The ultimate D&D trivia quiz: 100+ questions

How deep does your Dungeons & Dragons knowledge go? Work through these questions on your own, use them for a pub quiz, or put your whole adventuring party to the test.

Choose a category, decide on your answer, then open Reveal answer to check it. The rules questions primarily use the 2014 fifth-edition rules; later books, the 2024 rules, and your DM's rulings may differ.

Rules Lawyer: yes or no

1. Dwarves get resistance against poison damage. If a dwarf gains another poison-resistance effect, do they take quarter damage?

Reveal answer

No.

2. Does an enemy get half cover if a creature stands between you and them?

Reveal answer

Yes.

3. Can a character use the Help action to give themselves advantage on their own next attack?

Reveal answer

No.

4. Can a player get more than one bonus action per round?

Reveal answer

No.

5. Can a two-weapon fighting bonus attack be separated from the Attack action by movement?

Reveal answer

Yes.

6. Does the AC bonus from a monk's Unarmored Defense stack with a sorcerer's Draconic Resilience?

Reveal answer

No.

7. Can a rogue deal Sneak Attack damage to a construct?

Reveal answer

Yes.

8. Does a melee weapon that is thrown count as a ranged weapon?

Reveal answer

No.

9. Can you take the Attack action while prone?

Reveal answer

Yes.

10. Is a 1 on an ability check an automatic failure?

Reveal answer

No.

11. Can you use a shield with the mage armor spell?

Reveal answer

Yes.

12. Can you knock a creature out with a melee spell attack?

Reveal answer

Yes.

13. A monster is immune to damage from nonmagical bludgeoning weapons. Does it still take damage from falling?

Reveal answer

Yes.

14. Can you cast spells with verbal components underwater?

Reveal answer

Yes.

15. Can you stow one weapon as part of a move and then draw another for free?

Reveal answer

No.

16. If you have the Spell Sniper feat and use the sorcerer's Distant Spell Metamagic, is the spell's range quadrupled?

Reveal answer

Yes.

17. Is it possible to replace a known cantrip?

Reveal answer

Not under the original 2014 rules. Tasha's Cauldron of Everything later introduced ways to do so.

18. Can you replace one attack from Extra Attack with a grapple attempt?

Reveal answer

Yes.

19. Is a Wild Shaped druid immune to charm person and hold person?

Reveal answer

Yes, if their beast form is no longer a humanoid.

20. A wizard casts invisibility on themselves. On the next round they ready an action to cast fireball. Do they remain invisible?

Reveal answer

No. Readying a spell requires concentration, ending invisibility.

21. Does carrying out a readied action use your reaction?

Reveal answer

Yes.

22. If you ready a spell, do you expend the spell slot even if you never release the spell before your next turn?

Reveal answer

Yes.

23. If you use your reaction, does it return at the start of the next round?

Reveal answer

No. It returns at the start of your next turn.

24. Does a critical hit against an unconscious creature count as two failed death saving throws?

Reveal answer

Yes.

25. Are successful ranged attacks automatically critical hits against an unconscious creature?

Reveal answer

No. The automatic critical hit applies only when the attacker is within 5 feet of the unconscious creature.

Meta questions

1. In what year was D&D first released?

Reveal answer

It was first released in 1974.

2. In what year was D&D fifth edition officially released?

Reveal answer

Fifth edition was officially released in 2014.

3. How many differently shaped dice are found in a typical D&D set?

Reveal answer

Six: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20. A percentile set contains two d10s.

4. At which levels does a fighter gain Ability Score Improvements or feats in the 2014 rules?

Reveal answer

Levels 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, and 19.

5. Which three D&D villains lent their names to antagonists in Stranger Things?

Reveal answer

The Demogorgon, the Mind Flayer, and Vecna.

6. Critical Role is set in the world featured in Explorer's Guide to Wildemount. What is that world called?

Reveal answer

Exandria.

7. The original Dungeons & Dragons offered the magic-user, cleric, and which third class?

Reveal answer

The fighting-man.

8. Which long-running video game franchise was initially inspired by a D&D campaign that ended with demons flooding the world?

Reveal answer

Doom.

9. Which word was carelessly replaced in Encyclopedia Magica: Volume One, and what accidental word did that create?

Reveal answer

“Mage” was replaced with “wizard,” accidentally changing instances of “damage” to “dawizard.”

10. When do you have disadvantage on melee weapon attacks underwater?

Reveal answer

When the weapon is not a dagger, javelin, shortsword, spear, or trident, unless the attacker has a swimming speed.

11. Name five ways to increase the damage dice rolled on a critical hit.

Reveal answer

Examples include Sneak Attack, Divine Smite, hunter's mark, a half-orc's Savage Attacks, a barbarian's Brutal Critical, magic weapons with extra damage dice, smite spells, and Battle Master maneuvers.

12. Name five ways to increase your Armor Class.

Reveal answer

Examples include a shield, mage armor, shield, shield of faith, barkskin, cover, Defensive Duelist, a tortle's Natural Armor, or a monk's Unarmored Defense.

Monster questions

1. Devils are lawful evil fiends and demons are chaotic evil fiends. What are neutral evil fiends called?

Reveal answer

Yugoloths.

2. Which damage types disable a troll's regeneration?

Reveal answer

Acid and fire.

3. Which environmental hazards can kill a vampire?

Reveal answer

Running water and direct sunlight.

4. What kind of nonmagical weapon is especially effective against many constructs?

Reveal answer

An adamantine weapon.

5. Name one form an imp can shapeshift into.

Reveal answer

A rat, raven, or spider.

6. What is the strongest kind of true giant?

Reveal answer

A storm giant.

7. What are the gray dwarves of the Underdark called?

Reveal answer

Duergar.

8. What do goblins often use as mounts?

Reveal answer

Worgs.

9. A chimera resembles which three creatures?

Reveal answer

A lion, a goat, and a dragon. It has a lion's body and a head from each creature.

10. Name the five chromatic and five metallic dragons, along with their breath weapon damage types.

Reveal answer

Red (fire), white (cold), black (acid), green (poison), blue (lightning), gold (fire), brass (fire), bronze (lightning), copper (acid), and silver (cold).

Arcana questions

1. Which spell can cause magic missile to miss?

Reveal answer

Shield. Counterspell prevents the spell from taking effect rather than causing it to miss.

2. Which spell suppresses an arcane lock?

Reveal answer

Knock.

3. Which spell destroys a wall of force?

Reveal answer

Disintegrate.

4. Which “mad mage” created spells for a faithful hound, private sanctum, sword, and magnificent mansion?

Reveal answer

Mordenkainen.

5. To which school of magic does counterspell belong?

Reveal answer

Abjuration.

6. What is the lowest-level Power Word spell?

Reveal answer

Power word pain, a 7th-level spell. Power word stun is 8th level; power word heal and power word kill are 9th level.

7. Power word pain, stun, and kill are enchantments. Which Power Word spell is not?

Reveal answer

Power word heal, which is evocation.

8. Which of these 1st-level spells directly increases AC for longer than one round: shield, shield of faith, barkskin, chromatic orb, or sanctuary?

Reveal answer

Shield of faith.

9. What are the eight schools of magic?

Reveal answer

Abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, illusion, necromancy, and transmutation.

10. How do you destroy each layer of a prismatic wall?

Reveal answer

• Red: cold damage
• Orange: strong wind
• Yellow: force damage
• Green: a passwall spell or another spell that opens a portal on a solid surface
• Blue: fire damage
• Indigo: bright light from a daylight spell or a similar spell of equal or higher level
• Violet: dispel magic

Planar questions

1. How many Outer Planes are there in the Great Wheel cosmology?

Reveal answer

Seventeen.

2. Which good-aligned plane is formed from two infinite layers with opposite gravity?

Reveal answer

Bytopia.

3. Which chaotic plane lets residents move objects with their minds?

Reveal answer

Limbo.

4. All devils are immune to which damage types?

Reveal answer

Fire and poison.

5. Which river runs through the Lower Planes?

Reveal answer

The River Styx.

6. What is the court of good-aligned fey called?

Reveal answer

The Seelie Court.

7. What are the four kinds of elemental genie, and which elements do they correspond to?

Reveal answer

Djinn (air), marids (water), dao (earth), and efreet (fire).

8. What is the region beyond the known multiverse, home to entities too alien for a normal mind to grasp?

Reveal answer

The Far Realm.

9. What is the term for extradimensional spaces of varying size and origin, including spaces created by spells or folds in reality?

Reveal answer

Demiplanes.

10. Name the Nine Hells in order, from first to last.

Reveal answer

Avernus, Dis, Minauros, Phlegethos, Stygia, Malbolge, Maladomini, Cania, and Nessus.

Forgotten Realms lore

1. Which alliance of independent cities in northwest Faerûn includes Daggerford, Neverwinter, Baldur's Gate, and Waterdeep?

Reveal answer

The Lords' Alliance.

2. Waterdeep is commonly known as the City of what?

Reveal answer

Splendors.

3. Sigil is also known as the City of what?

Reveal answer

Doors.

4. Which jungle-covered peninsula lies in the far southwest of Faerûn?

Reveal answer

Chult.

5. In which year did the Spellplague begin?

Reveal answer

1385 DR.

6. Which volcano erupted in 1451 DR and devastated Neverwinter?

Reveal answer

Mount Hotenow.

7. Which land on the eastern shore of the Sea of Fallen Stars repeatedly wars with Thay and is home to many spirits?

Reveal answer

Rashemen.

8. Who has been the supreme ruler of Thay for more than a century?

Reveal answer

Szass Tam.

9. Which Cormyrean order of knights is named after a creature believed extinct?

Reveal answer

The Purple Dragon Knights.

10. What happens when a druid wears metal armor?

Reveal answer

Nothing happens mechanically. Druids choose not to wear metal armor; the class description does not say that they cannot.

11. What are the five coins most commonly found in the Forgotten Realms, in ascending order of value?

Reveal answer

Copper, silver, electrum, gold, and platinum.

12. Elven cities with “Myth” in their names, such as Myth Drannor, have what special protection? Name it and describe a few properties.

Reveal answer

A mythal: a powerful, persistent field of elven high magic. A mythal can alter how magic works in its area, bar particular creatures, and permit or forbid particular spells and effects.

Religion

1. Who is the overgod who rules all creation in the Forgotten Realms?

Reveal answer

Ao.

2. Which gods make up the Triad?

Reveal answer

Ilmater, Tyr, and Torm.

3. Which gods make up the Dead Three, who took Jergal's portfolios?

Reveal answer

Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul.

4. What crime led to the gods being sent to walk the Material Plane as mortals during the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR?

Reveal answer

Bane and Myrkul stole the Tablets of Fate.

5. What caused the Spellplague?

Reveal answer

Cyric murdered Mystra at Shar's urging, destabilizing the Weave.

6. By what name is the deity Takhisis better known in D&D's wider multiverse?

Reveal answer

Tiamat.

7. Which god of dawn, renewal, and vitality is called the Morninglord?

Reveal answer

Lathander.

8. Who is the goddess of pain whose symbol is a nine-tailed barbed scourge?

Reveal answer

Loviatar.

9. Which metal is associated with Bahamut, god of metallic dragons?

Reveal answer

Platinum.

10. On which planes do the dwarven, gnomish, elven, and goblinoid pantheons make their homes?

Reveal answer

• Dwarven: Arcadia
• Gnomish: Bytopia
• Elven: Arborea
• Goblinoid: Acheron

Um, Actually

Each statement below contains something wrong. Can you spot it before revealing the correction?

1. As a rogue, once per turn you can make a Sneak Attack when you deal any damage. You might qualify by having an enemy of the target within 5 feet of it, gaining the benefit of the Help action, or attacking a creature that has not taken a turn yet as an assassin.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, Sneak Attack does not apply to any damage. The rogue must make the attack with a finesse or ranged weapon.

2. Before Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, player race speeds varied greatly. Most moved 30 feet; dwarves, gnomes, aarakocra, and goblins moved 25 feet; dhampirs, leonin, satyrs, and wood elves moved 35 feet; and centaurs had the game's highest base movement speed at 40 feet.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, an aarakocra's 25-foot walking speed came with a 50-foot flying speed, giving it the highest base speed in the game.

3. Interesting combinations include the Two-Weapon Fighting style letting you wield two lances while mounted, variant human fighters gaining nearly twice as many feats as other characters, and Sentinel plus Polearm Master stopping approaching enemies with reaction attacks.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, the Dual Wielder feat—not the Two-Weapon Fighting style—allows you to wield two lances while mounted.

4. Karsus' Folly was the only recorded 12th-level spell. Named for its Netherese inventor, it attempted to kill Mystryl and seize the Weave in −339 DR, destroying the Weave and its caster so thoroughly that spells of 10th level or higher were no longer supported when it returned.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, the spell was called Karsus's avatar. “Karsus' Folly” names the event and its consequences.

5. The 2014 Player's Handbook defines nine player races: dragonborn, dwarves, elves, gnomes, half-elves, hobbits, half-orcs, humans, and tieflings.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, they are halflings. “Hobbit” belongs to Tolkien's works.

6. D&D draws monsters such as kobolds, goblins, orcs, and trolls from European folklore, while monsters such as the tarrasque and grell are original to D&D.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, the modern fantasy orc was invented by J. R. R. Tolkien for Middle-earth rather than drawn directly from traditional European folklore.

7. Recent editions added tieflings, genasi, and aasimar—races descended from devils, dragons, and angels respectively.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, genasi descend from genies and other elemental forces, not dragons.

8. In second edition, skills were called proficiencies and attack bonuses were replaced by THAC0, short for “To Hit Armor Class Only.”

Reveal answer

Um, actually, THAC0 stands for “To Hit Armor Class Zero.”

9. A rogue who sneaks up on goblins can earn a surprise round of actions before normal combat begins.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, fifth edition has no separate surprise round. Surprise affects creatures during the normal first round of combat.

10. Beholders are brilliant, solitary creatures that close only some eyes while sleeping and usually meet a mate once in their lives. They date back to the original 1975 Greyhawk supplement.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, beholders reproduce asexually by dreaming new beholders into existence.

11. We know famous wizards through their spells: Mordenkainen through his magnificent mansion, Tasha through her hideous laughter, and Tenser through his grasping hand.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, it is Bigby's grasping hand.

12. D&D's many hybrid monsters include owlbears, duckbunnies, skunk cows, and spiderhorses.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, there are no skunk cows—but there are stench kows.

13. Odd spells include Otto's irresistible dance, Quincy's enchanting gourmet, which imbues food with magic, and guise of the yak-man, which disguises you as a yak-man.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, Quincy's enchanting gourmet is dedicated to cooking and cleaning up the kitchen afterward rather than enchanting food.

14. Wizards and sorcerers both use Intelligence for their spellcasting, but wizards study spellbooks while sorcerers carry a magical birthright.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, sorcerers use Charisma for their spellcasting.

15. The Outer Planes—including Mechanus, Limbo, and the Astral Plane—are aligned. Upper Planes such as Arborea, Mount Celestia, and the Beastlands are good, while Lower Planes such as Gehenna, Baator, and the Abyss are evil.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, the Astral Plane is a transitive plane, not an Outer Plane.

16. Putting a bag of holding into a portable hole causes an explosion that incinerates everything for miles. Putting a portable hole into a bag of holding instead creates a “Bag of Golding” with limitless gold.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, putting either item inside the other opens a gate to the Astral Plane. The items and nearby creatures are drawn through it.

17. A gelatinous cube is a transparent, knee-high cube of ooze that absorbs and digests everything in its path.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, a gelatinous cube is roughly 10 feet by 10 feet—not knee-high.

18. Sigil is ruled by the Lady of Pain, who bars gods from the city and insists that its residents worship her as their one true goddess.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, the Lady of Pain does not permit herself to be worshipped as a god.

19. The Forgotten Realms features gods with strange names, including Erythnul, Khurgorbaeyag, Fingodangalon, Blibdoolpoolp, Sheela Peryroyl, and Maglubiyet.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, Fingodangalon is made up. Erythnul is a god of slaughter, Khurgorbaeyag a goblin god of oppression, Blibdoolpoolp the kuo-toa's Sea Mother, Sheela Peryroyl a halfling goddess, and Maglubiyet the chief goblinoid god.

20. Officially licensed D&D settings have included the Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, Diablo, Ravnica, Exandria, Discworld, Warcraft, and Conan the Barbarian.

Reveal answer

Um, actually, Discworld has not had an official D&D adaptation. Warcraft used the d20 rules under the Open Game License rather than being an official Wizards of the Coast setting; Diablo II and Conan did receive licensed D&D adaptations.