Some special abilities and environmental hazards, such as starvation and the long–term effects of freezing or scorching temperatures, can lead to a special condition called exhaustion (or fatigue). Exhaustion is measured in six levels. An effect can give a creature one or more levels of exhaustion, as specified in the effect's description.

Level	Effect
1	Effect:  Disadvantage on Ability Checks
2	Effect:  Speed halved
3	Effect:  Disadvantage on Attack rolls and Saving Throws
4	Effect:  Hit point maximum halved
5	Effect:  Speed reduced to 0
6	Effect:  Death

A creature suffers the effect of its current level of exhaustion as well as all lower levels. For example, a creature suffering level 2 exhaustion has its speed halved and has disadvantage on ability checks.

Finishing a Long Rest reduces a creature's exhaustion level by 1, provided that the creature has also ingested some food and drink.