Intelligence
Intelligence measures reasoning ability, memory, and the ability to think quickly and clearly. It includes both book learning and quickness of wit.
What Intelligence Does
Intelligence affects your character's mental capabilities:
- Spell Attack Bonus: Wizards and other Intelligence-based spellcasters add their Intelligence modifier to spell attack rolls.
- Spell Save DC: Intelligence-based spellcasters use Intelligence to determine their spell save DC.
- Languages: You know a number of languages equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1).
- Skills: Several important skills rely on Intelligence.
Intelligence Skills
Five skills rely on Intelligence:
- Arcana: Knowledge of spells, magic items, eldritch symbols, magical traditions
- History: Knowledge of historical events, legendary people, ancient kingdoms, past disputes
- Investigation: Looking around for clues, making deductions based on evidence
- Nature: Knowledge of terrain, plants, animals, weather, natural cycles
- Religion: Knowledge of deities, rites, prayers, religious hierarchies, holy symbols
Intelligence Checks
An Intelligence check comes into play when you need to draw on logic, education, memory, or deductive reasoning.
Common Uses
- Communicating with a creature without using words
- Estimating the value of a precious item
- Pulling together a disguise to pass as a city guard
- Forging a document
- Recalling lore about a craft or trade
- Winning a game of skill
Example Difficulties
| DC | Difficulty | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Easy | Remember common knowledge or identify obvious magical effects |
| 15 | Medium | Recall useful information about a monster or decipher an ancient text |
| 20 | Hard | Remember obscure lore or solve a complex puzzle |
| 25 | Very Hard | Recall legendary information or understand alien concepts |
Spellcasting and Intelligence
For Wizards, Intelligence is the most important ability score:
- Spell save DC = 8 + proficiency bonus + Intelligence modifier
- Spell attack bonus = proficiency bonus + Intelligence modifier
- Spells known and spell slot progression both depend on Intelligence
Other Intelligence-based casters include certain Fighters (Eldritch Knight) and Rogues (Arcane Trickster).