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{{ up to date | 2023-08-15 }} <!-- Date format is YEAR-MONTH-DAY, like 2023-08-07. -->{{NoExcerpt|''See also: [[Ability score modifier]]''}}
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'''Ability scores''' are the numerical values for a character's six abilities. They represent a creature's physical and mental attributes. The scores translate directly into [[Ability score modifier|ability score modifiers]] - the bonuses or penalties that are added to (or subtracted from) most rolls in the game. The six abilities are:
'''Ability scores''' are the numerical values for a character's six abilities. They represent a creature's physical and mental attributes. The scores translate directly into [[Ability score modifier|ability score modifiers]] - the bonuses or penalties that are added to (or subtracted from) most rolls in the game. The six abilities are:
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== Strength ==
== Strength ==
[[Strength]] governs physical power. Higher Strength increases carry weight and jump distance. The Strength [[Ability Score Modifier|modifier]] improves chances of success on [[Athletics]] checks such as shoving or resisting shoves. This modifier increases [[Attack Roll|Attack]] and [[Damage Roll|damage]] for all melee weapons, although [[Finesse]] weapons can use Dexterity instead.
: Associated skills: [[Athletics]].
[[Strength]] governs physical power. Strength increases a creature's carry weight and jump distance. The Strength modifier improves chances of success of shoving or resisting being shoved. It is also added to the result of [[Attack Roll|attack]] and [[Damage Roll|damage]] rolls for melee weapons.


Strength is the primary modifier for characters that wear heavy armour or rely on pure physical damage from heavy weapons, such as many {{Class|Fighter}}s and {{Class|Barbarian}}s. It can also be useful as a secondary attribute for {{Class|Paladin}}s and {{Class|Cleric}}s.
== Dexterity ==
: Associated skills: [[Acrobatics]], [[Sleight of Hand]] and [[Stealth]].
[[Dexterity]] describes a character's agility and finesse. The Dexterity modifiers is added to the results of attack and damage rolls of ranged weapons and, when the creature's Dexterity score is higher than their Strength score, melee weapons with the [[Finesse]] property.


== Dexterity ==
A creature's Dexterity modifier is also added to their [[Armour Class]] (AC), but the bonus added may be limited depending on what armour they have equipped.
[[Dexterity]] describes a character's agility and finesse. The Dexterity [[Ability Score Modifier|modifier]] grants increased ability to minimize damage from area of effect spells or surfaces, along with greater chance of success on [[Acrobatics]], [[Sleight of Hand]], and [[Stealth]] checks. This modifier increases [[Attack Roll|Attack]] and [[Damage Roll|damage]] for all ranged weapons, and can be used by [[Finesse]] melee weapons instead of Strength.


It is the primary modifier for characters that rely on light melee weapons or ranged weapons, such as {{Class|Rogue}}s, {{Class|Monk}}s, and {{Class|Ranger}}s, and can be useful as a secondary modifier for {{Class|Bard}}s and {{Class|Druid}}s, especially in weapon attack (i.e. not spell) oriented builds.
Medium armour usually limits the bonus added to the creature's AC to ''+2'', whereas, heavy armour tends to ignore the bonus entirely.


Dexterity is important for every class due to its benefits for [[Armour Class]]. A character's Dexterity modifier is added to the AC granted by armour, improving the chance of avoiding hits. Medium armour tends to limit this AC benefit, and heavy armour tends to ignore it. However, armour has no effect on the Dexterity modifier for saving throws and skill checks.
Dexterity is a common ability used for saves against spells, often halving the damage rolls of those spells.


== Constitution ==
== Constitution ==
[[Constitution]] describes a character's overall health and endurance. Higher Constitution grants more [[Hit Points]] at each level up and a greater chance of success on [[Saving Throw]]s against [[Poisons]].
: Associated skills: None.
[[Constitution]] describes a character's overall health and endurance. A creature's Constitution modifier is added to the amount of [[Hit points|hit points]] it gains on level up. This increase is  applied retroactively.


Constitution is not the primary modifier of any class, but is recommended for high melee oriented builds as it grants more survivability. It is very important for {{Class|Barbarian}}s as it is an essential component of the class's [[Unarmoured Defence (Barbarian)|Unarmoured Defence]] ability.
Constitution is commonly used for saves against [[Poisons|poisons]], and is a common ability used in saves against spells.


== Intelligence ==
== Intelligence ==
[[Intelligence]] describes a character's reasoning and memory. The Intelligence [[Ability Score Modifier|modifier]] improves chances of success on [[Arcana]], [[History]], [[Investigation]], [[Nature]], and [[Religion]] checks.
: Associated skills: [[Arcana]], [[History]], [[Investigation]], [[Nature]] and [[Religion]].
 
[[Intelligence]] describes a character's reasoning and memory.
Intelligence is the primary modifier for {{Class|Wizard}}s and is added to their spell attack modifier and spell save DC, and to their level to determine how many spells they can prepare. Intelligence is also the Spellcasting Ability for [[Arcane Trickster]] {{Class|Rogue}}s and [[Eldritch Knight]] {{Class|Fighter}}s, making it an essential secondary Ability for those [[subclass]]es.


Intelligence also modifies racial spells for [[Elf|Elves]] and [[Half-Elf|Half-Elves]], even in spellcasters who use a different ability for other spells.
Intelligence is the spellcasting ability of wizards, fighters and rogues.


== Wisdom ==
== Wisdom ==
[[Wisdom]] describes a character's common sense and understanding. The Wisdom [[Ability Score Modifier|modifier]] improves chances of success on [[Animal Handling]], [[Insight]], [[Medicine]], [[Perception]], and [[Survival]] checks.
: Associated skills: [[Animal Handling]], [[Insight]], [[Medicine]], [[Perception]], and [[Survival]].
[[Wisdom]] describes a character's common sense and understanding, and is the spellcasting ability for clerics, druids and rangers, and is an important ability score for monks, as several of their class features depend on it.


It is the primary modifier for {{Class|Cleric}}s and {{Class|Druid}}s and is added to their spell attack modifier and spell save DC. It is an important secondary modifier for {{Class|Monk}}s as it is an essential component of the class's [[Unarmoured Defence (Monk)|Unarmoured Defence]], and also for {{Class|Ranger}}s, who use it as their [[Spellcasting Ability]].
Wisdom is also a commonly used ability for saves against spells.


== Charisma ==
== Charisma ==
[[Charisma]] describes a character's eloquence and/or force of personality. The Charisma [[Ability Score Modifier|modifier]] improves chances of success on [[Deception]], [[Intimidation]], [[Performance]], and [[Persuasion]] checks.
: Associated skills: [[Deception]], [[Intimidation]], [[Performance]], and [[Persuasion]].
 
[[Charisma]] describes a character's eloquence or force of personality, and is the spellcasting ability for bards, sorcerers, warlocks and paladins.
It is the primary modifier for {{Class|Bard}}s, {{Class|Sorcerer}}s, {{Class|Warlock}}s, and {{Class|Paladin}}s and is added to their spell attack modifier and spell save DC.
 
Charisma also modifies racial spells for [[Tiefling|Tieflings]], even in spellcasters who use a different Ability for other spells.


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Revision as of 19:27, 27 October 2023

Template:Up to date
See also: Ability score modifier

Ability scores are the numerical values for a character's six abilities. They represent a creature's physical and mental attributes. The scores translate directly into ability score modifiers - the bonuses or penalties that are added to (or subtracted from) most rolls in the game. The six abilities are:

Overview

Each a ility describes a creature's capability in a different area:

Generally the minimum possible ability Score is 1, and the maximum is 20. A score of 10 is considered average for a humanoid creature, and player characters can't start with any score lower than 8. Ability scores are bought with points during Character Creation, and can be permanently increased through the Ability Improvement class feature (presented in the list of feats), though this cannot raise them above 20. They may also be increased through magical effects, though these are rare. Some monsters and magical creatures may have scores higher than 20.

Ability scores may be temporarily increased above 20 through various enhancements, such as magical spells, elixirs, or special equipment. Some supernatural or magical effects (like Devour Intellect) can drain abilities, reducing one or more of the target's ability scores, potentially to zero. This is not automatically fatal.

Interactions with classes

Primary and secondary abilities

Each class has designated primary and secondary abilities. While these have no particular mechanical significance, they are mentioned in the game's tooltips, and serve as recommendations for players unfamiliar with the rules of the game.

The primary abilities for the classes are:

Spellcasting ability

For more information, see Spellcasting ability and proficiency.

Every class has an ability that affects their spellcasting. These affect the attack rolls and Difficulty Class of their spells. The primary ability of casters classes always corresponds to their spellcasting ability, with the exception of rangers and classes that gain spellcasting via a subclass class feature.

Racial spells may use their own designated ability. For example, the cantrip granted during character creation by the elf or half-elf race always uses Intelligence, regardless of the creature's class.

Strength

Associated skills: Athletics.

Strength governs physical power. Strength increases a creature's carry weight and jump distance. The Strength modifier improves chances of success of shoving or resisting being shoved. It is also added to the result of attack and damage rolls for melee weapons.

Dexterity

Associated skills: Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand and Stealth.

Dexterity describes a character's agility and finesse. The Dexterity modifiers is added to the results of attack and damage rolls of ranged weapons and, when the creature's Dexterity score is higher than their Strength score, melee weapons with the Finesse property.

A creature's Dexterity modifier is also added to their Armour Class (AC), but the bonus added may be limited depending on what armour they have equipped.

Medium armour usually limits the bonus added to the creature's AC to +2, whereas, heavy armour tends to ignore the bonus entirely.

Dexterity is a common ability used for saves against spells, often halving the damage rolls of those spells.

Constitution

Associated skills: None.

Constitution describes a character's overall health and endurance. A creature's Constitution modifier is added to the amount of hit points it gains on level up. This increase is applied retroactively.

Constitution is commonly used for saves against poisons, and is a common ability used in saves against spells.

Intelligence

Associated skills: Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature and Religion.

Intelligence describes a character's reasoning and memory.

Intelligence is the spellcasting ability of wizards, fighters and rogues.

Wisdom

Associated skills: Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Perception, and Survival.

Wisdom describes a character's common sense and understanding, and is the spellcasting ability for clerics, druids and rangers, and is an important ability score for monks, as several of their class features depend on it.

Wisdom is also a commonly used ability for saves against spells.

Charisma

Associated skills: Deception, Intimidation, Performance, and Persuasion.

Charisma describes a character's eloquence or force of personality, and is the spellcasting ability for bards, sorcerers, warlocks and paladins.

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