D&D 5e Ability Scores + How to Set Yours (Full Guide!) (2024)

Anything you want your character to do in D&D is affected by ability scores. Whether you’re a halfling bard who wants to charm a merchant, a dragonborn cleric who wants to heal an ally, or a changeling rogue who needs to impersonate a noble – your character’s stats and core ability scores influence how likely they are to succeed.

Even the best adventures have weak points. For example, they might be the best sneaky sneak who can get past even the most vigilant watcher, but they don’t know how to read. Getting the right mix of high and low core stats for your character creates the adventurer you want to play. Read on for everything you need to know about ability scores – how ability scores work in gameplay, any skills or actions each core stat affects, and the different ways you can generate your character’s ability scores! Let’s get into it!

What are the core D&D abilities?

Core ability scores, or core stats, are the foundation of your character’s abilities. Any d20 roll you make in D&D is affected by them – for better or worse!

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There are six different core ability scores: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. They each cover a wide range of actions and abilities, but the shortlist below gives you a quick guide to each one.

• Strength – Natural athleticism, bodily power
• Dexterity – Physical agility, reflexes, balance, poise
• Constitution – Health, stamina, vital force
• Intelligence – Mental acuity, information recall, analytical skill
• Wisdom – Awareness, intuition, insight
• Charisma – Confidence, eloquence, leadership

Page 12, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

A fun way to remember what each stat does is the tomato analogy.

Strength is being able to crush a tomato. Dexterity is being able to dodge a tomato. Constitution is being able to eat a bad tomato. Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put a tomato in a fruit salad. Charisma is being able to sell a tomato-based fruit salad.

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What are Ability Scores used for?

Ability scores affect pretty much every d20 roll you make in D&D. They are that important!

To make the best decision for your character’s stats, it helps to know what each core ability does, as well as how it’s used as you play. Ability scores are used for all the things below. Don’t worry if they are new to you, I explain each one simply as we go.

• Ability Modifiers – Each ability score gets turned into an ability modifier number to use with your dice rolls.
• Initiative – Who goes first and turn order.
• Melee Combat – Hitting your target, how much damage you do.
• Spellcasting – Hitting your target, what your target needs to roll to defend itself.
• Skill Checks – Whether your world actions succeed or fail e.g. climbing a wall, knowing what a magical item does, charming a local. Different actions are associated with different skills.
• Saving Throws – Rolls you make to resist spells, traps, etc. Also called saves. Rolls powered by your Dexterity, Wisdom, or Constitution are the most common.
• Passive Checks – Whether you notice something passively during your adventures without actively looking for it. Also used to save you rolling dice for repetitive tasks like checking for traps.

Ability Scores and Ability Modifiers

So you can use it in gameplay, an ability score gets turned into a number that you add to or subtract from your dice rolls. This number is called an ‘Ability Modifier’. The higher your ability score, the higher your ability modifier, and the more likely you are to succeed in what you want to do – hit a monster, jump over a wall, detect traps – whatever!

This table shows you which ability score becomes which ability modifier.

Ability Scores and Skill Checks

Want to walk over a tightrope to the next building and lower a ladder for your party using your acrobatics skill? Use your persuasion skill on the locals at the tavern to dish the dirt on the barkeep? See if your skill in arcana tells you what that glowing orb does?

For all of these actions, your DM will ask you to make a ‘Skill Check’. You roll a d20, add any bonuses and if your result is higher than the difficulty the DM sets, you succeed. Hooray!

The higher your main ability score, the more you can add to your Skill Check d20 roll. If your character is also trained in the Skill you’re using, you can add even more to your roll by adding your proficiency bonus. Your proficiency bonus increases as you level up. At level 1, it’s +2. For more info see my Proficiency Bonus guide.

Each Skill is associated with a different core ability. Acrobatics with Dexterity, Persuasion with Charisma, and Arcana with Intelligence, etc.

Skill Check = Roll a d20 + Ability Modifier + Proficiency Bonus

For example, I want my level 2 Monk to use a tightrope to cross between buildings and unlock a gate from the other side. My DM says, ‘Roll me an Acrobatics skill check’. I roll a d20. It lands on 12. I add on my Dexterity ability modifier of +3 and my proficiency bonus of +2 for Acrobatics. 12+3+2=17. A pretty decent score so a DM would likely say that it succeeds.

See how the ability modifier and proficiency bonus transformed my average roll of 12 into a good result of 17?

Strength (STR)

“Strength measures bodily power, athletic training, and the extent to which you can exert raw physical force.”

Page 175, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

Strength is what you’d expect it to be – how physically strong your character is.

Strong characters are powerful users of melee weapons and they can throw their weight around to shove and grapple creatures in combat.

During adventures, characters with high strength are great at lifting heavy things, dragging and pushing stuff, and carrying lots of equipment.

Classes that need high Strength

Barbarians, Fighters, and Paladins use Strength as their main stat for hitting with melee weapons like maces and warhammers and for calculating damage. So the higher their Strength score, the more likely they are to hit, and do decent damage!

Most melee weapon attacks are based on strength, so bear that in mind if you want a character that’s good at hand-to-hand.

Classes that are Proficient in Strength Saving Throws

Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, and Ranger all have proficiency in Strength Saving Throws.

Races that get a bonus to Strength

Mountain Dwarf (+2), Half-orc (+2), Dragonborn (+2), Human (+1)

Strength Check Examples

Your DM might ask you to make a Strength check for actions like these:

• Force open a stuck, locked, or barred door
• Break free of bonds
• Hang on to a wagon while being dragged behind it
• Tip over a statue
• Keep a boulder from rolling

Page 175, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

Dexterity (DEX)

“Deterity measures agility, reflexes, and balance. A Dexterity check can model any attempt to move nimbly, quickly, or quietly, or to keep from falling on tricky footing.”

Page 176, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

Dexterity covers dodging, avoiding area effects like fire, picking locks, gymnastics, and sneaking. It’s also used for attacking with finesse weapons such as daggers and rapiers, and ranged weapons like bows and slings.

Classes that need high Dexterity

Monks, Rangers, and Rogues benefit from a high Dexterity score.

Monks get a Dexterity bonus to armor because they’re completely unarmored. Think of it like dodging out of the way! Dexterity can power their unarmed strike and monk weapons.

Rangers use ranged weapons like bows which use Dexterity to hit monsters and calculate damage done.

Rogues use finesse weapons like daggers which can use Dexterity or Strength to hit monsters and calculate damage. If you’re playing a sneaky sneak classic rogue, then you’ll want the Stealth and Slight of Hand skills which use Dexterity.

Classes that are Proficient in Dexterity Saving Throws

Bards, Monks, Rangers, and Rogues all have proficiency with Dexterity Saving Throws.

Races that get a Dexterity Bonus

Elf (+2), Forest gnome (+1), Halfling (+2), Human (+1)

Dexterity Check Examples

• Control a heavily laden cart on a steep descent
• Steer a chariot around a tight turn
• Pick a lock
• Disable a trap
• Wriggle free of bonds
• Play a stringed instrument
• Craft a small or detailed object

Page 195, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

Dexterity Skills

Acrobatics, Slight of Hand, and Stealth are all skills based on Dexterity.

Acrobatics

A merchant has been missing for several weeks. While investigating, you spot an open window above their storefront door. You could reach it by walking along the tightrope that connects the building to its neighbor.

Somersaulting off a wall, staying upright on a ship in stormy seas, and walking across an icy lake, would all fall (hah!) under the Acrobatics skill. Anything that requires agility and coordination, really. It’s also used to resist and escape from grapples, and land successfully after long jumping into difficult terrain (e.g. loose shale).

Sleight of Hand

The only way to gain access to the room at the back of the inn is by winning at cards. The other players are very, very good. But they have had a lot to drink and aren’t paying close attention.

Want to pick a pocket, palm a card, or plant a stolen ring in someone’s pocket? That’s what Sleight of Hand is all about. It typically rolls against another creature’s Passive Perception (their ability to notice things happening around them).

Stealth

You hear the orcs snoring as you approach the camp. There are more here than you were expecting. A lot more. Fortunately, the guards are facing the other way, and the staff you need is right there in front of you, leaning against the side of the tent.

Sneaky sneaks everywhere need the stealth skill. Slinking into orc camps, merging with the shadows to avoid detection, sneaking up behind a creature – all come under stealth. Train in Stealth to hide, avoid being detected and sneak around.

Constitution (CON)

Constitution measures health, stamina and vital force.

Constitution checks are uncommon, and no skills apply to Constitution checks, because the endurance this ability represents is largely passive rather than involving a specific effort on the part of a character or monster. A Constitution check can model your attempt to push beyond normal limits, however.

Page 177, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

Constitution is how tough your character is. It represents how many hits they can take, their general resilience, and their ability to resist poisons and stay conscious. Constitution also represents your character’s ability to keep going when things are taxing on the body, such as holding their breath, traveling long distances, and going without sleep.

Classes that need High Constitution

Everyone needs some points in Constitution because it determines your total Hit Points. It’s also used to resist some spells, abilities, and poison, and to check for exhaustion. If you’re playing a spellcaster, Constitution will help you to keep concentrating on a spell when taking damage.

A high Constitution score can be even more helpful for players who will be taking the most hits.

In my last campaign, I played a Barbarian who spent most of her time hitting creatures and being hit by them! Without a high Constitution score, and therefore a high Hit Point total, I would have been taken out of action more easily!

If your character will be mostly doing ranged attacks and/or dodging out of the way of creatures, in my opinion, a high Constitution score usually isn’t as essential.

Classes that are Proficient in Constitution Saving Throws

Barbarians, Fighters, and Sorcerers are proficient in Constitution Saving Throws.

Races that get a Constitution Bonus

Dwarf (+2), Stout halfing (+1), Rock Gnome (+1), Half-Orc (+1), Human (+1)

Constitution Check Examples

Constitution checks are rare, but your DM might ask for one if your character is challenging themselves beyond the normal limits.

• Hold your breath
• Walk or labor for hours without rest
• Go without sleep
• Survive without food or water

Page 177, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

Constitution Skills

No skills are based on Constitution. But it does determine your character’s Hit Points (HP).

Hit Points

Hit Points are a useful guide to how many times your character can be hit, but that’s only part of it. HP also reflects their physical endurance, mental resilience, and will to live. You can see this play out when making Saving Throws to survive when your HP is 0, or making Consitution Saving Throws to maintain concentration on spells while being hit.

Hit Points by Class

Different classes start with a different number of Hit Points and gain different amounts as they level up. Over the course of a campaign, this can lead to huge variations between the max HP of classes!

Your starting HP is set by your character’s class + your Constitution ability modifier. Everytime you level up, you can either: roll to see how many extra Hit Points you add, or add the number from the handbook. Whichever you choose, add your Constitution modifier to the number to get the total HP to add.

You can see from the class Hit Points table below that Barbarians usually start with the highest HP and also gain the most points as they level up. Sorcerers and Wizards both start with the least and gain the least as they level.

Intelligence Skills

Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, and Religion are all skills based on Intelligence.

Arcana

Deep in a cave, you find a glowing orb. As a student of Arcana, it’s clear to you there is some powerful magic at work here.

Arcana is your character’s working knowledge of magic. How magic works, identifying spells as they’re being cast, detecting and understanding magic items, interpreting magical symbols, knowledge of magical traditions and other planes of existence, and dealing with things like curses and illusions.

History

Your party enters a clearing surrounded by enormous old stones. You can just make out an ancient engraving on the side of the central stone.

History measures your knowledge of the past and ability to recall it. Recognizing the sigil of a long-gone dynasty, remembering who won a historic battle, and general historical trivia all come under the History skill.

Investigation

Someone has ransacked the library at the mage’s college leaving quite a mess. The only existing copy of a book of necromancy has been taken. You need to find out who did this.

Arguably one of the most frequently used skills, Investigation is used for all manner of sleuthing activities such as looking for clues, making deductions, identifying types of illusions, and searching for information within documents. Some DMs may also use this skill to check for traps or look for hidden mechanisms.

Nature

You arrive at the beach cave while the tide is out. The glowing moss you need is deep inside the cave. Can you collect the moss and get out before the tide comes back in?

Nature measures your character’s knowledge of the natural world. Things like plants, animals, geography, terrain, weather, and natural cycles like tides and seasons fall under this umbrella.

Religion

Below the trapdoor in the tavern, you find a shrine adorned with candles, drawings, and jewelry – all bearing the same symbol.

Religion represents your character’s knowledge of gods, religious orders, as well as holy symbols, rites, prayers, lore, and even secret cults!

Wisdom (WIS)

Wisdom reflects how attuned you are to the world around you and represents perceptiveness and intuition.

A wisdom check might reflect an effort to read body language, understand someone’s feelings, notice things about the environment or care for an injured person.

Page 178, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

Wisdom is a measure of your character’s insight, intuition, and general practical intelligence. A character that has high Wisdom will be in tune with the world and creatures around them. They’re often quite observant, clever, and sensible, with an uncanny ability to notice subtle details and choose the right path when the best path forward isn’t clear.

Classes that need High Wisdom

Clerics, Druids, and Monks all benefit from a high Wisdom score.

Clerics and Druids use Wisdom to power their spellcasting ability which increases the likelihood they will hit their target with spells and makes their spells more difficult to resist.

Monks are an unarmored class, so instead of getting their armor value from wearing chainmail shirts and the like, their armor class is calculated using their Wisdom (and Dexterity).

Rangers benefit from a moderate Wisdom score, especially if you’re playing a Ranger that uses lots of spells, because Wisdom powers their spellcasting ability.

Classes that get a Wisdom Bonus

Hill dwarf (+1), Wood Elf (+1), Human (+1)

Wisdom Skill Check Examples

• Use your intuition to decide what to do
• Detect if a skeleton is about to raise again

Skills

Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Perception, and Survival are all based on Wisdom.

Animal Handling

You follow the sound of someone groaning to a moonlit clearing in the forest. A pack of small wild cats is arranged in a circle around where the noise is coming from. The feline matriarch hisses at you as you approach.

This is your go-to for interacting with animals of any kind. Calming a horse, training a dog, or earning the trust of a squirrel all fall under this skill.

Insight

“Help!” A disheveled halfling stumbles onto the path in front of you. His high-quality clothes are torn and he looks roughed up. “Bandits…please…they took my mother’s locket… the only thing I have left… not far…” He heads back into the trees. That’s weird. You don’t remember hearing any fighting.

Insight is how good your character is at reading creatures. How they are feeling, their true intentions, motives, anticipating what they might do next, and whether they are lying. Can your character pick up on the creature’s tells, subtle changes in their voice and body language?

The Insight Skill is an active skill check. So if you have a suspicion, you can actively roll to check for it.

Passive Insight is a passive skill check based on your Insight score. If a creature is trying to lie to you, they need to roll higher than 10 + your Insight modifier to succeed.

Medicine

Thwack! The Bugbear’s morningstar hits your party’s cleric in the chest. They fall to the floor unconscious. Your only healer is down. Someone needs to help them… before it’s too late.

Medicine is your character’s basic, non-magical medical knowledge. You use it to stabilize characters with 0 HP and diagnose illnesses. It may not seem like much when there are spells that will heal you, but you never know when you might need it!

Perception

As you enter the ballroom, your host greets you with open arms. “Darlings! Welcome!” The room is full of partying nobles and loud with laughter. In spite of the joyous atmosphere, something doesn’t seem right.

The Perception skill helps your character notice things around them – a sneaky sneak trying to blend into the shadows of a street, the smell of recently extinguished candles in the air, hearing branches snap near your camp during night watch. You could roll also an active perception check to see if you can hear a private conversation through a wall, find a secret passageway through a bookcase, or check if the coast is clear before entering a room.

Perception represents anything your character could hear, see, smell, taste, touch, and otherwise detect with their senses.

A character with high Perception has a greater awareness of their surroundings and is more likely to spot things before other characters.

The Perception Skill is an active skill check. So if you want to focus on something, you can actively roll to see if you can detect anything.

There are also Passive Perception checks. Your DM may roll against your Passive Perception score to see if your character has noticed something that’s happening around them. We have a complete guide to Passive Perception here!

Survival

Storm clouds loom overhead as you walk alongside the river. It’s only a matter of time before the storm breaks and floods the valley.

Fancy a wilderness survival character? Then you need this skill.

Tracking, foraging, starting a fire, building a shelter, finding a suitable substitute for toilet paper, and generally living without creature comforts are all covered by the Survival skill. You might need to make a Survival skill check to plot a safe route through marshlands, find where wild horses graze, and avoid natural hazards like avalanches and landslides.

Charisma (CHA)

Charisma measures your ability to interact effectively with others. It includes such factors as confidence and eloquence, and it can represent a charming or commanding personality.

Page 178, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

A character with high Charisma is often charming, popular, or imposing. They fall naturally into leadership roles, make friends easily, and typically accomplish their goals through talk.

Classes that need high Charisma

Bards, Sorcerers, and Warlocks all power their spellcasting ability with Charisma. A high Charisma score makes it more likely their spells will hit and their spells are harder for creatures to resist.

Paladins also power their spellcasting ability with Charisma, so some points will be helpful. But as a melee class, they are less reliant on their spells than the casting classes are.

Races that get a Charisma Bonus

Half-Elf (+2), Drow (+1), Lightfoot Halfling (+1), Dragonborn (+1), Human (+1), Tiefling (+2)

Charisma Skill Check Examples

• Find the best person to talk to for news, rumors, and gossip
• Blend into a crowd to get the sense of key topics of conversation

Page 179, Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition

Skills that use Charisma

Deception, Intimidation, Performance, and Persuasion all use Charisma.

Deception

There’s a guard outside the door to the secret cellar where the summoners meet. He eyes you suspiciously. It’s time to see if your disguise and backstory are enough to convince him you’ve just joined the order.

The Deception skill covers lying, distracting, and misleading other creatures. Pretending to be someone else to get past a guard, cheating at a game of Dragonchess, swindling a merchant, giving a fake alibi for your partner – would all come under Deception.

When you attempt to fool someone, your DM will decide whether the person you’re attempting to fool uses their Passive Insight, or if they have to roll to see if they detect your deception.

Whichever method is used, their Insight will need to be higher than your Charisma + Deception modifier to figure out what you’re up to!

Intimidation

As you head down the alley in the undesirable area of town, a gang of cloaked figures emerges from the shadows. The leader holds a dagger out in front of him. “Oi, giv us your coin. ”

Intimidation is exactly what it sounds like. It’s your character’s ability to get what they want using physical force, threats, and generally being hostile.

You might use this skill to get a captive to tell you where the treasure is, chase away ambushers, force a gatekeeper to let you pass, or convince a scribe to sign a release order.

While you may immediately think of a large character excelling at this skill, a small scheming character with a twisted smile who knows the weaknesses of their target can be just as effective.

Performance

Two orcs in uniform are guarding the stone bridge over the river. *yawn* “You want to pass, you pay the toll.” *sigh* “The days must feel very long working out here all day with nothing to do. You deserve some entertainment. How about a song instead?”

The best friend of Bards everywhere, the Performance skill covers any form of entertainment, such as singing, dancing, acting, storytelling, or playing music. The higher your Performance score, the more likely you are to put on a good show and enchant your audience!

You’d use Performance to entertain the locals at the tavern in exchange for free lodgings for the night, put on a short play for the town to raise money to buy supplies, and tell a story by the campfire to comfort a new companion.

Persuasion

You’ve reached the top of the mountain. You’re cold, night is drawing near, and a few flurries of snow have started to fall. The only building for miles around is a solitary cabin with lights shining from its windows. Maybe they’ll let you stay for the night.

Intimidation’s soft-spoken cousin, Persuasion allows your character to peacefully influence others through tact, rhetoric, and social grace. It’s handy for negotiations, making new friends, and talking your way out of sticky situations.

You’d use Persuasion to break up an argument in the town square, convince an apothecary that you’re a good person who won’t use their potion for bad things, or get a High Lord to agree to your plans.

Ability Scores and Combat

Ability scores affect combat in a few ways – initiative, hitting your target, and the damage you do.

Roll for Initiative

Before combat starts everyone, including creatures and characters controlled by the DM, rolls for initiative to decide who goes first, second, third and and so on.

Everyone rolls a d20 and adds their Dexterity modifier. The highest result goes first and the rest follow in descending order. For more on initiative and how to boost your modifer see my full Initiative Guide!

Ability Scores and Melee Combat

Rolling to Hit – Melee

Before you can damage a foe, you first need to make sure your attack hits! You can improve your chances to hit by having a high ability modifier in the ability your weapon uses, and having proficiency with that type of weapon.

Roll to hit = Roll a d20 + Ability Modifier + Proficiency Bonus

For melee attacks, the ability modifier you add to your roll depends on the type of weapon you’re using. Which type do you want your character to use?

• Heavy like hammers and greatswords, it’s Strength.
• Finesse like rapiers and shortswords, you can choose whether to use Dexterity or Strength.
• One you can throw using the ‘thrown’ property, it’s Strength.
• Ranged like bows, it’s Dexterity.

I’ve made quick reference tables for simple melee and ranged weapons and their ability modifiers below. If the weapon you want to use isn’t in these tables, it is a martial melee or martial ranged weapon so you’ll need a class that is trained to use it.

For example, I want my level 1 Cleric to swing at a goblin with their Mace. I roll a d20. It lands on 12. I add on my Strength ability modifier of +3 and my proficiency bonus for proficiency with simple melee weapons of +2. 12+3+2=17. By adding the modifiers, my result of 17 is higher than the goblin’s Armor Class of 15, so my Mace hits. Whack!

Rolling for Damage – Melee

If your attack hits its target, awesome! You then get to roll to see how much damage your attack does!

For melee, you roll the weapon’s damage dice and add on the same ability modifier you did to hit. For example, if you hit with a greatsword, you would roll 2d6 and add your Strength modifier to give the total damage number.

Melee damage = Roll weapon’s damage dice + Ability Modifier used to hit

Note: You don’t add your proficiency bonus to damage. It’s only added to rolls to hit.

Ability Scores and Spellcasting Combat

Rolling to Hit with Spells

Some spells, like Magic Missile, hit automatically. But most will say make a “ranged spell attack” or a “melee spell attack.”

Rolling to hit with a spell = d20 + Spellcasting Ability Modifier + Proficiency Bonus

For spells, the Spellcasting Ability modifier you use depends on where your class gets their magical power from. For example, for a warlock it’s the deals they have made with their patrons using their Charisma.

Which ability modifier is used for the class you want to play? Make sure you have a decent score in that ability and read my full guide to Spellcasting Ability to learn how to boost that score!

For example, I want my level 3 Warlock to cast Eldritch Blast at an owlbear. I make a ranged spell attack and roll a d20. It lands on 11. I add on my Charisma ability modifier of +3 and my proficiency bonus of +2. 11+3+2=16. 16 is higher than the owlbear’s Armor Class of 13, so my spell hits. Crackle!

To save you from calculating this every time you roll to hit with a spell, your Spellcasting Ability Modifier + Your Proficiency Bonus gives you your Spell Attack Bonus which is added to every spell attack roll you make. I have an article all about Spell Attack Bonus and how to make your spells more likely to hit!

Spell Save DC

Usually, your roll to hit will be against your target’s Armor Class. But for some spells, your target might get the chance to resist your spell by rolling against it.

Your Spell Save DC represents how difficult it is for your targets to resist your spell. The higher your Spell Save DC, the harder it is for them to resist it. For some spells, this is what monsters need to roll against to see if your spell actually hits.

Your Spell Save DC = 8 + your Spellcasting Ability modifier + your Proficiency Bonus + any Special Modifiers

For more onSpell Save DC, see our article.

Rolling for Spell Damage

Your spell meets its mark! Nice. Let’s see how much damage it does.

Spell damage = Roll the damage dice from the spell’s description

For example, if my Eldritch Blast hit, I would roll 1d10 damage. That’s it.

Unfortunately, you don’t add any additional modifiers to spell damage.

Saving Throws

Saving Throws are rolls you make to resist spells, poisons, traps, etc. They are also called saves.

Just like everything else your ability scores affect, the higher your score, the higher your ability modifier, and the more likely you are to succeed with your Saving Throw.

Saving Throw = Roll a d20 + Ability Modifier + Proficiency Bonus

Each class has proficiency in two Saving Throws, one common which is likely to come up quite frequently, and one uncommon which comes up less often.

• Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom are common saving throws.
• Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma are uncommon saving throws.

How to get Ability Scores for Your Character

Now that you know all the things your Ability Scores effect, it’s time for the fun bit! Actually getting and applying them to your character!

There are three main ways to create Ability Scores – Standard Array, Rolling Stats, and Point Buy. They all have their pros and cons and some are simpler to use than others.

Check which method your DM wants you to use to create your character before delving into it. Consider giving your DM a gift to get the method you want, but you didn’t hear that from me!

Standard Array

Standard Array is the easiest way to get ability scores, and is ideal for first-time players. With Standard Array, you have 6 pre-set numbers: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8. You then assign each number to an ability. Job done!

While straightforward, it does have drawbacks. Classes that benefit from multiple high ability scores are at a disadvantage. And you end up with one stat sitting at a paltry 8, giving you a negative modifier for that ability.

I created a full-length, so you can know everything about the gold standard of ability scores too!

Rolling Stats

Also sometimes referred to as the 4d6 drop method, rolling stats is the traditional way to generate ability scores.

You roll 4 x d6, drop the lowest number, and add up the rest. For example, if I rolled 3, 5, 2, 4. I’d drop the 2, and add up 3+5+4=12.

You rinse and repeat five times, giving you six numbers. Then you assign your six numbers to the stats you want.

The pros to this method are that it forces you to be more creative with your randomly generated ability scores, and you can end up with some absolutely bonkers starting stats! But on the downside, your character can be saddled with some useless stats, too.

Luckily, I’ve got more tips in our Rolling Stats How-To Guide.

Point Buy

If you aren’t keen on the randomness of Rolling Stats, but you’re too much of a control freak for Standard Array, Point Buy might be the ability score generation method for you! You can fine-tune your character’s stats and it’s well-loved by experienced players because of it.

With Point Buy, all your ability scores start at 8. You’re given 27 points that you can use to purchase ability score increases from a table.

Ability Score	Point Cost
8	0
9	1
10	2
11	3
12	4
13	5
14	7
15	9

A major downside to this is that your highest possible score before applying racial bonuses is 15. But it can still provide a lot of interesting options for play. Our complete Point Buy Guide in 5e D&D covers it step by step with Pros and Cons.

Not sure which method to use? That’s okay! My article – Standard Array vs Point Buy vs Rolling will help you decide.

How to Assign Your Ability Scores

What type of character do you want to play?

A high-born wizard who looks down on everyone but is so powerful they keep him in the party? A loud, jolly, larger-than-life cleric who wants to be everyone’s friend but drinks too much? A talented bard who believes they are already famous and signs autographs for everyone they meet?

Whoever you want to play, remember that the best characters have strengths and weaknesses.

What is a good starting ability score?

At level 1, 5e D&D tends to assume you’ll have a 16 or higher in the ability that’s most important for your class.

Generally, the maximum you’ll start with in any ability is 17 or 18. 14 is also pretty good, and is a solid score for Constitution.

TIP: Don’t neglect Constitution. Everybody needs Hit Points! And if you’re a front-line class like a barbarian or fighter, bump it up even higher if you can.

Some classes, like monks, benefit from high scores in multiple stats. But it’s difficult to get higher than 15 in more than one stat. When you have to choose, go for whatever you’ll use to attack to be your highest score.

Making your classes’ primary attack stat your highest score is a solid way to build a character, but it’s not the only way. You can mix things up for fun and interesting roleplay. How about a charismatic wizard who sucks at spellcasting but can talk their way out of any situation? Or a clumsy rouge with low dexterity who trips over their own feet and wakes up every goblin in the dungeon?

What is the maximum ability score?

Player character ability scores range from 1 – 20, and monsters 1 – 30. There are a few magical exceptions that can raise a character’s ability score above 20, but they are very rare.