The Ultimate Guide to D&D 5e HP Calculation: How to Determine Your Character’s Health Points

Hit Points (HP) are the lifeblood of your D&D 5th Edition character. Whether you’re a first-time player creating a barbarian or a seasoned DM tracking monster health, understanding D&D 5e HP calculation is crucial. This guide will walk you through the official rules, class-specific formulas, and advanced tactics – complete with a free D&D 5e HP Calculator to simplify the process.

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How HP Works in D&D 5e: Core Rules

Your character’s HP determines how much damage they can withstand before falling unconscious. According to the official D&D 5e Player’s Handbook (p.12), HP calculation follows two key components:

1. Hit Dice (HD): Determined by your class (e.g., d12 for barbarians, d6 for wizards)
2. Constitution Modifier: Added at every level

The Official HP Formula

HP = (Hit Die Maximum at Level 1) + (Average Hit Die Roll + CON Modifier) × (Level - 1)

Example: A Level 3 Fighter (d10 HD) with +2 CON:
10 (max) + (6 [avg d10] + 2) × 2 = 10 + 16 = 26 HP

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Class-by-Class Hit Dice Breakdown

(Source: D&D Beyond Class Guide)

Class	Hit Die	Level 1 HP (Max + CON)	Subsequent Levels (Avg + CON)
Barbarian	d12	12 + CON	7 + CON
Wizard	d6	6 + CON	4 + CON
Cleric	d8	8 + CON	5 + CON
Rogue	d8	8 + CON	5 + CON

Pro Tip: Use our D&D 5e HP Calculator to automate calculations for any class.

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Step-by-Step HP Calculation

Step 1: Determine Level 1 HP

1. Find your class’s Hit Die maximum (see table above)
2. Add your Constitution modifier
   Example: A cleric with +1 CON: 8 + 1 = 9 HP

Step 2: Calculate Subsequent Levels

1. Roll your Hit Die (or take the average)
2. Add CON modifier to each roll
   Optional: Use fixed averages per the D&D 5e PHB Errata:

• d6 → 4 HP/level
• d8 → 5 HP/level
• d10 → 6 HP/level
• d12 → 7 HP/level

Real-World Example:

Lilith’s Level 5 Rogue

• CON Modifier: +2
• Level 1 HP: 8 + 2 = 10
• Levels 2-5: (5 + 2) × 4 = 28
• Total HP: 10 + 28 = 38

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Advanced HP Tactics

1. The Tough Feat

The Tough feat adds +2 HP per level. Combined with high CON, this creates tanky builds:

HP = Standard Calculation + (2 × Level)

2. Multiclassing HP

When multiclassing, track each class’s Hit Dice separately:

1. Level 1 HP: Use your initial class’s HD
2. Subsequent Levels: Use the HD of the class you’re leveling

Example from RPG Stack Exchange:

A Fighter 3/Barbarian 2 with +1 CON:

• Fighter Levels: 10 + (6 + 1) × 2 = 24
• Barbarian Levels: (7 + 1) × 2 = 16
• Total HP: 24 + 16 = 40

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting CON Modifiers: 43% of new players make this error (D&D Beyond Survey)
2. Miscalculating Multiclass HP
3. Ignoring Feats/Homebrew Rules

Fix: Double-check your math with our D&D 5e HP Calculator.

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Free Resources

1. Downloadable HP Cheat Sheet (PDF)
2. Video Tutorial: D&D 5e HP Explained
3. Interactive Calculator: D&D 5e HP Calculator

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FAQ: D&D 5e HP Calculation

Can HP ever drop below 1?

No – per D&D 5e rules, HP can’t go below 0.

How does CON affect HP?

Add your CON modifier at every level, even if negative.

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Final Tips

1. Bookmark this D&D 5e HP Calculator for quick reference
2. For homebrew rules, see DM’s Guild Resources
3. Practice with our example builds above