Keep one temporary pool, not the sum of both
Under the 2024 D&D Free Rules, receiving new temporary Hit Points does not let you add them to an existing pool: choose which pool to keep. With six and a new grant of eight, you can retain six or take eight; the result is not fourteen. They are not added to your current Hit Points and do not count as healing.
At the table, keep two separate numbers: your Hit Points and your chosen temporary pool. The following invented example assumes the table has already confirmed the grants and damage. It is not a real spell, character or DnD Dynamic Sheet output.
Twelve Hit Points remain twelve
Imagine a character with 12 current Hit Points out of a maximum of 20, plus 6 temporary Hit Points. They receive a new grant of 8 temporary Hit Points and choose those eight. They then take 5 confirmed damage, with no other conditions in this example.
| Moment | Current Hit Points | Temporary Hit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Before the new grant | 12 of 20 | 6 |
| Choose the new pool of 8 | 12 of 20 | 8 |
| Take 5 damage | 12 of 20 | 3 |
The temporary pool absorbs damage first: 8 − 5 = 3. There was no healing. Receiving eight temporary Hit Points therefore does not raise the character to 20 Hit Points. If later damage exceeded the remaining three, the excess would affect their Hit Points after the applicable rules had been resolved.
Write enough to avoid applying a change twice
A manual note could read “HP 12/20; temporary 3; new pool of 8 applied, then 5 damage”. The sequence explains each value. Do not write just “15”: combining 12 and 3 hides which amount belongs to each pool and makes it easier to apply a change in the wrong place.
Before updating, agree which pool is retained and how much damage is confirmed. Then record the result once. If you use another edition or a special rule, check its wording before transferring this example. We do not resolve exceptions, effect duration or every zero-HP case here.
What you can record in DnD Dynamic Sheet
The official product brief documents Hit Points, notes and custom counters. You can keep a manual explanation in notes alongside the relevant health value. This guide does not claim a dedicated temporary-HP field, automatic damage allocation or a counter that applies the rules for you.
The Windows x64 beta is available through a purchased licence for one device. Initial activation requires a connection; the sheet and local data can then be used offline, with internet access for updates and online validation. Review the product and purchase page for current scope. Its extended official brief identifies it as an independent application unaffiliated with Wizards of the Coast.
D&D Beyond and Shard are other environments consulted on 25 October 2026, not evidence of automation in this sheet. Before the next hit, make one practical check: are your Hit Points and temporary pool still separate?