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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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$begingroup$


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.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$



















    6












    $begingroup$


    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.










    share|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      6












      6








      6





      $begingroup$


      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.










      share|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      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















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 1 hour ago







      Greg0141

















      asked 1 hour ago









      Greg0141Greg0141

      34714




      34714






















          4 Answers
          4






          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









          $endgroup$









          • 1




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



















          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









          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            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
            40 mins ago



















          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











          $endgroup$





















            0












            $begingroup$

            Negative Racial Ability Modifiers



            There are a couple of racial choices to actually get below a three in character creation.



            In Volo's Guide to Monsters you will find the Kobold and Orc racial options which give the character -2 negative ability modifiers to strength and intelligence respectively. This is an actual means by which a player character can, with rolled stats, begin with less than a three. Thus those who want to roleplay as an orc barbarian with intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible.



            This is not really the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will only ever encounter it for certain non-player creatures like those Blckknght's answer lists, which they may run as a DM, wildshape into, have as familiars, etc. If they roll very low stats then it may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects. However given the context of the modifier chart being, as you noticed, adjacent to character stat generation in the PHB it may well be that WotC anticipated they may eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which have existed in most editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid this in 5e.





            share









            $endgroup$














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              $begingroup$

              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









              $endgroup$









              • 1




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
















              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









              $endgroup$









              • 1




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














              4












              4








              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









              $endgroup$



              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












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 1 hour ago









              nitsua60nitsua60

              76.3k14312434




              76.3k14312434








              • 1




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














              • 1




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








              1




              1




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




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













              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









              $endgroup$













              • $begingroup$
                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
                40 mins ago
















              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









              $endgroup$













              • $begingroup$
                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
                40 mins ago














              2












              2








              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









              $endgroup$



              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












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 1 hour ago









              BlckknghtBlckknght

              786610




              786610












              • $begingroup$
                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
                40 mins ago


















              • $begingroup$
                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
                40 mins ago
















              $begingroup$
              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
              40 mins ago




              $begingroup$
              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
              40 mins ago











              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











              $endgroup$


















                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











                $endgroup$
















                  1












                  1








                  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











                  $endgroup$



                  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














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 19 mins ago

























                  answered 27 mins ago









                  RuseRuse

                  6,99711658




                  6,99711658























                      0












                      $begingroup$

                      Negative Racial Ability Modifiers



                      There are a couple of racial choices to actually get below a three in character creation.



                      In Volo's Guide to Monsters you will find the Kobold and Orc racial options which give the character -2 negative ability modifiers to strength and intelligence respectively. This is an actual means by which a player character can, with rolled stats, begin with less than a three. Thus those who want to roleplay as an orc barbarian with intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible.



                      This is not really the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will only ever encounter it for certain non-player creatures like those Blckknght's answer lists, which they may run as a DM, wildshape into, have as familiars, etc. If they roll very low stats then it may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects. However given the context of the modifier chart being, as you noticed, adjacent to character stat generation in the PHB it may well be that WotC anticipated they may eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which have existed in most editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid this in 5e.





                      share









                      $endgroup$


















                        0












                        $begingroup$

                        Negative Racial Ability Modifiers



                        There are a couple of racial choices to actually get below a three in character creation.



                        In Volo's Guide to Monsters you will find the Kobold and Orc racial options which give the character -2 negative ability modifiers to strength and intelligence respectively. This is an actual means by which a player character can, with rolled stats, begin with less than a three. Thus those who want to roleplay as an orc barbarian with intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible.



                        This is not really the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will only ever encounter it for certain non-player creatures like those Blckknght's answer lists, which they may run as a DM, wildshape into, have as familiars, etc. If they roll very low stats then it may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects. However given the context of the modifier chart being, as you noticed, adjacent to character stat generation in the PHB it may well be that WotC anticipated they may eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which have existed in most editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid this in 5e.





                        share









                        $endgroup$
















                          0












                          0








                          0





                          $begingroup$

                          Negative Racial Ability Modifiers



                          There are a couple of racial choices to actually get below a three in character creation.



                          In Volo's Guide to Monsters you will find the Kobold and Orc racial options which give the character -2 negative ability modifiers to strength and intelligence respectively. This is an actual means by which a player character can, with rolled stats, begin with less than a three. Thus those who want to roleplay as an orc barbarian with intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible.



                          This is not really the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will only ever encounter it for certain non-player creatures like those Blckknght's answer lists, which they may run as a DM, wildshape into, have as familiars, etc. If they roll very low stats then it may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects. However given the context of the modifier chart being, as you noticed, adjacent to character stat generation in the PHB it may well be that WotC anticipated they may eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which have existed in most editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid this in 5e.





                          share









                          $endgroup$



                          Negative Racial Ability Modifiers



                          There are a couple of racial choices to actually get below a three in character creation.



                          In Volo's Guide to Monsters you will find the Kobold and Orc racial options which give the character -2 negative ability modifiers to strength and intelligence respectively. This is an actual means by which a player character can, with rolled stats, begin with less than a three. Thus those who want to roleplay as an orc barbarian with intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible.



                          This is not really the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will only ever encounter it for certain non-player creatures like those Blckknght's answer lists, which they may run as a DM, wildshape into, have as familiars, etc. If they roll very low stats then it may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects. However given the context of the modifier chart being, as you noticed, adjacent to character stat generation in the PHB it may well be that WotC anticipated they may eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which have existed in most editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid this in 5e.






                          share











                          share


                          share










                          answered 54 secs ago









                          Benjamin OlsonBenjamin Olson

                          6366




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