Summary

• Core stats in D&D 5e, like Strength and Charisma, are crucial for character creation and abilities.
• Core stats can be increased during a campaign or with specific items to enhance a character's performance.
• Not all core stats are equally important — some, like Strength, can be considered dump stats in certain situations.

Dungeons & Dragons is a game of numbers, chance, and quick, panic-induced math. These numbers are used in both combat and roleplaying encounters, usually determining the outcome of both, and no set of numbers is as important as the six core stats. They are so pivotal to the TTRPG that the stats not only determine what player characters can do but also dictate the abilities of the many NPCs a party can meet, monsters and friendlies alike.

The six core stats are Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. The easiest way to think about them is with a well-known tomato analogy. Strength is the ability to crush a tomato, while Dexterity is being able to dodge a thrown tomato. Constitution is being able to eat a bad tomato. Intelligence is the knowledge that tomatoes are fruits, while Wisdom is knowing not to put tomatoes in a fruit salad. Charisma is the ability to sell a tomato-based fruit salad.

What D&D 5e Core Stats Are Used For

Core Stats Establish The Character's Strengths

D&D's core stats are used in character creation as a baseline for what a character is good or bad at. Often, along with Proficiency, they determine skill modifiers, weapon, and spell attack damage modifiers. They are also used for many class-specific abilities, which is why certain classes usually have high stats in specific areas, like rogues having high Dexterity. It is possible to ignore this and have a rogue with terrible Dexterity (it isn't advised), but multiclassing requires minimum stat thresholds to be met. For instance, characters need 13 Dexterity to multiclass into rogue.

Core stats have a normal maximum of 20. This can be exceeded in some cases, like with barbarian at level 20, when their Strength and Constitution's maximum increase to 24.

These core stats are usually distributed in three ways. There is Standard Array, where there are six predetermined scores, which are each put into one of the stats. The scores are 15, 14, 13, 12, 10 and 8. Players can roll for stats where they roll 4d6 for each stat, ignore the lowest roll, and add the rest. Then, there is Point Buy, where all stats start at 8, and players have 27 points to spend on the stats as they wish, but no stat can exceed 15. Point spending isn't linear, however, and works as follows:

All of these stat allocation methods are used before racial buffs. This means that certain races are traditionally better for some classes, although players are advised to do whatever they want. Tieflings do tend to make better bards or warlocks with their inherent Charisma buff, but that doesn't mean tiefling clerics can't be made. It ultimately depends on whether players want to stick to a specific idea in their mind or min-max to make the most powerful character they can.

Not All Core Stats Are Made Equal

Some Stats Are Better For Certain Classes

Typically, classes need at least one high core stat. Some require two, like monk using both Dexterity and Wisdom, while a fighter's most important stat varies depending on what a player wants to do. If they want to use heavy weapons and armor, then Strength is what players should go for. If they wish to be quick with light weapons and armor, then Dexterity should be their go to. Usually, if a class uses two stats, one will be more important. For example, Paladin uses Charisma for spell casting, but Strength is usually more important for fighting with weapons.

Fighter subclasses can also determine what stat is used. For instance, Eldtrich Knight uses wizard spells and needs intelligence.

When using Standard Array or Point Buy, there is usually at least one 'dump stat,' meaning a stat that is intentionally left to be a character's least effective. This gives players a weakness to roleplay. When choosing a dump stat, it is best to pick one that makes sense for a character, but for min-maxers there are some things to keep in mind. Some stats affect fundamental mechanics while others do not, and the six core stats don't have an equal number of corresponding skills.

Constitution affects how much health a character has, while dexterity affects AC (when not wearing heavy armor) and Initiative rolls. Wisdom affects ive Perception, while Charisma is used extensively in social situations thanks to skills like Deception and Persuasion. On the other hand, Strength only has one skill: Athletics. Unless a player character needs Strength, it can be a little useless, making it a popular dump stat. Intelligence skills tend to be highly specific and are useful if a DM has a rich world, but its specificity makes it a popular dump stat with Barbarians specifically.

Note that the usage of certain skills will depend on a DM and the campaign they want to run. Charisma will be more universally useful if the campaign is based around social interactions more than combat.

The Importance Of Core Stats In D&D 5e

An Integral Part Of The Game

Core stats are pivotal in determining what a player is good at. This doesn't always mean they will succeed rolls using these stats since D&D is a game of chance, but it does increase the likelihood. Although they are first allocated during character creation at level 1, stats can be increased during a playthrough. This can be done when characters receive Ability Score Improvements at specific levels or can be artificially increased by certain magical items.

In a game with a lot of numbers, the six needed for the core stats are the most important in Dungeons & Dragons. They determine almost everything on the character sheet, essentially dictating what a character will be good and bad at. Not all are equally useful in all situations, and while a class usually determines what stat will be highest, deciding what situations a character will be worst in can be used to figure out what the dump stat could be.