Each ability covers a broad range of capabilities, including
skills that a character or a monster can be proficient in. A character's starting skill proficiencies are determined at character creation, and a monster's skill proficiencies appear in the monster's stat block.
A skill represents a specific aspect of an
Ability Score, and an individual's proficiency in a skill demonstrates a focus on that aspect.
For example, a
Dexterity check might reflect a character's attempt to pull off an acrobatic stunt, to palm an object, or to stay hidden. Each of these aspects of Dexterity has an associated skill:
Acrobatics,
Sleight of Hand, and
Stealth, respectively. So a character who has proficiency in the
Stealth skill is particularly good at Dexterity checks related to sneaking and
Hiding.
The skills related to each ability score are shown in the following list. (No skills are related to
Constitution.)
Strength
Most of the time, skill checks are used as part of the
Core Action Mechanic. When you declare your attempt to take an in-game action, the GM might ask for an
Ability Check using a specific skill -- for example, “Make a
Wisdom (
Perception) check.”
At other times, a player might ask the GM if proficiency in a particular skill applies to a check. In either case, proficiency in a skill means an individual can add his or her
Proficiency Bonus to ability checks that involve that skill. Without proficiency in the skill, the individual makes a normal ability check.
For example, if a character attempts to climb up a dangerous cliff, the GM might ask for a
Strength (
Athletics)
check. If the character is proficient in
Athletics, then the character's
Proficiency Bonus is added to the Strength check. If the character lacks that proficiency, he or she just makes a Strength check. The character's player might ask the GM if they can make a
Dexterity (
Acrobatics) check instead.
Sometimes, skill checks might be used without input or even knowledge of the player. There are two types of skill checks that might be used without your knowledge:
Passive Skill Checks, which are made entirely without rolls, and
Opposed Skill Checks, which one party is aware of and others unaware.
Creature Skills
The Skills entry is in a statblock is reserved for
creatures that are proficient in one or more skills. For example, a creature that is very perceptive and stealthy might have bonuses to
Wisdom (
Perception) and
Dexterity (
Stealth)
checks.
A skill bonus is the sum of a
creature's relevant
ability modifier and its
Proficiency Bonus, which is determined by the monster's challenge rating (as shown in the
Proficiency Bonus by Challenge Rating table, below). Other modifiers might apply. For instance, a creature might have a larger-than-expected bonus (usually double its proficiency bonus) to account for its heightened expertise.
Proficiency Bonus by Challenge Rating
| Challenge | Proficiency Bonus |
|---|
| 0 | +2 |
| 1/8 | +2 |
| 1/4 | +2 |
| 1/2 | +2 |
| 1 | +2 |
| 2 | +2 |
| 3 | +2 |
| 4 | +2 |
| 5 | +3 |
| 6 | +3 |
| 7 | +3 |
| 8 | +3 |
| 9 | +4 |
| 10 | +4 |
| 11 | +4 |
| 12 | +4 |
| 13 | +5 |
| 14 | +5 |
| 15 | +5 |
| 16 | +5 |
| 17 | +6 |
| 18 | +6 |
| 19 | +6 |
| 20 | +6 |
| 21 | +7 |
| 22 | +7 |
| 23 | +7 |
| 24 | +7 |
| 25 | +8 |
| 26 | +8 |
| 27 | +8 |
| 28 | +8 |
| 29 | +9 |
| 30 | +9 |
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