Ability Modifiers

Each ability, after changes made because of race, has a modifier ranging from –5 to +5. Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells shows the modifier for each score. It also shows bonus spells, which you’ll need to know about if your character is a spellcaster.

The modifier is the number you apply to the die roll when your character tries to do something related to that ability. You also use the modifier with some numbers that aren’t die rolls. A positive modifier is called a bonus, and a negative modifier is called a penalty.

Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells
    Bonus Spells (by Spell Level)
Score Modifier 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1 –5 Can’t cast spells tied to this ability
2–3 –4 Can’t cast spells tied to this ability
4–5 –3 Can’t cast spells tied to this ability
6–7 –2 Can’t cast spells tied to this ability
8–9 –1 Can’t cast spells tied to this ability
10–11 0
12–13 +1 1
14–15 +2 1 1
16–17 +3 1 1 1
18–19 +4 1 1 1 1
20–21 +5 2 1 1 1 1
22–23 +6 2 2 1 1 1 1
24–25 +7 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
26–27 +8 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
28–29 +9 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
30–31 +10 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1
32–33 +11 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1
34–35 +12 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1
36–37 +13 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2
38–39 +14 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2
40–41 +15 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2
42–43 +16 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2
44–45 +17 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3
etc. . .