To roll three dice, the attacker must have at least one more army in their territory than the number of dice they roll. Specifically, if a player has four or more armies on the territory, they may choose to throw one, two, or three dice. Under no circumstances may a player throw more than three dice during an attack. The defender may roll one or two dice if they have two or more armies, or only one die if they have only one army present.
Step-by-Step
Step 1: Identify an adjacent territory owned by an opponent to attack.
Step 2: Ensure you have at least one more army on your territory than the number of dice you intend to roll.
Step 3: Announce the number of dice you intend to roll (up to 3).
Step 4: Roll the red dice simultaneously with the defender's white dice.
Step 5: Compare the highest dice to determine losses.
Example Play Situation
Alice has four armies in North Africa and decides to attack Bob in Brazil. Alice announces she is rolling three dice, which is legal because she has one more army than the dice count. Bob rolls two white dice because he has at least two armies in Brazil.
Common Misconceptions
Rolling three dice with only three armies
Rolling more than three dice in a single attack
Rolling three dice when defending a territory
Quick Reference
You Can
You Cannot
Roll up to three dice if you have four or more armies
Do not roll more than three dice
Announce dice count before rolling
Do not roll three dice if you only have three armies
Roll dice simultaneously with the defender
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official rule for rolling three dice in Risk?
You may roll three dice if you have at least four armies on your territory.
How many dice can an attacker roll at once?
An attacker can roll a maximum of three dice.
Can I roll three dice if I only have three armies?
No, you must have at least one more army than the number of dice you roll.
Is there a limit to the number of dice an attacker can use?
Yes, the attacker is strictly limited to a maximum of three dice.
David Noah is a board game rules specialist and content creator who writes clear, dispute‑free guides for modern tabletop games. On this site, he focuses on answering the exact rules questions players argue about at the table, using official rulebooks, expansions, and tournament rulings as his primary sources. His goal is to turn confusing edge cases into simple, step‑by‑step explanations so you can spend less time debating and more time playing.
