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How is it possible to have an ability score that is less than 3?

What happens when ability scores reach 0?Why is there a saving throw for each ability score?Is it better to take the array and be Joe Average, or to roll for the odds of getting on average better scores?Does an unarmed strike get double damage on a critical hit?Why d20, lv20, and ability score 20?Using ablitity modifers for monsters/creaturesCan a character choose to not apply an ability score modifier from a class feature if it would be a disadvantage?Do ability score improvements apply to a druid's wild shape?Does the Thrown property mean I can attack with my DEX?Is it possible to fail an ability check on purpose?Will it cause problems in a campaign if everyone in the party has the same high stats and the same low stats?

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}

5

$begingroup$

The “Ability Scores And Modifiers” table on page 13 of the phb indicates that an ability score of 1 (resulting in a -5 modifier) or 2 (resulting in a -4 modifier) is possible. This, however, does not seem possible given the methods (provided on said page) used to determine ability scores. I must be missing something quite obvious here.

dnd-5e ability-scores

share|improve this question

edited 1 hour ago

Greg0141

asked 1 hour ago

Greg0141Greg0141

34214

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

5

$begingroup$

The “Ability Scores And Modifiers” table on page 13 of the phb indicates that an ability score of 1 (resulting in a -5 modifier) or 2 (resulting in a -4 modifier) is possible. This, however, does not seem possible given the methods (provided on said page) used to determine ability scores. I must be missing something quite obvious here.

dnd-5e ability-scores

share|improve this question

edited 1 hour ago

Greg0141

asked 1 hour ago

Greg0141Greg0141

34214

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

The “Ability Scores And Modifiers” table on page 13 of the phb indicates that an ability score of 1 (resulting in a -5 modifier) or 2 (resulting in a -4 modifier) is possible. This, however, does not seem possible given the methods (provided on said page) used to determine ability scores. I must be missing something quite obvious here.

dnd-5e ability-scores

share|improve this question

edited 1 hour ago

Greg0141

asked 1 hour ago

Greg0141Greg0141

34214

$endgroup$

share|improve this question

edited 1 hour ago

Greg0141

asked 1 hour ago

Greg0141Greg0141

34214

share|improve this question

edited 1 hour ago

Greg0141

asked 1 hour ago

Greg0141Greg0141

34214

asked 1 hour ago

Greg0141Greg0141

34214

asked 1 hour ago

Greg0141Greg0141

34214

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

4

$begingroup$

Ability scores can decrease.

See, for instance, the shadow and its strength drain ability. Even with score-generation methods that floor scores at 8, it'd only take two drains to threaten a PC with a strength below 3.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

nitsua60♦nitsua60

76.3k14312434

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  related: recovering from ability damage
  $endgroup$
  – nitsua60♦
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

$begingroup$

Monsters can have lower ability scores than player characters, and the same table can be used for their attribute modifiers.

You can see several examples in Appendix D of the PHB. A few selecions:

• Both bats and rats have a Strength of 2 and an Intelligence of 2.


• A frog has Strength 1, Intelligence 1 and Charisma 3.

The Monsters Manual has many more examples:

• All the animated objects have Int and Cha 1, as do many other constructs.


• Several kinds of incorporeal undead (banshees, specters, and will-o'-wisps) have Str 1.


• A gas spore (a fungal creature) has Dex, Int, Wis and Cha of 1 (and only 5 Str and 3 Con to round out a spectacularly bad stat block).


• All oozes have Int 1 and most have Cha 1.


• A quipper (a piranha-like fish) has Str 2, Int 1 and Cha 2


• A swarm of insects has Str 3, Int 1 and Cha 1

Many other monsters have low scores too, particularly Intelligence and Charisma which are usually in the range 1-3 for non-intelligent creatures. Tiny creatures often have low Strength as well.

share|improve this answer

answered 59 mins ago

BlckknghtBlckknght

786610

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  That's a really good point. I was thinking about PCs because of OP's mention of the PHB, but +1 for remembering that scores below 3 already occur aplenty!
  $endgroup$
  – nitsua60♦
  26 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

$begingroup$

There are multiple reasons why a player may use an ability score below 3.

Player Character Creation

It is possible (but not advisable) to create a player character with a score of 1 on an ability score. You must choose to play either an Orc or a Kobold. Both these playable races were published in Volo's Guide to Monsters and Orcs have a -2 to intelligence, while Kobolds have a -2 to strength. If you roll for your ability scores using the method provided in the PHB on page 12, and you are unfortunate enough to roll a 3, then you can assign that 3 to either intelligence (for Orc) or strength (for Kobold) and end up with 1 intelligence or strength respectively.

Ability Score Reduction

Some creatures can reduce the ability scores of other creatures. For example, Shadows and Intellect Devourers can respectively reduce the strength and intelligence scores of their targets below 3.

Other Creatures

There are plenty of creatures which have ability scores below 3 and sometimes players get to control these creatures. For example, a player may control:

• a Warhorse which has an intelligence of 2, because the player is riding it.


• a Bat which has both strength and intelligence of 2, because it is the player's familiar.


• a Giant Crab which has an intelligence of 1, because the player turned into one with polymorph.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 mins ago

answered 13 mins ago

RuseRuse

6,99711658

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

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4

$begingroup$

Ability scores can decrease.

See, for instance, the shadow and its strength drain ability. Even with score-generation methods that floor scores at 8, it'd only take two drains to threaten a PC with a strength below 3.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

nitsua60♦nitsua60

76.3k14312434

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  related: recovering from ability damage
  $endgroup$
  – nitsua60♦
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

4

$begingroup$

Ability scores can decrease.

See, for instance, the shadow and its strength drain ability. Even with score-generation methods that floor scores at 8, it'd only take two drains to threaten a PC with a strength below 3.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

nitsua60♦nitsua60

76.3k14312434

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  related: recovering from ability damage
  $endgroup$
  – nitsua60♦
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Ability scores can decrease.

See, for instance, the shadow and its strength drain ability. Even with score-generation methods that floor scores at 8, it'd only take two drains to threaten a PC with a strength below 3.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

nitsua60♦nitsua60

76.3k14312434

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

nitsua60♦nitsua60

76.3k14312434

answered 1 hour ago

nitsua60♦nitsua60

76.3k14312434

answered 1 hour ago

nitsua60♦nitsua60

76.3k14312434

2

$begingroup$

Monsters can have lower ability scores than player characters, and the same table can be used for their attribute modifiers.

You can see several examples in Appendix D of the PHB. A few selecions:

• Both bats and rats have a Strength of 2 and an Intelligence of 2.


• A frog has Strength 1, Intelligence 1 and Charisma 3.

The Monsters Manual has many more examples:

• All the animated objects have Int and Cha 1, as do many other constructs.


• Several kinds of incorporeal undead (banshees, specters, and will-o'-wisps) have Str 1.


• A gas spore (a fungal creature) has Dex, Int, Wis and Cha of 1 (and only 5 Str and 3 Con to round out a spectacularly bad stat block).


• All oozes have Int 1 and most have Cha 1.


• A quipper (a piranha-like fish) has Str 2, Int 1 and Cha 2


• A swarm of insects has Str 3, Int 1 and Cha 1

Many other monsters have low scores too, particularly Intelligence and Charisma which are usually in the range 1-3 for non-intelligent creatures. Tiny creatures often have low Strength as well.

share|improve this answer

answered 59 mins ago

BlckknghtBlckknght

786610

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  That's a really good point. I was thinking about PCs because of OP's mention of the PHB, but +1 for remembering that scores below 3 already occur aplenty!
  $endgroup$
  – nitsua60♦
  26 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

$begingroup$

Monsters can have lower ability scores than player characters, and the same table can be used for their attribute modifiers.

You can see several examples in Appendix D of the PHB. A few selecions:

• Both bats and rats have a Strength of 2 and an Intelligence of 2.


• A frog has Strength 1, Intelligence 1 and Charisma 3.

The Monsters Manual has many more examples:

• All the animated objects have Int and Cha 1, as do many other constructs.


• Several kinds of incorporeal undead (banshees, specters, and will-o'-wisps) have Str 1.


• A gas spore (a fungal creature) has Dex, Int, Wis and Cha of 1 (and only 5 Str and 3 Con to round out a spectacularly bad stat block).


• All oozes have Int 1 and most have Cha 1.


• A quipper (a piranha-like fish) has Str 2, Int 1 and Cha 2


• A swarm of insects has Str 3, Int 1 and Cha 1

Many other monsters have low scores too, particularly Intelligence and Charisma which are usually in the range 1-3 for non-intelligent creatures. Tiny creatures often have low Strength as well.

share|improve this answer

answered 59 mins ago

BlckknghtBlckknght

786610

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  That's a really good point. I was thinking about PCs because of OP's mention of the PHB, but +1 for remembering that scores below 3 already occur aplenty!
  $endgroup$
  – nitsua60♦
  26 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Monsters can have lower ability scores than player characters, and the same table can be used for their attribute modifiers.

You can see several examples in Appendix D of the PHB. A few selecions:

• Both bats and rats have a Strength of 2 and an Intelligence of 2.


• A frog has Strength 1, Intelligence 1 and Charisma 3.

The Monsters Manual has many more examples:

• All the animated objects have Int and Cha 1, as do many other constructs.


• Several kinds of incorporeal undead (banshees, specters, and will-o'-wisps) have Str 1.


• A gas spore (a fungal creature) has Dex, Int, Wis and Cha of 1 (and only 5 Str and 3 Con to round out a spectacularly bad stat block).


• All oozes have Int 1 and most have Cha 1.


• A quipper (a piranha-like fish) has Str 2, Int 1 and Cha 2


• A swarm of insects has Str 3, Int 1 and Cha 1

Many other monsters have low scores too, particularly Intelligence and Charisma which are usually in the range 1-3 for non-intelligent creatures. Tiny creatures often have low Strength as well.

share|improve this answer

answered 59 mins ago

BlckknghtBlckknght

786610

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 59 mins ago

BlckknghtBlckknght

786610

answered 59 mins ago

BlckknghtBlckknght

786610

answered 59 mins ago

BlckknghtBlckknght

786610

1

$begingroup$

There are multiple reasons why a player may use an ability score below 3.

Player Character Creation

It is possible (but not advisable) to create a player character with a score of 1 on an ability score. You must choose to play either an Orc or a Kobold. Both these playable races were published in Volo's Guide to Monsters and Orcs have a -2 to intelligence, while Kobolds have a -2 to strength. If you roll for your ability scores using the method provided in the PHB on page 12, and you are unfortunate enough to roll a 3, then you can assign that 3 to either intelligence (for Orc) or strength (for Kobold) and end up with 1 intelligence or strength respectively.

Ability Score Reduction

Some creatures can reduce the ability scores of other creatures. For example, Shadows and Intellect Devourers can respectively reduce the strength and intelligence scores of their targets below 3.

Other Creatures

There are plenty of creatures which have ability scores below 3 and sometimes players get to control these creatures. For example, a player may control:

• a Warhorse which has an intelligence of 2, because the player is riding it.


• a Bat which has both strength and intelligence of 2, because it is the player's familiar.


• a Giant Crab which has an intelligence of 1, because the player turned into one with polymorph.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 mins ago

answered 13 mins ago

RuseRuse

6,99711658

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

1

$begingroup$

There are multiple reasons why a player may use an ability score below 3.

Player Character Creation

It is possible (but not advisable) to create a player character with a score of 1 on an ability score. You must choose to play either an Orc or a Kobold. Both these playable races were published in Volo's Guide to Monsters and Orcs have a -2 to intelligence, while Kobolds have a -2 to strength. If you roll for your ability scores using the method provided in the PHB on page 12, and you are unfortunate enough to roll a 3, then you can assign that 3 to either intelligence (for Orc) or strength (for Kobold) and end up with 1 intelligence or strength respectively.

Ability Score Reduction

Some creatures can reduce the ability scores of other creatures. For example, Shadows and Intellect Devourers can respectively reduce the strength and intelligence scores of their targets below 3.

Other Creatures

There are plenty of creatures which have ability scores below 3 and sometimes players get to control these creatures. For example, a player may control:

• a Warhorse which has an intelligence of 2, because the player is riding it.


• a Bat which has both strength and intelligence of 2, because it is the player's familiar.


• a Giant Crab which has an intelligence of 1, because the player turned into one with polymorph.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 mins ago

answered 13 mins ago

RuseRuse

6,99711658

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

There are multiple reasons why a player may use an ability score below 3.

Player Character Creation

It is possible (but not advisable) to create a player character with a score of 1 on an ability score. You must choose to play either an Orc or a Kobold. Both these playable races were published in Volo's Guide to Monsters and Orcs have a -2 to intelligence, while Kobolds have a -2 to strength. If you roll for your ability scores using the method provided in the PHB on page 12, and you are unfortunate enough to roll a 3, then you can assign that 3 to either intelligence (for Orc) or strength (for Kobold) and end up with 1 intelligence or strength respectively.

Ability Score Reduction

Some creatures can reduce the ability scores of other creatures. For example, Shadows and Intellect Devourers can respectively reduce the strength and intelligence scores of their targets below 3.

Other Creatures

There are plenty of creatures which have ability scores below 3 and sometimes players get to control these creatures. For example, a player may control:

• a Warhorse which has an intelligence of 2, because the player is riding it.


• a Bat which has both strength and intelligence of 2, because it is the player's familiar.


• a Giant Crab which has an intelligence of 1, because the player turned into one with polymorph.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 mins ago

answered 13 mins ago

RuseRuse

6,99711658

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited 5 mins ago

answered 13 mins ago

RuseRuse

6,99711658

answered 13 mins ago

RuseRuse

6,99711658

answered 13 mins ago

RuseRuse

6,99711658