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Attacker against defender dice odds

Up to three attacking dice against up to two defending dice, highest compared with highest, ties to the defender.

The rule this covers

In many territory-conquest board games the attacker rolls one, two or three dice and the defender rolls one or two. The highest die on each side is compared, then the second highest if both sides rolled at least two. The lower die in each pair loses a piece, and the defender wins ties.

Dice (attacker against defender)Defender losesOne eachAttacker loses
3 against 237.2% (loses 2)33.6%29.3% (loses 2)
3 against 166.0%n/a34.0%
2 against 222.8% (loses 2)32.4%44.8% (loses 2)
2 against 157.9%n/a42.1%
1 against 225.5%n/a74.5%
1 against 141.7%n/a58.3%

What the chart tells you

  • Three against two slightly favours the attacker. Over many battles the attacker loses about 0.92 pieces per roll and the defender about 1.08.
  • Three against one is the attacker's best case: the defender loses 66.0% of the time.
  • One against one favours the defender, who wins 58.3% of the time, because ties go their way.
  • The tie rule is worth a lot. Without it, one die against one would be an even contest apart from ties being re-rolled.
  • Rolling more dice always helps the attacker, which is why attacking with large numbers works and attacking with small numbers does not.

More dice odds

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Every figure on this page was computed by counting all possible outcomes. Game names mentioned here are trademarks of their owners; this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.