Intelligence

Intelligence measures mental acuity, accuracy of recall, and the ability to reason. Characters with high intelligence scores are skilled in a wide range of skills that require cognitive prowess, such as crafting, languages, and arcane, historical, or natural studies.

Intelligence Checks

An Intelligence check comes into play when you need to draw on logic, education, memory, or deductive reasoning. The Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, and Religion skills reflect aptitude in certain kinds of Intelligence checks.

Arcana

Your Intelligence (Arcana) check measures your ability to recall knowledge about spells, magic items, eldritch symbols, magical traditions, the planes of existence, and the inhabitants of those planes.

History

Your Intelligence (History) check measures your ability to recall knowledge about historical events, legendary people, ancient kingdoms, past disputes, recent wars, and lost civilizations.

Investigation

When you look around for clues and make deductions based on those clues, you make an Intelligence (Investigation) check. You might deduce the location of a hidden object, discern from the appearance of a wound what kind of weapon dealt it, or determine the weakest point in a tunnel that could cause it to collapse. Poring through ancient scrolls in search of a hidden fragment of knowledge might also call for an Intelligence (Investigation) check.

Nature

Your Intelligence (Nature) check measures your ability to recall knowledge about terrain, plants and animals, the weather, and natural cycles.

Religion

Your Intelligence (Religion) check measures your ability to recall knowledge about deities, rites and prayers, religious hierarchies, holy symbols, and the practices of secret cults.

Other Intelligence Checks

The GM might call for an Intelligence check when you try to accomplish tasks like the following:

• Communicate with a creature without using words
• Estimate the value of a precious item
• Pull together a disguise to pass as a city guard
• Forge a document
• Win a game of skill