Roll 3d6
Rolling 3d6 means rolling three six-sided dice and adding them, for a total from 3 to 18. The average is 10.5, and 10 and 11 are the most likely totals at 12.5% each. An 18 comes up only 0.46% of the time (1 in 216). 3d6 is the classic way to roll ability scores.
3d6 added together
3d6 ranges from 3 to 18, averages 10.5, and is most likely to total 10.
| Total | Chance | This or higher | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.46% | 100% | |
| 4 | 1.39% | 99.54% | |
| 5 | 2.78% | 98.15% | |
| 6 | 4.63% | 95.37% | |
| 7 | 6.94% | 90.74% | |
| 8 | 9.72% | 83.8% | |
| 9 | 11.57% | 74.07% | |
| 10 | 12.5% | 62.5% | |
| 11 | 12.5% | 50% | |
| 12 | 11.57% | 37.5% | |
| 13 | 9.72% | 25.93% | |
| 14 | 6.94% | 16.2% | |
| 15 | 4.63% | 9.26% | |
| 16 | 2.78% | 4.63% | |
| 17 | 1.39% | 1.85% | |
| 18 | 0.46% | 0.46% |
How 3d6 is used in D&D
3d6 in order: The oldest way to make a character is to roll 3d6 six times and assign the totals to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma in that order, with no rearranging. Early editions of D&D used it, and some old-school tables still do. The 5e Player's Handbook uses 4d6 drop lowest instead, which gives higher scores. The stat roller rolls a full set for you.
The bell curve: With three dice the totals cluster in the middle. Results from 9 to 12 come up 48.15% of the time, while 15 or higher happens only 9.26% of the time and 6 or lower also 9.26%. That makes 3d6 stats mostly average, with the occasional standout. See 2d6 and 3d6 probability for the full table.
Damage rolls: A rogue's Sneak Attack is 3d6 at levels 5 and 6. Don't confuse 3d6 with Shatter, which deals 3d8 thunder damage (average 13.5), not 3d6. Always check which die a spell or feature calls for.
Roll 3d6 FAQ
What is the average of 3d6?
The average of 3d6 is 10.5. Each d6 averages 3.5, and three of them add up to 10.5.
What are the odds of rolling 18 on 3d6?
Rolling 18 on 3d6 has a 0.46% chance, or 1 in 216, because all three dice must show a 6.
What is the most common roll on 3d6?
10 and 11 are tied as the most common totals on 3d6, each with a 12.5% (27 in 216) chance.
Is 3d6 the same as 4d6 drop lowest?
No. 3d6 adds three dice and averages 10.5. 4d6 drop lowest rolls four dice and keeps the best three, which averages about 12.24.
Related
Other dice
- 3D Dice Roller
- Roll a d2
- Roll a d3
- Roll a d4
- Roll a d6
- Roll a d8
- Roll a d10
- Roll a d12
- Roll a d20
- Roll a d100
- Roll a d1000
About this roller
DnD Dice Roller (dnddiceroller.org) rolls every die with your browser's cryptographically secure random number generator, crypto.getRandomValues, and uses rejection sampling so every face is exactly equally likely. The 3D dice only animate a result that has already been decided this way; the physics never picks the number. Rolls happen on your device and are never sent to our server.
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Contains content from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.