Compare dice
A higher average does not always mean the better die. Put two expressions side by side and see which one actually wins.
against
2d6
- Wins
- 50%
- Range
- 2 to 12
- Average
- 7
- Swing
- 2.42
1d12
- Wins
- 41.67%
- Range
- 1 to 12
- Average
- 6.5
- Swing
- 3.45
2d6 beats 1d12 50% of the time. They tie the remaining 8.33%.
- 22.78%
- 35.56%
- 48.33%
- 511.11%
- 613.89%
- 716.67%
- 813.89%
- 911.11%
- 108.33%
- 115.56%
- 122.78%
| Result | Chance | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2.78% | 1 in 36 |
| 3 | 5.56% | 1 in 18 |
| 4 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 5 | 11.11% | 1 in 9 |
| 6 | 13.89% | 1 in 7.2 |
| 7 | 16.67% | 1 in 6 |
| 8 | 13.89% | 1 in 7.2 |
| 9 | 11.11% | 1 in 9 |
| 10 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 11 | 5.56% | 1 in 18 |
| 12 | 2.78% | 1 in 36 |
- 18.33%
- 28.33%
- 38.33%
- 48.33%
- 58.33%
- 68.33%
- 78.33%
- 88.33%
- 98.33%
- 108.33%
- 118.33%
- 128.33%
| Result | Chance | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 2 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 3 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 4 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 5 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 6 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 7 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 8 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 9 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 10 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 11 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
| 12 | 8.33% | 1 in 12 |
Why 2d6 and 1d12 are a dead heat
2d6 averages 7 and a d12 averages 6.5, so the pair of dice looks like the better bet. It is not. 2d6 beats a d12 on exactly 50% of matchups, a precise dead heat of 216 wins in 432 combinations.
The reason is spread. 2d6 clusters hard around 7 and almost never reaches 11 or 12, while the d12 hits its top numbers as often as any other. What 2d6 gains from the higher average, it gives back by rarely rolling high, and the two cancel exactly.