How 4d6 drop lowest works
For each of the six abilities, roll four d6, set the lowest aside and add the other three. Dropping one die pulls the average up from 10.5 (plain 3d6) to about 12.24, and makes a very low score rare: an 8 or lower comes up about one time in ten.
| Score | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 8–9 | −1 |
| 10–11 | +0 |
| 12–13 | +1 |
| 14–15 | +2 |
| 16–17 | +3 |
| 18 | +4 |
The odds of every score
Four d6 make 1,296 equal outcomes. Counting every one gives the exact chance of each score:
| Score | Exactly | Or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| 17 | 4.2% | 5.8% |
| 16 | 7.3% | 13.0% |
| 15 | 10.1% | 23.1% |
| 14 | 12.3% | 35.5% |
| 13 | 13.3% | 48.8% |
| 12 | 12.9% | 61.7% |
| 11 | 11.4% | 73.1% |
| 10 | 9.4% | 82.5% |
| 9 | 7.0% | 89.5% |
| 8 or lower | 10.5% | 100% |
13 is the likeliest single score. Across a whole set of six:
- At least one 18: 9.3% of characters.
- At least one 15 or better: 79.4%. Two or more: 42.2%.
- No score of 8 or lower: 51.4%, so about half of all rolled characters have a weak spot.
- Total of all six: 73.5 on average, against 72 for the standard array.
The other ways
- 3d6, in order: the oldest method. Roll 3d6 6 times and take the scores in order, Strength first. Average 10.5, and a 15 or better only 9.3% of the time. The 3d6 roller does one score at a time.
- Standard array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8, placed where you like. Everyone at the table ends up equal.
- Point buy: 27 points to spend, every score starting at 8 and none above 15 before bonuses.
Rolling is the most fun and the least fair. Some groups let everyone roll and then all pick the same set, which keeps the drama and loses the envy.
Reroll 1s
A common house rule: reroll any die that shows a 1, then drop the lowest as usual. It lifts the average score from 12.24 to 13.43, and a 15 or better from 23.1% to 35.2% of scores. This roller plays the rules as written; reroll 1s by hand if your table uses it.
After you roll
Put your scores straight onto a free character sheet and carry on building the character.
Questions
How do you roll stats in D&D 5e?
Roll four d6, drop the lowest, and add the other three. Do that six times and assign the six scores to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma as you like. The roller above does all six in one tap.
What is the average stat with 4d6 drop lowest?
About 12.24 per score, and 73.5 for all six together. Plain 3d6 averages 10.5 per score, or 63 for a set.
What are the odds of rolling an 18?
1.6% per score (21 of the 1,296 ways four d6 can land). Across six scores, 9.3% of characters get at least one 18. With 3d6 it is 0.5% per score, 1 in 216.
Is rolling better than the standard array?
Slightly, on average. The standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) gives +5 in total modifiers; a rolled set averages +5.24. A rolled set beats the array 47.8% of the time, ties it 11.1% and falls short 41.1%.
How do you work out the modifier from a score?
Subtract 10, halve it and round down. So 15 is +2, 9 is −1 and 18 is +4. The table above lists every band.
Is this stat roller random and fair?
Yes. Every die comes from your browser's cryptographic random number generator, with no bias towards any face, so each d6 face is exactly 1 in 6. Every die is shown, including the one dropped, so the table can see the roll was honest.