Savage Worlds at a Glance
Four ideas carry most of the game. Each part of the guide builds on them.
Dice for Traits
Every attribute and skill is a die from d4 to d12. Roll it against a Target Number of 4; every 4 more is a raise.
Aces & the Wild Die
Roll a die's highest number and it "aces": roll again and add. Heroes also roll a d6 Wild Die and keep the better result.
Shaken & Wounds
Beat a foe's Toughness and they're Shaken; each raise is a Wound. Extras drop at the first Wound, heroes can take three.
Bennies
Tokens you spend to reroll, shake off being Shaken or soak Wounds. You start every session with three.
The 16 Parts
Read in order for the full picture, or jump to what you need.
Build Your Hero
Getting Started
What makes Savage Worlds special, what you need to play, and the core ideas at a glance.
Character Creation
Build your hero step by step, from space marines to samurai to superheroes.
Traits & Skills
The five attributes, the skill list, and how die types define your character.
Edges & Hindrances
Special abilities and character flaws that make every hero (and villain) unique.
Gear & Equipment
From enchanted swords to plasma rifles: equipping your hero for any genre.
Play the Game
Core Rules
Trait tests, raises, the Wild Die, Aces, Bennies and the engine under the hood.
Combat Basics
Action cards, attack rolls, damage and Shaken: fast, furious fight scenes.
Advanced Combat
Called shots, Tests, Support, Gang Up and other tactical options.
Chases & Dramatic Tasks
High-speed pursuits, ticking clocks and cinematic tension beyond combat.
Powers & Magic
Arcane Backgrounds from wizardry to psionics to weird science: one flexible framework.
Interludes & Downtime
Campfire stories, character moments and what happens between adventures.
Run the Game
Game Mastering
Running exciting sessions: difficulty, Bennies, encounters, pacing and NPCs.
World Building
Crafting settings, factions and campaign arcs for long-term play.
Setting Rules
Customizing the system for horror, supers, sci-fi, noir and any genre you can imagine.
Adventure Toolkit
Mass battles, social conflicts, quick encounters and other modular rules.
Playing Solo
Be your own GM: an action-deck oracle with exact odds, scene checks, NPC reactions and Bennies for one.
Tools & References
Keep these open at the table.
Sample Characters
60 ready-made heroes across fantasy, sci-fi, pulp and horror, solo and in parties, to play as-is or load into the character sheets.
Quick Reference
Rules summary, common modifiers and essential tables at a glance.
Dice Roller
Trait tests with Aces and the Wild Die, raises, Benny rerolls, exact odds and damage.
Digital Character Sheet
An interactive sheet for tracking wounds, Power Points, gear and Advances.
Character Sheets
Fillable core, Deadlands and Rifts sheets with auto Pace, Parry, Toughness and Rank, to save and print.
Settings
Worlds built on Savage Worlds. They use the rules above and cover only what each setting adds.