Shadowrun 6th Edition
How to play Shadowrun 6th Edition
A fast, practical overview. Shadowrun, Sixth World is the current edition of the classic cyberpunk-fantasy RPG. It is the 2080s: the Awakening brought magic back, metahumanity (elves, dwarfs, orks, trolls) walks the streets, dragons sit on megacorporate boards, and shadowrunners do the deniable dirty work the corps cannot be seen doing. You play a runner: part criminal, part specialist, part survivor, taking jobs from anonymous Mr. Johnsons in a world where the real power holds an extraterritorial charter.
Beginner checklist
Say what you do and what you want to happen (intent).
Use the system's core roll mechanic to resolve uncertainty.
Apply consequences quickly to keep scenes moving.
Between sessions, record advancement so changes are consistent.
How rolls work
Shadowrun 6E rolls d6 dice pools: Attribute + Skill dice, counting 5s and 6s as hits against a threshold. Glitches (half or more 1s) complicate even successes, and Edge lets you reroll, add dice, or bend outcomes.
Build your pool: relevant Attribute + Skill (plus modifiers), one d6 each.
Roll and count hits: every 5 or 6 is a hit; meet the threshold (or beat the opposing roll) to succeed.
Check for glitches: half or more of the dice showing 1s is a glitch (a critical glitch if you also scored no hits). Spend Edge to reroll failures or add dice when it matters.
Agility 5 + Firearms 4 = 9 dice vs threshold 3: rolling three 5s and a 6 gives 4 hits, a clean success unless five or more dice came up 1s.
Key facts
5 metatypes: Human, Elf, Dwarf, Ork, Troll
d6 dice pools: Attribute + Skill, hits on 5s and 6s
Edge economy: earn and spend tactical advantage every combat round
19 consolidated skills covering combat, Matrix, magic, and social play
Five paths: Mundane, Magician, Adept, Aspected Magician, Technomancer
Glitches: half or more 1s complicates the roll, with no hits it turns critical
Derived stats: Physical Monitor, Stun Monitor
Play examples
Intent, roll, consequence
State what you want, roll only when the outcome is uncertain, and apply a consequence that changes the situation.
Change approach instead of rerolling
If you fail, don't spam attempts. Change position, get help, spend resources, or accept a cost to keep the scene moving.
Common mistakes
Rolling too often.
Roll when the outcome matters and uncertainty is real; otherwise just do the thing.
Stalling on failure.
On failure, change the situation (cost, complication, new threat) and move forward.
Character creation
Choose Metatype and Archetype: pick your metahuman lineage (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Ork, Troll) and the role you play on a runner team.
Set Attributes: rate Body, Agility, Reaction, Strength, Willpower, Logic, Intuition, and Charisma from 1-6 (metatypes can raise some maximums), plus Edge 1-7.
Choose your path: Mundane, Magician, Adept, Aspected Magician, or Technomancer, and set Magic or Resonance 0-6 if you have one.
Distribute Skills: spread ranks 0-6 across the 19 skills, focusing on the handful your archetype lives by.
Pick Qualities: note the positive and negative qualities that define your edge and your baggage.
Record Gear, Augmentations, Contacts, and Lifestyle: your equipment, chrome, fixer, and how you live between runs.
Attributes
What to track during play
What to open next
Prefer definitions? Browse terms in the Shadowrun 6th Edition glossary.
FAQ
How do dice pools work in Shadowrun 6E?
Add the relevant Attribute and Skill, roll that many d6s, and count every 5 or 6 as a hit. Compare hits to a threshold set by the gamemaster, or to an opponent's hits on an opposed roll. More hits than needed means a stronger success.
What are metatypes?
Metatypes are the metahuman lineages of the Sixth World: Human, Elf, Dwarf, Ork, and Troll. Your metatype shifts your attribute maximums (a Troll's Body and Strength can exceed the human ceiling, for example) and shapes how the world treats you.
How does Edge work in SR6?
Edge is Shadowrun 6E's tactical currency. You earn Edge in play, mostly by holding an advantage like better armor or position, and spend it on Edge actions: reroll failed dice, add a die to your pool, turn a 4 into a hit, and more. Your Edge attribute (1-7) caps how much you can bank.
What is the difference between a decker and a technomancer?
Both work the Matrix, but a decker uses a cyberdeck: hardware, programs, and hard-earned skill. A technomancer IS the hardware: they access the Matrix through Resonance, a living connection, threading complex forms and compiling sprites instead of running programs.
What is the Priority System?
The Priority Table is SR6's official character creation method: you assign ranks A through E to metatype, attributes, skills, magic, and resources, and each rank determines what you get in that column. RPG Stack's builder skips the table and lets you enter final values directly, so you can follow the official method at your table and record the results here.