What is exhaustion in DND?

In the middle of the battle against a red dragon, an armor -plated fighter's stomach bumbles. The party was too excited to jump into a game Dungeons and dragons And did not packed enough rations. After three days without food, he finds it difficult to concentrate and his movement brakes. He will not survive this struggle.

Fatigue is an important condition in D&D, and the 2024 edition of the player's handbook streamlines the mechanic to make it easier for both players and DMS. Whether you are a new player or just need a founder on the new rules, we have the exhaustive guide.

Updated February 16, 2025 by Jack Filsinger: The rules for fatigue in the 2024 player's manual were made much easier than their predecessor. But some tables still homebrew a combination of these rules for themselves. We have updated this list by comparing the original rules for 2014 with 2024, so you know exactly how to implement fatigue in your D&D game.

What is exhaustion?

Fatigue is a condition that characters may suffer from in dungeons and dragons If they push themselves too hard. It is Only conditions in D&D stacking with itself: Your character may not be double invisible, but They can earn up to six fatigue levelswith cumulative effects.

Fatigue represents a character or creature Failure to meet its basic survival needslike rest, food and water.

Just as in real life, characters in D&D can survive for a few days without eating and drinking but will quickly begin to feel the effects.

How exhaustion works in PHB 2014?

With the addition of 2024 -player manual, The rules for fatigue have been simplified.

Previous, In the 2014 player's handbook you received a different status effect per fatigue level, With all the effects stacking as so:

Depending on your DM and table, these rules for fatigue may still apply. Contact your DM to see what rules for fatigue they plan to use.

However, In 2024 -player manualwhat defines or does not define Fatigue has been significantly streamlined. This is described below.

Effects of fatigue in 2024 -player manual

When a character is exhausted they suffer Three effects:

1. Results of all D20 tests are reduced with twice the fatigue level.

2. The operation rate is reduced by five feet per fatigue level.

3. If a character's fatigue level reaches sex, That character dies.

How do you get exhausted?

There is different ways as a character can become exhaustedand you may need Keep track of how many fatigue levels you collect in each category to recover from it.

Regardless of how you get fatigue, each type of fatigue level is counted against six levels.

Dehydration

All creatures require water to live and If you do not drink enough, you will start to suffer fatigue.

About your character drinking less than half of their water needs per day, they will be exhausted At the end of the day and invokes a fatigue level.

Malnutrition

As water needs all creatures to eat and Creatures that do not eat enough begin to suffer from malnutrition.

Unlike dehydration requires malnutrition All creatures like eats less than half of their food requirements to make one DC 10 Constitution -saving throws.

On a failure they get a fatigue leveland After five days Without food, the creature gets a fatigue level At the end of each day automatically.

Suffocation

Fluid is the third way to get fatigue levels in the player's manual. This represents a character's inability to breatheEither because they are drowning, suffocating or otherwise cut from clean air.

All creatures can Keep your breath for a minute plus their constitutional modifier for at least 30 seconds.

So a barbaric with 18 constitution (+4 modifier) ​​can hold her breath for five minutes, after which she starts to get fatigue levels at a speed of one per turn.

Unlike other fatigue sources, they do not stick caused by choking: When a creature can breathe again, they recover from all fatigue levels caused by choking.

Fail to rest

Some modules and home bridges include An optional rule for not having long rest at least once every 24 hours.

If you don't rest long Within 24 hours, You have to make a DC 10 constitution -saving throw. In case of a failurewill you unfortunately need Take a fatigue level.

This DC increases by five for each consecutive 24-hour period without long rest.

Other fatigue sources

Previous editions included Further ways for characters to become exhaustedIncluding extended trip and Effects of some magic formulas and Married or Environmental effects.

While these sources are not quoted in the 2024 player's manual, they can be displayed in other source booksOfficial modules and third -party additions.

If you are not sure what can cause fatigue, talk to your DM.

How to recover from exhaustion

A long rest is required to recover from most forms of fatigue, including those caused by dehydration and malnutrition.

However, For malnutrition and dehydration you must also meet your nutritional requirements for the day Before long rest, Otherwise you will not recover.

Fatigue is recovered at a speed of one level per long rest as long as the nutritional requirements are met. When the fatigue level reaches zero, that creature has recovered from exhaustion.

The Larger restoration rod can Remove a single fatigue level per roleSo that the player's characters can recover faster.

Death does not remove exhaustion; Bees revived after dying keeps most curses, magical diseases and conditions, including fatigue.

Since six levels of fatigue would mean that a revived creature is immediately dying again, Return from the dead heals a fatigue level.