Temporary HP can provide some much-needed bulk and survivability to a character in DnD. Here's everything you need to know about the mechanic.

As one of the most widely popular traditional tabletop RPGs, Dungeons & Dragons is a game that combines, social role-playing scenarios, puzzle-solving, exploration, and combat. The game's combat system offers a significant degree of depth, and it is home to a wide variety of unique mechanics for players to utilize as they strategize.

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While some of these mechanics can be easily overlooked by new players, others can be deceptive in their usefulness in potential applications. One such mechanic is Temporary HP. So in order to help newcomers to Dungeons & Dragons better understand the game's mechanics, we'll be explaining everything you need to know about Temporary HP.

Unlike effects like that of the Cure Wounds spell that replenish lost HP, some spells and abilities can provide a character with Temporary HP. Temporary HP is essentially an expansion on top of a character's standard HP pool, providing them with additional bulk and insurance in combat. If a character with any Temporary HP would sustain damage, they lose their Temporary HP first. Unlike normal HP, even if that character is healed after losing some of their Temporary HP, healing magic does not replenish Temporary HP.

Temporary HP is a great quick solution to ensure a character can keep fighting after taking some damage, or it can be applied to a character before they enter a battle, meaning they'll require more damage to be taken out of commission. If a creature can regularly supply itself with Temporary HP, it will be incredibly difficult to take down.

While there are various potential sources of Temporary HP in D&D, it is most commonly gained through the effects of spells. While Wizards and Sorcerers tend to be among the frailest characters in all of D&D, low-level characters of these classes have access to the False Life spell, providing bulk and survivability in the form of Temporary HP.

Additionally, the iconic Warlock spell, Armor of Agathys, can produce Temporary HP for its caster, dealing damage to any creatures that would attack the Warlock as long as any of this Temporary HP remains.

For those who want to use Temporary HP without the use of magic, it should be noted that the Inspiring Leader feat allows a character to provide Temporary HP to their allies through inspiring speeches.

When using effects that provide a character with Temporary HP, there are a few things that you need to be conscious of.

Next: Dungeons & Dragons: Tips For Running Combat Encounters

Staff Writer, Paul DiSalvo is a writer, comic creator, animation lover, and game design enthusiast currently residing in Boston, Massachusetts. He has studied creative writing at The New Hampshire Institute of Art and Otis College of Art and Design, and currently writes for TheGamer. In addition to writing, he directs and produces the podcast, "How Ya Dyin'?" He enjoys collecting comics, records, and wins in Magic: The Gathering.