Each of a creature’s abilities has a score, a number that defines the magnitude of that ability. An ability score is not just a measure of innate capabilities, but also encompasses a creature’s training and competence in activities related to that ability.

A score of 10 or 11 is the normal human average, but adventurers and many monsters are a cut above average in most abilities. A score of 18 is the highest that a person usually reaches. Adventurers can have scores as high as 20, and monsters and divine beings can have scores as high as 30.

Each ability also has a modifier, derived from the score and ranging from −5 (for an ability score of 1) to +10 (for a score of 30). The Ability Scores and Modifiers table notes the ability modifiers for the range of possible ability scores, from 1 to 30.

To determine an ability modifier without consulting the table, subtract 10 from the ability score and then divide the total by 2 (round down).

Because ability modifiers affect almost every attack roll, ability check, and saving throw, ability modifiers come up in play more often than their associated scores.

The six Core Abilities are listed below, along with what actions they may govern or what Classes use them as their primary Ability.

Strength

The Strength ability governs any action that requires raw, physical capability, such as holding a door shut against an enemy, scaling a cliff, or lifting a boulder off the ground. Fighters and Barbarians utilize Strength to be effective in Combat.

Having a Strength score of 0 means that a creature cannot move at all. It lies helpless on the ground.

Dexterity

The Dexterity ability governs any action that involves having to be agile, balanced, reactive, or poised. Such actions may include walking a tightrope, dodging a Fireball, or catching a comrade before they fall. Monks and Rogues utilize Dexterity to maneuver swiftly in Combat.

Having a Dexterity score of 0 means that a creature cannot move at all. It stands motionless.

Constitution

The Constitution ability governs any action that involves having endurance, vitality, or health. Actions that involve Constitution may include resisting a poison's effects, postponing the onset of inebriation, or running long distances to catch your prey. Barbarians, Fighters, and Clerics utilize Constitution to remain hardy and tough for the most difficult of combats.

IMPORTANT: A higher Constitution score results in having higher Hit Point totals.

Having a Constitution score of 0 means that a creature is dead. (Does not apply to Undead)

Intelligence

The Intelligence ability governs any action that invokes the need for mental acuity, memory recall, or analytical skill. Actions that involve Intelligence might be recalling a conversation overheard in a bar a month back, or committing a treasure map to memory. Wizards utilize Intelligence to power their spells and Arcane capabilities.

Having an Intelligence score of 0 means that a creature is incapable of thought and in a stupor.

Wisdom

The Wisdom ability governs any action that involves intuition and your perceptiveness of the world around you. Actions that involve Wisdom might be peering into someone's motives or actions, spotting a hidden detail about your environment, or concocting a poultice for a wound. Clerics and Druids rely on Wisdom to fuel their powers of Nature and the Divine.

Having a Wisdom score of 0 means a creature is drawn into a nightmarish and deep sleep, helpless.

Charisma

The Charisma ability governs any action that requires forcing your willpower onto others. Actions that involve Charisma might be attempting to charm a guard into letting you enter a restricted area, performing a musical number to sway the hearts of patrons, or resisting the lure of a silver-tongued conversationalist. Paladins, Bards, and Sorcerers utilize Charisma to fuel their powers of will.

Having a Charisma score of 0 means a creature is catatonic and in a coma-like stupor, helpless.

An ability check comes into play when your Dungeon Master deems it necessary, which is when your character takes an action that has a certain degree of failure. As the book states, "when an outcome is uncertain, the dice determine the results" (please refer to the House Rules for clarification on this).

When making an Ability Check, you roll a d20 and the result is compared to a Difficulty Class (very commonly referred to as "DC" by the DM), which is a static number corresponding to a degree of difficulty. You must meet or exceed this static number to succeed in your chosen task. The tiers of difficulty - as well as examples of such difficulty - are listed below:

When the Dungeon Master calls for an Ability Check, it will be associated with the action you are trying to take. When you make an Ability Check you will:

• Roll a d20

• Add your relevant Ability Score Modifier to the result.

If an Ability Check is a bit more skill-focused in its intent, the DM may call for a relevant Skill Check instead...

Much like abilities, your character has a set of skills that set them apart from other characters, all of which are drawn from your character's core Ability Scores - the higher an ability score that governs a skill, the greater your affinity for that particular skill. Listed below are the many skills found in DnD 5e, as well as the abilities that govern them:

When the Dungeon Master calls for a Skill Check, they will specify what skill you are using and (usually) why you are using it. If you are attempting to sneak through a graveyard infested with Ghouls, the DM may call for a Stealth Check, for example. When making a Skill Check you will:

• Roll a d20

• Add your Skill Modifier to the roll (this number is drawn from your core Ability Score and your Proficiency Bonus, if applicable)

• Some Skill Checks require proficiency, in which case, you will add your Proficiency Bonus to your roll.

Much like Skill checks, your character may have an affinity with a certain kind of tool or supply kit. These tools fulfil many different purposes, often falling within the bounds of Crafting items, but some tools are utilitarian, such as Thieves' Tools. Though the way in which you use the tools will vary, the game mechanics behind them remain the same - all they do is allow you to add your proficiency modifier to your roll result when making a Tool check.

When making a Tool Check, the Ability Score used can vary, as using toolsets don't necessarily fall under a particular Skill. For example, the DM may call upon you to roll a Strength Check to sculpt a statue from stone using Mason's Tools.

You will need to possess a particular toolset to craft certain items; i.e. Carpenter's Tools for building houses, and Alchemist's Supplies for brewing potions. Such toolkits can usually be purchased from local shops or artisans, or found during adventures.

Sometimes, your character might be so good at a particular skill or attribute, that it's better to assume they simply succeed at whatever they're trying to do if their skill level justifies it; i.e. a character with a high STR score should - theoretically - be able to lift a great many more things by themselves, compared to another creature with a weaker STR score or modifier, posing a problem when it comes to lifting objects without assistance. The same goes for Passive Perception - sometimes, characters can be far more aware or aloof than others (which also presents opportunities for natural and organic roleplay), giving them an edge during exploration, while also setting their character apart from the others in ways that can promote good teamwork.

Inspiration is a rule the game master can use to reward you for playing your character in a way that’s true to their personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws.

Gaining Inspiration

Your GM can choose to give you inspiration for a variety of reasons. Typically, GMs award it when you play out your personality traits, give in to the drawbacks presented by a flaw or bond, and otherwise portray your character in a compelling way. Your GM will tell you how you can earn inspiration in the game.

You either have inspiration or you don’t—you can’t stockpile multiple “inspirations” for later use.

Using Inspiration

If you have inspiration, you can expend it when you make an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check. Spending your inspiration gives you advantage on that roll.

Additionally, if you have inspiration, you can reward another player for good roleplaying, clever thinking, or simply doing something exciting in the game. When another player character does something that really contributes to the story in a fun and interesting way, you can give up your inspiration to give that character inspiration.

The experience point cost to gain a level is always based on your total character level, as shown in the Character Advancement table, not your level in a particular class. So, if you are a cleric 6/fighter 1, you must gain enough XP to reach 8th level before you can take your second level as a fighter or your seventh level as a cleric.

Multiclassing allows you to gain levels in multiple classes. Doing so lets you mix the abilities of those classes to realize a character concept that might not be reflected in one of the standard class options.

With this rule, you have the option of gaining a level in a new class whenever you advance in level, instead of gaining a level in your current class. Your levels in all your classes are added together to determine your character level. For example, if you have three levels in wizard and two in fighter, you’re a 5th-level character.

As you advance in levels, you might primarily remain a member of your original class with just a few levels in another class, or you might change course entirely, never looking back at the class you left behind. You might even start progressing in a third or fourth class. Compared to a single-­‐‑class character of the same level, you’ll sacrifice some focus in exchange for versatility.

Prerequisites

To qualify for a new class, you must meet the ability score prerequisites for both your current class and your new one, as shown in the Multiclassing Prerequisites table. For example, a barbarian who decides to multiclass into the druid class must have both Strength and Wisdom scores of 13 or higher. Without the full training that a beginning character receives, you must be a quick study in your new class, having a natural aptitude that is reflected by higher-than-average ability scores.

Hit Points and Hit Dice

You gain the hit points from your new class as described for levels after 1st. You gain the 1st-level hit points for a class only when you are a 1st-level character.

You add together the Hit Dice granted by all your classes to form your pool of Hit Dice. If the Hit Dice are the same die type, you can simply pool them together. For example, both the fighter and the paladin have a d10, so if you are a paladin 5/fighter 5, you have ten d10 Hit Dice. If your classes give you Hit Dice of different types, keep track of them separately. If you are a paladin 5/cleric 5, for example, you have five d10 Hit Dice and five d8 Hit Dice.

Proficiency Bonus

Your proficiency bonus is always based on your total character level, as shown in the Character Advancement table, not your level in a particular class. For example, if you are a fighter 3/rogue 2, you have the proficiency bonus of a 5th-level character, which is +3.

Proficiencies

When you gain your first level in a class other than your initial class, you gain only some of new class’s starting proficiencies, as shown in the Multiclassing Proficiencies table below.

Class Features

Spells Known and Prepared. You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually, as if you were a single-classed member of that class. If you are a ranger 4/wizard 3, for example, you know three 1st-level ranger spells based on your levels in the ranger class. As 3rd-level wizard, you know three wizard cantrips, and your spellbook contains ten wizard spells, two of which (the two you gained when you reached 3rd level as a wizard) can be 2nd-level spells. If your Intelligence is 16, you can prepare six wizard spells from your spellbook.

Each spell you know and prepare is associated with one of your classes, and you use the spellcasting ability of that class when you cast the spell. Similarly, a spellcasting focus, such as a holy symbol, can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus.

Spell Slots. You determine your available spell slots by adding together all your levels in the bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, and wizard classes, and half your levels (rounded down) in the paladin and ranger classes. Use this total to determine your spell slots by consulting the Multiclass Spellcaster table.

If you have more than one spellcasting class, this table might give you spell slots of a level that is higher than the spells you know or can prepare. You can use those slots, but only to cast your lower-level spells. If a lower-level spell that you cast, like burning hands, has an enhanced effect when cast using a higher-level slot, you can use the enhanced effect, even though you don’t have any spells of that higher level.

For example, if you are the aforementioned ranger 4/wizard 3, you count as a 5th-level character when determining your spell slots: you have four 1st-level slots, three 2nd-level slots, and two 3rd-level slots. However, you don’t know any 3rd-level spells, nor do you know any 2nd-level ranger spells. You can use the spell slots of those levels to cast the spells you do know—and potentially enhance their effects.

Pact Magic. If you have both the Spellcasting class feature and the Pact Magic class feature from the warlock class, you can use the spell slots you gain from the Pact Magic feature to cast spells you know or have prepared from classes with the Spellcasting class feature, and you can use the spell slots you gain from the Spellcasting class feature to cast warlock spells you know.