Avrae is the official Discord bot for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5e).
It is far more than a simple dice roller. Avrae integrates directly with D&D Beyond and Google Sheets character sheets to import your stats, spells, and weapons directly into Discord. It automates combat tracking, damage calculation, and skill checks, making it the definitive tool for playing D&D online.
🐉 Why Avrae? (From Fan-Made to Official)
Avrae has a legendary status in the tabletop RPG (TRPG) community, especially in New Zealand, Australia, and North America where D&D culture is deep-rooted.
1. The Need for a “Virtual Tabletop”
When playing online, switching between Discord (voice) and a browser (character sheet) breaks immersion. Avrae solves this by bringing the character sheet into the chat. You don’t say “I cast Fireball” and then roll physical dice; you type !cast Fireball and the bot calculates the damage, spell slots, and saving throw DC instantly.
2. Officially Supported
Originally a fan project by Andrew Zhu, it was so good that D&D Beyond (now Wizards of the Coast) acquired it. This means it has legal access to official rulebooks, spell descriptions, and monster stats that other bots cannot provide.
⚙️ Key Features
Avrae manages the heavy lifting of D&D 5e mechanics.
🎲 Advanced Dice Rolling
It understands D&D math. It handles Advantage/Disadvantage, Critical Hits, and complex modifiers automatically.
📜 Character Sheet Integration
This is the killer feature. Import your character from D&D Beyond. When you level up on the website, the bot knows (after an update command).
⚔️ Combat Automation
The Initiative Tracker manages turn order, HP, AC, and status effects (like “Stunned” or “Prone”) for both players and monsters.
💻 Essential Command List
The default prefix is ! (exclamation mark).
🎲 Basic & Checks
| Command | Description |
| !roll 1d20 | Basic dice roll (Alias: !r). |
| !check [Skill] | Rolls a skill check (e.g., !check stealth). |
| !save [Stat] | Rolls a saving throw (e.g., !save dex). |
⚔️ Combat
| Command | Description |
| !attack [Weapon] | Rolls to hit and damage (e.g., !attack longsword). |
| !cast [Spell] | Casts a spell (e.g., !cast fireball). Tracks spell slots. |
| !init begin | Starts the combat tracker. |
| !init join | Adds your character to the combat. |
🔗 Setup & Info
| Command | Description |
| !beyond [URL] | Imports a character from D&D Beyond. |
| !spell [Name] | Looks up spell rules (e.g., !spell magic missile). |
| !gsheet [URL] | Imports a character from Google Sheets (GS). |
🚀 Setup Tutorial: Importing Your Character
This is where beginners get stuck. Follow these steps to sync your data.
Step 1: Invite the Bot
Visit the Avrae website or Top.gg and invite it.
- Permissions: It needs “Manage Messages” and “Embed Links.”
Step 2: Link D&D Beyond (Optional but Recommended)
Go to the Avrae website, log in with Discord, and link your D&D Beyond account in the settings. This enables content sharing.
Step 3: Import Character
- Create a character on D&D Beyond (make sure privacy is set to Public).
- Copy the URL of your character sheet.
- In Discord, type: !beyond [Paste URL here]
- Bot reply: “Character loaded: [Name]“
Step 4: Test It
Try a check without typing numbers.
- Input: !check perception
- The bot checks your sheet, sees you have +5 Wisdom, and rolls 1d20+5.
❓ FAQ: Common Questions
Q: Can I use it for systems other than D&D 5e (like Pathfinder)?
A: Not really.
Avrae is hard-coded for D&D 5e rules. For other systems, use a generic dice bot like Dice Maiden or a system-specific bot.
Q: I leveled up, but the bot still uses my old stats.
A: Run !update.
The bot doesn’t live-sync. Whenever you change your sheet on D&D Beyond, you must type !update in Discord to refresh the data.
Q: Is D&D Beyond mandatory?
A: No, but it helps.
You can use Google Sheets (via the GSheet v2.1 template) or even just use Avrae as a calculator (!r 1d20+5). However, D&D Beyond is the easiest method for beginners.
Q: How do I roll secretly (GM only)?
A: Add -h.
Most commands support flags. Adding -h (hidden) makes the result visible only to you and the Dungeon Master.
- Example: !check stealth -h
Q: The commands are too long.
A: Use Aliases.
Avrae has a powerful Alias system. You can install community-made shortcuts (e.g., typing !potion instead of a complex healing command). Check the Avrae Development Discord for the “Workshop.”
🌟 Pro Tip: Mapping Tools
Avrae handles the math, but not the map. For a complete visual experience, pair Avrae with a Virtual Tabletop (VTT).
- Lightweight Combo: Avrae (Discord) + Owlbear Rodeo (Browser).
- Use Discord for voice and dice. Use Owlbear for moving tokens on a map.
- Integrated Combo: Avrae + On-The-Fly Battle Maps (OtFBM).
- OtFBM is another bot that generates simple map images directly in Discord chat, perfect for “Theatre of the Mind” style games.
Next Step for You: Create a free D&D Beyond character, run !beyond [URL] in your server, and cast your first !cast magic missile!