Initiative Tracker

Initiative determines who acts first in combat. When a fight breaks out, every creature rolls a d20 and adds their Dexterity modifier. The Game Master then sorts everyone from highest to lowest — that's your initiative order.

Rolling Initiative

Each player rolls 1d20 + DEX modifier. The GM rolls for each group of monsters (or individually for important foes). Ties are broken by comparing Dexterity scores — the higher score goes first. If still tied, the GM decides or flips a coin.

Tracking Turn Order

Once initiative is set, combat proceeds in rounds. Each round, every combatant gets one turn in initiative order. After the last creature acts, a new round begins at the top. A round represents roughly six seconds of in-game time.

Tips for Game Masters

• Pre-roll monster initiative — saves time at the table and keeps the pace snappy.
• Group identical creatures — five goblins on one initiative count keeps things moving.
• Track conditions visibly — players forget they're frightened. A tracker like this one helps everyone stay on the same page.
• Announce the next turn — say “Ranger, you're up. Wizard, you're on deck.” It keeps players engaged.

Common Conditions Quick Reference

D&D 5e has 14 standard conditions that affect what a creature can do. Some of the most common: Prone (must spend half movement to stand), Grappled (speed becomes 0), Frightened (disadvantage on ability checks and attacks while the source is visible), and Stunned (can't move or take actions, auto-fail STR/DEX saves).