d4

A d4 is a four-sided die used in tabletop games. It is a regular tetrahedron with four congruent triangular faces. Each face bears a numeral from 1 to 4. When rolled, the die comes to rest on one face and a single vertex points upward; the indicated numeral is read to determine the result. Some dice print the numerals near the vertices to facilitate reading.

In role-playing games, d4 results are small integers, typically used for minor effects such as small amounts of damage or simple modifiers. They are often rolled as part of a larger dice pool or in combination with other dice types, for example 1d4, 2d4, or 3d4, depending on the rules of the game.

Notation and use: The standard shorthand for rolling four-sided dice is Nd4, where N is the number of dice. The d4 is commonly included in polyhedral dice sets used in many tabletop RPGs, alongside d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20.

Manufacture and variations: d4s are produced in a variety of materials, including plastic and resin, with occasional metal or specialty versions. While the basic shape is consistent, labeling conventions vary by manufacturer; some print numbers on the faces, others place them near the vertices to aid readability when the die lands with a vertex upward.

See also: Polyhedral dice, Dice notation, Dungeons & Dragons.