How are initiative ties handled?

Combatants are sorted by their rolled initiative total (d20 plus modifier). If two entries tie, most tables break it using the higher modifier or their own house rule — the tracker doesn't impose one for you.

Does this work for RPGs other than D&D?

Yes — it's a straightforward roll-d20-plus-modifier-and-sort tool, which matches the initiative mechanic used by D&D 5e and many other d20-based tabletop systems.

Initiative Tracker

Enter your combatants with their initiative modifiers and roll a d20 for each, automatically sorted into turn order.

Combatants

One per line. Add ": modifier" for a bonus, e.g. "Rogue: +3" — no modifier defaults to 0.

The turn order will appear here.

Looking for a battle mat? View an RPG grid mat on Amazon.(affiliate link)

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

How to use this tool

Enter combatants, one per line, optionally adding ": modifier" (e.g. "Rogue: +5").
Roll initiative to see the sorted turn order.

Worked examples

A party of four against six goblins: Add each player character with their own modifier, then add the goblins once as a single group if they act together — that is one roll instead of six.
Reading the result: Each row shows the d20 roll and the modifier separately alongside the total, so a high total from a low roll and a big bonus is obvious at a glance.

Common use cases

Running tabletop RPG combat encounters
Quickly establishing turn order for any dice game
Game master session prep

How this generator works

Every combatant you enter gets an independent d20 roll from your browser's Web Crypto random generator, their modifier is added to it, and the list is sorted from highest total to lowest. Rolling once per combatant rather than once per side is what makes the order genuinely random each encounter, and because the roll and the modifier are shown separately you can always see how a total was reached.

Limitations and good to know

This is system-agnostic and applies no game's rules. It does not know about tie-breaking conventions, surprise, held actions, or anything that changes the order mid-combat.
Ties are left in the order you entered the combatants rather than resolved automatically, so decide at the table how you want to break them.
There is no round tracking, no hit points, and no conditions — it establishes turn order and stops there.
The list is not saved. Reloading the page clears the combatants, so a long-running encounter needs the order written down.

Unofficial, system-agnostic fan tool. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any tabletop RPG publisher, and does not reproduce any publisher's rules, tables or setting material.

Frequently asked questions

How are initiative ties handled?: Combatants are sorted by their rolled initiative total (d20 plus modifier). If two entries tie, most tables break it using the higher modifier or their own house rule — the tracker doesn't impose one for you.
Does this work for RPGs other than D&D?: Yes — it's a straightforward roll-d20-plus-modifier-and-sort tool, which matches the initiative mechanic used by D&D 5e and many other d20-based tabletop systems.