Glossary¶

Action	Description
Attack	Make an attack
Cast a Spell	Cast a spell you know or have prepared
Dash	Double movement
Disengage	Avoid opportunity attacks
Dodge	Impose disadvantage on attacks
Help	Aid an ally
Hide	Attempt to become hidden
Ready	Prepare a reaction
Search	Look for something
Use an Object	Interact with an object

Term	Description
Initiative	Determines turn order
Surprise	Caught off guard, lose first turn
Turn	One creature's actions in a round
Round	All creatures act once
Movement	Travel during a turn
Speed	Distance moved per turn
Melee Attack	Close-range attack
Ranged Attack	Long-range attack
Unarmed Strike	Attack without weapons
Opportunity Attack	Reaction attack when enemy leaves reach
Grapple	Restrain a creature by grabbing it
Shove	Push a creature prone or away
Two-Weapon Fighting	Attack with off-hand weapon as bonus action
Half Cover	+2 AC
Three-Quarters Cover	+5 AC
Total Cover	Cannot be targeted directly

Term	Description
Hit Points (HP)	Measure of vitality
Hit Dice	Dice used to regain HP
Temporary Hit Points	Buffer that absorbs damage
Damage	Reduces hit points
Healing	Restores hit points
Death Saving Throw	Save to avoid dying
Stabilize	Stop a dying creature from making death saves
Resistance	Half damage
Vulnerability	Double damage
Immunity	No damage
Instant Death	Remaining damage equals or exceeds max HP
Massive Damage	Optional rule for instant incapacitation

Condition	Effect
Blinded	Cannot see
Charmed	Cannot attack the charmer
Deafened	Cannot hear
Exhaustion	6 cumulative levels of debuff
Frightened	Disadvantage while source is visible
Grappled	Speed 0
Incapacitated	Cannot take actions
Invisible	Cannot be seen
Paralyzed	Incapacitated, auto-fail Str/Dex saves
Petrified	Turned to stone
Poisoned	Disadvantage on attacks and checks
Prone	On the ground
Restrained	Speed 0, disadvantage on attacks
Stunned	Incapacitated, auto-fail Str/Dex saves
Unconscious	Incapacitated, unaware

Term	Description
Spell	Magical effect
Cantrip	Level 0 spell
Spell Slot	Resource to cast spells
Spell Level	Power tier of a spell
Spellcasting	Ability to cast spells
Spellcasting Focus	Object that replaces material components
Concentration	Maintaining a spell
Ritual	Cast without a spell slot (takes 10 extra minutes)
Verbal (V)	Spoken component
Somatic (S)	Gestural component
Material (M)	Physical component
Casting Time	Time to cast
Range	Distance of effect
Duration	How long it lasts
Area of Effect	Zone affected by a spell
Cone	Area shape
Cube	Area shape
Cylinder	Area shape
Line	Area shape
Sphere	Area shape

Term	Description
Bright Light	Normal visibility
Dim Light	Lightly obscured
Darkness	Heavily obscured
Lightly Obscured	Disadvantage on Perception checks
Heavily Obscured	Effectively blinded

Term	Description
Difficult Terrain	Costs double movement

Property	Description
Ammunition	Requires ammo to fire
Finesse	Use Str or Dex
Heavy	Small creatures have disadvantage
Light	Suitable for two-weapon fighting
Loading	One attack per action regardless of extra attacks
Range	Normal and long range
Reach	Extra 5 ft. melee range
Special	See weapon description
Thrown	Can be thrown for ranged attack
Two-Handed	Requires two hands
Versatile	One or two hands

Term	Description
Challenge Rating (CR)	Measure of threat
Legendary Actions	Extra actions at end of other turns
Legendary Resistance	Auto-succeed a failed save
Lair Actions	Special actions in a lair
Regional Effects	Environmental effects around a lair
Multiattack	Multiple attacks in one action

Term	Description
Adventure	A story arc
Campaign	Series of adventures
Encounter	A scene or challenge
Player Character (PC)	A player's character
Nonplayer Character (NPC)	DM-controlled character
Dungeon Master (DM)	The game referee
Short Rest	1 hour of downtime
Long Rest	8 hours of downtime
Level	Measure of character power
Experience Points (XP)	Progress toward next level
Multiclassing	Taking levels in multiple classes
Feat	Optional special ability
Background	Character's history before adventuring