When your hit points drop to **0**, you are not dead — but you are **dying**. This system determines whether you: - Stabilise - Are rescued - Or die #### The Core Rule (Read This First) > **At 0 hit points, you fall unconscious and start making death saving throws.** --- #### What Happens at 0 Hit Points? When reduced to 0 HP: - You fall **unconscious** - You drop whatever you’re holding - You fall **prone** - You start making **death saving throws** on your turns #### Death Saving Throws On your turn: - Roll **1d20** - Do **not** add modifiers ##### Results - **10 or higher** → Success - **9 or lower** → Failure You track: - **3 successes** → You stabilise - **3 failures** → You die Note: Successes and failures don’t need to be consecutive. #### Natural 1s & 20s (Very Important) - **Natural 1** → counts as **2 failures** - **Natural 20** → you regain **1 HP** and wake up immediately #### 🛑 Taking Damage While Dying If you take damage at 0 HP: - You suffer **1 death save failure** - If the damage is from a **critical hit**, it counts as **2 failures** Note: Melee attacks against unconscious creatures are automatically critical. --- #### 🩹 Stabilising a Creature A dying creature can be stabilised by: - **Medicine check (DC 10)** - **Healing of any kind** Once stabilised: - No more death saves - Remain unconscious - Wake up after **1d4 hours** with 1 HP (or sooner if healed) #### 🧪 Healing & Death Saves Any healing: - Immediately stops death saves - Restores HP - Wakes the creature (unless stated otherwise) Note: Even **1 HP** is enough. #### Death vs Massive Damage If damage reduces you to 0 HP and: - The remaining damage equals or exceeds your **max HP** You die **instantly**. Example: - Max HP: 20 - At 5 HP - Take 25 damage → instant death #### DM Rule of Thumb > **Death saves are dramatic, not cruel — use them to create urgency, not punishment.** #### Summary > **At 0 HP you’re dying, not dead — unless you fail three death saves.** #### Quick Reference |Situation|Result| |---|---| |0 HP|Unconscious, death saves| |3 successes|Stabilised| |3 failures|Dead| |Natural 1|2 failures| |Natural 20|Regain 1 HP| |Any healing|Stop death saves|