Exhaustion 5e: Levels, Recovery, and 2014 vs. 2024 Rules
When a party has one more hour of travel before shelter, I like knowing what a failed save could cost tomorrow. Exhaustion can change how far you move, how well you fight, and how many nights you need to recover. The examples start with 2014 D&D 5e and compare the 2024 rules below.
Exhaustion 5e Quick Answer
In 2014 D&D 5e, exhaustion has six levels with cumulative effects. Apply your current level’s effect and every effect from lower levels. The first level gives disadvantage on ability checks, the second halves your speed, and reaching level six is fatal. A long rest removes one level if you’ve eaten and had something to drink. 2014 exhaustion rules
What Are the Six Levels of Exhaustion in 2014?
| Level | Effect added at that level |
|---|---|
| 1 | Make ability checks with disadvantage. |
| 2 | Halve your speed. |
| 3 | Make attack rolls and saving throws with disadvantage. |
| 4 | Halve your hit point maximum. |
| 5 | Your speed becomes 0. |
| 6 | You die. |
For example, a character at level 3 with a normal speed of 30 feet moves at a speed of 15 feet and has disadvantage on ability checks, attacks, and saves. If recovery brings them down to level 2, they lose the disadvantage on attacks and saves from exhaustion. Their speed stays at 15 feet, and their ability checks still have disadvantage. 2014 condition table and recovery
When Does Exhaustion Affect Initiative and Concentration?
In 2014, initiative is a Dexterity ability check, so exhaustion affects it from level 1. Maintaining concentration after damage uses a Constitution saving throw, so that roll takes disadvantage from level 3. At levels 1 and 2, a Constitution save still uses its usual procedure. Check which kind of roll the rule calls for before applying the penalty. 2014 initiative · Concentration
At level 3 or higher, a qualifying source of advantage can cancel exhaustion’s disadvantage on a particular roll. A 2014 barbarian can use Reckless Attack to cancel it on qualifying Strength-based melee weapon attacks. Apply the exhaustion table to other rolls as usual. Barbarian guide · 2014 advantage and disadvantage
When Do You Gain Exhaustion?
An effect or hazard tells you when to add exhaustion and how many levels to add. Common 2014 examples include forced marching, going without food or water under the applicable rules, and using the Berserker barbarian’s Frenzy. Write the new total on the character sheet as soon as the effect applies. 2014 travel and food rules · 2014 Berserker Frenzy
Worked Example of a Forced March
The party has traveled for eight hours and needs two more to reach a shelter. Each character makes a Constitution save at the end of each extra hour. The DC is 10 plus the number of hours past eight, and each failed save adds one exhaustion level. 2014 forced march rules · Running wilderness travel
- Hour nine. Mira starts at level 1 and fails the DC 11 save. She rises to level 2. Her speed is now halved.
- Hour ten. Mira rolls the DC 12 save normally because level 2 affects ability checks and speed. She fails again and reaches level 3. Subsequent saves now have disadvantage from exhaustion.
- At the shelter. Mira eats, drinks, and finishes a long rest. She drops to level 2, recovering normal attack and save rolls from the level 3 effect.
How Do You Remove Exhaustion in 2014?
A long rest with food and drink removes one level. Going from level 3 to level 0 through rests alone takes three qualifying long rests. A short rest can let you spend Hit Dice to recover HP, but the standard short rest rules provide no exhaustion recovery. 2014 resting · Hit Dice
Greater restoration can remove one level per casting. The 2014 spell consumes diamond dust worth at least 100 gp each time. Ordinary healing restores current hit points within the current maximum. At exhaustion level 4, that maximum is still halved until the level drops below 4 or another applicable rule changes it. 2014 Greater Restoration · Hit points
2014 vs. 2024 Rules
In 2024 D&D, each level subtracts 2 from D20 Tests and 5 feet from Speed. D20 Tests are ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. At level 2, a character with a normal Speed of 30 feet has Speed 20 feet and subtracts 4 from those rolls. A roll of 13 with a +3 bonus gives a total of 12 after the penalty, which fails against DC 13. The same 2014 character at level 2 has speed 15 feet and totals 16 on that saving throw. 2024 Exhaustion and D20 Tests
| Rule | 2014 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Rolls | Disadvantage on checks at level 1, with attacks and saves added at level 3 | Subtract 2 per level from checks, attacks, and saves |
| Movement | Half speed at level 2, then speed 0 at level 5 | Subtract 5 feet per level from Speed |
| Hit point maximum | Halved from level 4 | Exhaustion leaves it at its usual value |
| Long rest | Removes one level after food and drink | Removes one level on completion of the rest |
| Level 6 | Death | Death |
The 2024 penalty is a subtraction from the roll. If you have advantage, keep the higher d20 and then apply the exhaustion penalty to the result. For exhaustion caused by dehydration or malnutrition, meet the relevant hazard’s daily water or food requirement before removing those levels. 2024 Exhaustion · Dehydration · Malnutrition
Does Berserker Frenzy Still Cause Exhaustion?
In 2014, using Frenzy adds one exhaustion level when the Rage ends. The 2024 feature instead adds damage to the first qualifying Strength hit on your turn when you use Reckless Attack during Rage. The revised feature has no exhaustion cost. 2014 Frenzy · 2024 Berserker
Exhaustion FAQ
Does eating or drinking remove a level by itself?
For ordinary 2014 recovery, food and drink satisfy the requirement that lets a completed long rest remove one level. For exhaustion caused by a shortage of food or water, you must first eat and drink the full required amounts before those levels can be removed. 2014 food and water rules
What happens if a character dies from exhaustion and is revived?
The 2014 condition rules reduce exhaustion by one level when a creature is raised from the dead. If an applicable effect successfully revives a character who died at level 6, they return at level 5 exhaustion under that rule. 2014 exhaustion recovery