D&D Stats in Simple Language
Below are some quick descriptions of every stat, from 1 (a modifier of -5, or as low as a character can get without being undead or a construct) to 25 (a modifier of +7, or as high as a PHB character can get without magic):
Strength
Measures: Natural athleticism, bodily power
Modifier | |
---|---|
-5 | Morbidly weak, significant trouble lifting own limbs |
-4 | Needs help to stand, can be knocked over by strong breezes |
-3 | Knocked off balance by swinging something dense |
-2 | Difficulty pushing an object of their weight |
-1 | Has trouble even lifting heavy objects |
0 | Can literally pull their own weight |
1 | Carries heavy objects for short distances |
2 | Toned, throws small objects long distances |
3 | Carries heavy objects with one arm |
4 | Can break objects like wood with bare hands |
5 | Can wrestle a work animal or catch a falling person |
6 | Can pull very heavy objects at appreciable speeds |
7 | Pinnacle of brawn, able to out-lift several people |
Dexterity
Measures: Physical agility, reflexes, balance, poise
Modifier | |
---|---|
-5 | Barely mobile, probably significantly paralyzed |
-4 | Incapable of moving without noticeable effort or pain |
-3 | Visible paralysis or physical difficulty |
-2 | Significant klutz or very slow to react |
-1 | Somewhat slow, occasionally trips over own feet |
0 | Capable of usually catching a small tossed object |
1 | Able to often hit large targets |
2 | Can catch or dodge a medium-speed surprise projectile |
3 | Able to often hit small targets |
4 | Light on feet, able to often hit small moving targets |
5 | Graceful, able to flow from one action into another easily |
6 | Very graceful, capable of dodging a number of thrown objects |
7 | Moves like water, reacting to all situations with almost no effort |
Constitution
Measures: Heath, stamina, vital force
Modifier | |
---|---|
-5 | Minimal immune system, body reacts violently to anything foreign |
-4 | Frail, suffers frequent broken bones |
-3 | Bruises very easily, knocked out by a light punch |
-2 | Unusually prone to disease and infection |
-1 | Easily winded, incapable of a full day’s hard labor |
0 | Occasionally contracts mild sicknesses |
1 | Can take a few hits before being knocked unconscious |
2 | Able to labor for twelve hours most days |
3 | Easily shrugs off most illnesses |
4 | Able to stay awake for days on end |
5 | Very difficult to wear down, almost never feels fatigue |
6 | Never gets sick, even to the most virulent diseases |
7 | Tireless paragon of physical endurance |
Intelligence
Measures: Mental acuity, information recall, analytical skill
Modifier | |
---|---|
-5 | Animalistic, no longer capable of logic or reason |
-4 | Barely able to function, very limited speech and knowledge |
-3 | Often resorts to charades to express thoughts |
-2 | Often misuses and mispronounces words |
-1 | Has trouble following trains of thought, forgets most unimportant things |
0 | Knows what they need to know to get by |
1 | Knows a bit more than is necessary, fairly logical |
2 | Able to do math or solve logic puzzles mentally with reasonable accuracy |
3 | Fairly intelligent, able to understand new tasks quickly |
4 | Very intelligent, may invent new processes or uses for knowledge |
5 | Highly knowledgeable, probably the smartest person many people know |
6 | Able to make Holmesian leaps of logic |
7 | Famous as a sage and genius |
Wisdom
Measures: Awareness, intuition, insight
Modifier | |
---|---|
-5 | Seemingly incapable of thought, barely aware |
-4 | Rarely notices important or prominent items, people, or occurrences |
-3 | Seemingly incapable of forethought |
-2 | Often fails to exert common sense |
-1 | Forgets or opts not to consider options before taking action |
0 | Makes reasoned decisions most of the time |
1 | Able to tell when a person is upset |
2 | Can get hunches about a situation that doesn’t feel right |
3 | Reads people and situations fairly well |
4 | Often used as a source of wisdom or decider of actions |
5 | Reads people and situations very well, almost unconsciously |
6 | Can tell minute differences among many situations |
7 | Nearly prescient, able to reason far beyond logic |
Charisma
Measures: Confidence, eloquence, leadership
Modifier | |
---|---|
-5 | Barely conscious, probably acts heavily autistic |
-4 | Minimal independent thought, relies heavily on others to think instead |
-3 | Has trouble thinking of others as people |
-2 | Terribly reticent, uninteresting, or rude |
-1 | Something of a bore or makes people mildly uncomfortable |
0 | Capable of polite conversation |
1 | Interesting, knows what to say to most people |
2 | Can get hunches about a situation that doesn’t feel right |
3 | Popular, receives greetings and conversations on the street |
4 | Immediately likeable by many people, subject of favorable talk |
5 | Life of the party, able to keep people entertained for hours |
6 | Immediately likeable by almost everybody |
7 | Renowned for wit, personality, and/or looks |
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