[RPG] Does a missed attack expend a charge for Ring of the Ram

dnd-5emagic-items

The description for Ring of the Ram states:

While wearing the ring, you can use an action to expend 1 to 3 of its charges to attack one creature you can see within 60 feet of you…On a hit, for each charge you spend, the target takes 2d10 force damage…

Does this mean:

  1. No charges are spent if a miss occurs
  2. Player must state how many charges an attack will use, and if a miss occurs, those charges are no longer available?
  3. A miss uses up a single charge

Best Answer

Yes, a missed attack expends a charge, or charges.

The sequence is as described:

  1. expend n charges,
  2. determine whether the attack hits
  3. if hit: roll 2 n d10 for damage

(This is your #2 interpretation.)