In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, the spell Silvery Barbs has quickly become one of the most talked-about options for players looking to manipulate dice rolls and disrupt enemy plans. Its core mechanic revolves around forcing rerolls and granting advantage to allies, often turning the tide of combat in unexpected ways. But how does Silvery Barbs interact with the advantage and disadvantage rules? This question is frequently debated, especially in more tactical campaigns where every roll matters. To truly understand this powerful spell, it’s important to explore how it works with advantage, when it’s most effective, and how to maximize its potential without breaking the flow of the game.
Understanding Silvery Barbs
Spell Basics
Silvery Barbs is a 1st-level enchantment spell available to Bards, Sorcerers, and Wizards (and other classes through feats or multiclassing). It was introduced in Strixhaven: Curriculum of Chaos and has gained popularity for its ability to protect allies and manipulate outcomes mid-combat.
- Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when a creature you can see within 60 feet succeeds on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw.
- Range: 60 feet
- Components: V
- Duration: Instantaneous
When cast, the spell forces the triggering creature to reroll the d20 and use the lower result. After that, you can grant advantage to one creature within range (including yourself) on the next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw it makes within 1 minute.
How Advantage and Disadvantage Work in 5e
Core Mechanics
Before diving into how Silvery Barbs interacts with advantage, it’s crucial to understand what advantage and disadvantage actually mean in 5e. When a creature has advantage, it rolls two d20s and takes the higher result. Disadvantage is the opposite: roll two d20s and take the lower result. If a creature has both advantage and disadvantage, they cancel out, and the creature rolls a single d20.
Stacking Rules
Multiple sources of advantage do not stack. No matter how many times you gain advantage, you still only roll two d20s and choose the higher. The same goes for multiple sources of disadvantage. Only one of each applies at a time, and they cancel each other out if both are present.
Silvery Barbs and Advantage Interaction
Forcing Rerolls on an Advantage Roll
This is one of the most important use cases of Silvery Barbs. Let’s say a creature rolls with advantage on an attack roll. It rolls two d20s and takes the higher result. If it succeeds, you can use Silvery Barbs as a reaction to force a reroll. The key point here is:
- The creature rerolls only one die, and then must use the lower result between the two rolls (original or reroll).
This often causes confusion. However, based on official rulings and widespread table consensus, Silvery Barbs does not cause a full reroll of both dice. Instead, the creature rerolls the d20 it used for the final outcome and then is forced to use the lower of that result and the new roll.
For example, if a creature rolls 15 and 18 on an attack with advantage and takes the 18, Silvery Barbs causes a reroll of that 18. If the new roll is a 12, the creature now has to use the lower result 12 instead of 18 possibly turning a hit into a miss.
Dealing with Disadvantage and Silvery Barbs
If a creature rolls with disadvantage and still succeeds, Silvery Barbs can still be used. In this case, the lowest of the original two rolls is used, and Silvery Barbs forces another roll. Then, the lowest of the original and the new roll is taken. This layering ensures the spell is still effective even against already disadvantaged creatures.
Silvery Barbs Doesn’t Grant Disadvantage
It’s important to understand that Silvery Barbs does not impose the disadvantage condition it merely forces a reroll and selects the lower of the two. This means that Silvery Barbs and Disadvantage are separate mechanics and can be combined to further reduce the chances of success for an enemy roll.
Granting Advantage Through Silvery Barbs
The Bonus Effect
Aside from disrupting an enemy’s roll, Silvery Barbs allows the caster to grant advantage to another creature on their next attack, ability check, or saving throw within 1 minute. This effect stacks normally and follows all standard rules regarding advantage. However, since multiple sources of advantage don’t accumulate, be mindful when choosing your target. Giving advantage to someone who already has it provides no mechanical benefit.
Best Uses for the Granted Advantage
To make the most of the granted advantage from Silvery Barbs:
- Give it to a rogue before their next attack to increase the chance of landing Sneak Attack.
- Support an ally about to make a critical saving throw.
- Enhance the chance of landing a powerful spell like Hold Person or Disintegrate.
Timing and prediction are crucial for maximizing this part of the spell, especially in high-stakes encounters where every roll matters.
Strategic Use of Silvery Barbs
When to Use It
- When an enemy lands a critical hit turning a potential crit into a normal hit or a miss.
- When your ally fails a saving throw and the enemy succeeds in resisting your control spell.
- In close battles where one attack roll can change the outcome of the entire fight.
Combining with Other Spells and Abilities
Silvery Barbs works exceptionally well when used in conjunction with spells like Shield, Cutting Words, or Counterspell. It adds another layer of tactical complexity and can make your spellcaster a serious controller on the battlefield.
Limitations and Considerations
Not a Cure-All
Despite its flexibility, Silvery Barbs isn’t invincible. It can’t be used if you’re surprised or out of reactions, and its effect is limited to what the target rolls. Additionally, because it’s a reaction, you only get one use per round unless specific class features allow for more.
Table Rules May Vary
Some Dungeon Masters may rule differently about how the reroll mechanics work, especially when combined with advantage or disadvantage. Always clarify with your DM how they interpret the interaction before relying heavily on this spell for your strategy.
Silvery Barbs is a versatile and powerful spell that can influence both enemy and ally rolls with strategic timing. When used effectively, it turns the tables in tight encounters by manipulating advantage and forcing unfavorable outcomes for your opponents. Understanding how it works with the advantage system in D&D 5e is crucial for getting the most value out of it. Whether you’re protecting your allies or setting up a critical hit, Silvery Barbs offers a flexible solution that rewards tactical thinking and quick reactions. Knowing when and how to use this spell can easily make it one of the most valuable tools in your magical arsenal.