Proficiency: Difference between revisions

The '''proficiency''' system is how the game determines whether to add a creature's [[proficiency bonus]] to a [[dice rolls|dice roll].  A creature can have proficiency in [[Weapons|weapons]], [[Armour|armour]], [[Shield|shield]]s, [[Spells|spellcasting]], [[Saving throw|saving throw]]s, and [[Skills|skill]].

When a creature is proficient in a wielded weapon, they add their [[Proficiency bonus|proficiency bonus]] to [[Attack roll|attack roll]]s with that weapon.  When the weapon is equipped in the main hand, it also enables special properties and actions of that weapon type, such as [[Tenacity]], [[Piercing Strike]], [[Flourish]], [[Lacerate]], [[Pommel Strike]], and so on.

A creature may have proficiency in {{LightArmour}}, {{MediumArmour}}, and/or {{HeavyArmour}}. Some [[Helmets]], [[Gloves]], and [[Boots]] also require proficiency in a certain type of armour.

Wearing armour without proficiency in that armour type will impose {{Disadvantage}} on all of the creature's [[Ability check|ability checks]], saving throws, and attack rolls, and prevents the creature from casting spells.

{{Shields}} are a piece of equipment wielded in the offhand weapon slot. Shield proficiency typically comes paired with {{MediumArmour}} proficiency.

Wielding a shield without proficiency in Shields will impose {{Disadvantage}} on all of the creature's ability checks, saving throws, and attack rolls, and prevents the creature from casting spells.

All creatures capable of spellcasting (i.e., without the use of magical items or scrolls) have proficiency in spellcasting. This means that the creature's proficiency bonus will be added to the attack rolls of spells, and to the Difficulty Class of saving throws imposed on others via spells. A creature without spellcasting proficiency cannot add its proficiency bonus to the attack rolls or DCs of any spells they cast via magical items or scrolls.

Creatures with proficiency in an ability-based saving throw (Strength save, Dexterity save etc) adds its proficiency bonus to the results of respective saving throws. Each [[Class|class]] provides proficiency in two types of saving throw.

A creature proficient in a skill adds its proficiency bonus to any ability checks that use the respective skill. [[Background|Backgrounds]], races, classes, as well as some class features, can give proficiency in specific skills.

All classes give proficiency in two to four skills on level 1. While, generally speaking, only the first class taken gives skill proficiencies, some classes also give proficiency in one skill when they are taken via multiclassing.