Death Saving Throws

When you start your turn at 0 HP, you make a death saving throw - a special saving throw not associated with any ability score.

The Roll:

• Roll d20 (no modifiers usually)
• 10 or higher = Success
• 9 or lower = Failure

Tracking Results:

• Three successes = You stabilize (stop making saves)
• Three failures = You die
• Successes and failures don't need to be consecutive
• All are reset when you regain any HP

Natural 1 and 20:

• Natural 1: Counts as TWO failures
• Natural 20: You regain 1 HP and wake up!

Damage While Dying:

• Any damage causes one automatic death save failure
• Critical hits (attacks from within 5 feet on unconscious targets) cause TWO failures
• Damage equal to your max HP = instant death

Example:

• You're at 0 HP with 1 success, 0 failures
• An enemy hits you: Now 1 success, 1 failure
• Another enemy crits you: Now 1 success, 3 failures = Dead

Massive Damage:

• If damage reduces you to 0 AND remaining damage equals or exceeds your max HP, you die instantly
• Example: 30 max HP, at 10 HP, take 40 damage = instant death (30 remaining after reaching 0)

Healing Spells:

• Any healing brings you to at least 1 HP
• Healing Word is excellent (bonus action, 60 ft range)
• Character immediately wakes up and can act

Medicine Check (Stabilize):

• DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check as an action
• Success: Character stabilizes (stops making saves)
• They remain at 0 HP, unconscious, for 1d4 hours

Healer's Kit:

• Automatically stabilizes without a check
• 10 uses per kit, costs 5 gp
• No proficiency required

Spare the Dying Cantrip:

• Touch range, action
• Automatically stabilizes
• Available to Clerics

What Stabilized Means:

• No longer making death saves
• Still at 0 HP, still unconscious
• Will regain 1 HP after 1d4 hours

Important Notes:

• Taking any damage restarts death saves
• Any healing wakes them up immediately
• They can't take actions while stabilized