D&D Stats in Simple Language
B
elow are some quick descriptions of every
stat, from 1 (a modifier of -5, or as low as a
character can get without being undead or a
construct) to 25 (a modifier of +7, or as high
as a PHB character can get without magic):
Strength
Measures: Natural athleticism, bodily power
Modifier
-5 Morbidly weak, significant trouble lifting own
limbs
-4 Needs help to stand, can be knocked over by
strong breezes
-3 Knocked off balance by swinging something
dense
-2 Difficulty pushing an object of their weight
-1 Has trouble even lifting heavy objects
0 Can literally pull their own weight
1 Carries heavy objects for short distances
2 Toned, throws small objects long distances
3 Carries heavy objects with one arm
4 Can break objects like wood with bare hands
5 Can wrestle a work animal or catch a falling
person
6 Can pull very heavy objects at appreciable
speeds
7 Pinnacle of brawn, able to out-lift several
people
Dexterity
Measures: Physical agility, reflexes, balance, poise
Modifier
-5 Barely mobile, probably significantly paralyzed
-4 Incapable of moving without noticeable effort
or pain
-3 Visible paralysis or physical difficulty
-2 Significant klutz or very slow to react
-1 Somewhat slow, occasionally trips over own
feet
0 Capable of usually catching a small tossed
object
1 Able to often hit large targets
2 Can catch or dodge a medium-speed surprise
projectile
3 Able to often hit small targets
4 Light on feet, able to often hit small moving
targets
5 Graceful, able to flow from one action into
another easily
6 Very graceful, capable of dodging a number of
thrown objects
7 Moves like water, reacting to all situations with
almost no effort
Constitution
Measures: Heath, stamina, vital force
Modifier
-5 Minimal immune system, body reacts violently
to anything foreign
-4 Frail, suffers frequent broken bones
-3 Bruises very easily, knocked out by a light
punch
-2 Unusually prone to disease and infection
-1 Easily winded, incapable of a full day’s hard
labor
0 Occasionally contracts mild sicknesses
1 Can take a few hits before being knocked
unconscious
2 Able to labor for twelve hours most days
3 Easily shrugs off most illnesses
4 Able to stay awake for days on end
5 Very difficult to wear down, almost never feels
fatigue
6 Never gets sick, even to the most virulent
diseases
7 Tireless paragon of physical endurance
Intelligence
Measures: Mental acuity, information recall, analytical skill
Modifier
-5 Animalistic, no longer capable of logic or
reason
-4 Barely able to function, very limited speech
and knowledge
-3 Often resorts to charades to express thoughts
-2 Often misuses and mispronounces words
-1 Has trouble following trains of thought, forgets
most unimportant things
0 Knows what they need to know to get by
1 Knows a bit more than is necessary, fairly
logical
2 Able to do math or solve logic puzzles
mentally with reasonable accuracy
3 Fairly intelligent, able to understand new tasks
quickly
4 Very intelligent, may invent new processes or
uses for knowledge
5 Highly knowledgeable, probably the smartest
person many people know
6 Able to make Holmesian leaps of logic
7 Famous as a sage and genius