When talking about exhaustion in DnD 5e, the first thing I should mention is that it functions similarly to other conditions in that when a creature is subjected to exhaustion, it must make a Constitution saving throw, or the condition will strike it.
However, you should know that exhaustion differs from other conditions because it’s the only condition with six levels that stack. The bigger the level of exhaustion is, the stronger the effect on your character.
Ultimately, it’s a unique condition because it is often caused by pushing a character beyond their normal limits. As it’s explained in Chapter 8 of Player’s Handbook, it can be caused by not eating enough, long marches without rest, running too much, and extreme environmental conditions.
How Bad Can Exhaustion Get?
In DnD 5e, exhaustion is divided into six dangerous levels/stages. Each one adds a new restriction to a monster on top of the previous one. As a result, the wearier a character grows, the less capable they become, and if they reach the maximum stage of exhaustion, they die.
Other conditions are much simpler, as you’re either affected by them or not. You’re either stunned or not; you’re either grabbed by a big Crab (grappled), or you’re not. There’s no middle ground.
Exhaustion has much of that middle ground to work around, making it so interesting. Let’s see what each level can do to you.
Exhaustion level 1: This level gives you a disadvantage on all ability checks. It’s not so bad since it affects out-of-combat actions and not things like attack rolls.
Exhaustion level 2: Your movement speed is halved, which essentially affects how your combat develops and how fast your party moves. Even if you are the only one affected by level 2 exhaustion, your party will move slowly so as not to get divided.
Exhaustion level 3: Disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws come in on this level. Your character is fatigued at this level, so all of his actions are affected.
Exhaustion level 4: Maximum hit points halved. This means that even when you are healed, you only have 50% of your total hit points, and it’s a grave danger to your survivability.
Exhaustion level 5: Movement speed is now zero: a single but severe consequence.
Exhaustion level 6: Causes the death of a character or a creature. No heals, saving throws, or death saves can stop this consequence.
Remember: Each level of exhaustion is added to the previous one, so if you have level 4 exhaustion, you suffer the effects of level 4 and all of the earlier levels at the same time.
Causes of Exhaustion
Exhaustion is most commonly caused by exposing your character to excruciating conditions while adventuring. On other occasions, the condition can be brought about with spells or monster abilities.
Adventuring
Extreme conditions while traveling on your campaign pose enormous threats to your whole party. You should carefully listen to your DM’s story and possible descriptions of journeys ahead so that your entire party can adequately prepare for them.
I remember when I was occupied by checking some spell details that I missed out on a crucial piece of information – namely, my party and I were going into the long-abandoned dungeon that has a couple of underground levels, and each level is colder than the previous one.
Even though I was a spellcaster, I didn’t choose any spells like Create Food and Water or some alternatives to saving me and others from freezing.
Pay special attention to these game elements, so you don’t end up exhausted:
- Not resting
- Lack of food and water
- Chasing
- Traveling non-stop for more than eight hours
- Extreme weather
- Swimming for more than one hour
- Rowing a boat for more than eight hours
- Environment effects (haunted places that can suck the energy from a creature)
- Being trapped under debris
Spells
Essentially, there are four DnD exhaustion spells (from main sources) that you can use on someone. If targets of these spells succeed on a Constitution saving throw, they can save themselves from exhaustion. However, they receive one level of this dreadful condition if they fail.
- Dream – This spell allows you to manipulate the creature’s dreams, turn them into nightmares, and thus deny them the necessary peaceful rest they need. It’s a pretty straightforward way of inflicting exhaustion on someone.
- Sickening Radiance – An AOE (area of effect) spell that deals radiant damage and imposes one level of exhaustion.
- Tenser’s Transformation – A boosting spell for your character that gives them temporary additional hit points, proficiency in weapons and armor, and greater damage. But, it comes at a price – one exhaustion level for your character.
- Wish – It’s one of the strongest spells in the game that lets you wish for a lot of things. Wish has a wide definition, and it’s generally understood that it can also cause exhaustion to creatures if you wish to do it, even though it’s not explicitly stated in the rules.
Abilities from Monsters
Some creatures lurking in the world of DnD 5e can make your legs tremble and inflict some serious damage to your character by using exhaustion. Here are five of them that can cause this condition:
- Gingwatzim – Energy Drain
- Jade Tigress – Poison Dart
- Soul Monger – Wave of Weariness
- Sibriex – Warp Creature
- Kalaraq Quori – Mind Seed
Specific abilities of these creatures directly impose one level of exhaustion on your character, while others have long-term effects and add levels over time if you don’t get rid of them.
Explore Exhaustion Carefully
Exhaustion is an intriguing option for DMs to utilize to vary the risks that their adventuring parties may face. Understanding how exhaustion works and its effects are critical if you want to use the mechanic successfully in your campaigns, but as always, be prepared to improvise, adapt, and overcome.
