new set: both are pointed at the ends. The d8 is two pyramids stuck together, eight equal triangles. The d10 has kite-shaped faces and a longer body. Count the sides, or roll it here and skip the question.
Your odds on a d8
Every face of a fair d8 is 1 in 8, exactly 12.5%. For a number or higher:
| You need | Chance |
|---|---|
| 2 or higher | 87.5% |
| 3 or higher | 75% |
| 4 or higher | 62.5% |
| 5 or higher | 50% |
| 6 or higher | 37.5% |
| 7 or higher | 25% |
| 8 | 12.5% |
Waiting for an 8? The chance of at least one climbs with every roll:
| Rolls | At least one 8 |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12.5% |
| 2 | 23.4% |
| 3 | 33.0% |
| 5 | 48.7% |
| 10 | 73.7% |
| 20 | 93.1% |
Two d8s add up to 2 through 16, and 9 is the likeliest total, 1 in 8. The dice calculator works out any roll, and the d6 and d10 rollers sit either side.
Spells that roll 1d8
Base damage in the SRD, before upcasting or cantrip levels.
- Produce Flame (cantrip)
- Ray of Frost (cantrip)
- Sacred Flame (cantrip)
- Shocking Grasp (cantrip)
- Bestow Curse (3rd level)
Questions
What does 1d8 mean?
One eight-sided die. The number in front is how many dice, so 2d8 is two d8 added together, and 1d8 + 3 is a longsword hit with +3 Strength. The Dice Notation Guide covers the rest.
What is the average roll on a d8?
4.5, halfway between 1 and 8. Each extra d8 adds 4.5, so a 1st-level Divine Smite (2d8) averages 9 and a 2nd-level one (3d8) averages 13.5.
Which classes use a d8 hit die?
Bards, clerics, druids, monks, rogues and warlocks. Each level they roll a d8 for hit points, or take the fixed 5, and add their Constitution modifier.
How do I tell a d8 from a d10?
Count the faces. A d8 has eight equal triangles, like two pyramids joined at the base; a d10 has ten kite-shaped faces and a longer body.
How can I roll a d8 without one?
Roll a d4 and a d6: if the d6 shows 1 to 3, read the d4 as it is; if it shows 4 to 6, add 4. That gives 1 to 8, each exactly 1 in 8. Or tap the roller above.
Is this d8 roller random and fair?
Yes. Each roll comes from your browser's cryptographic random number generator, with no bias towards any face. Every face is exactly 1 in 8. Roll up to 20 d8 at once and add a modifier.