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Questions tagged [proficiency]

For questions about a character's proficiencies. Broadly, proficiency refers to the ability to use a specific skill or piece of gear without taking penalties for not knowing what you're doing.

62 votes
5 answers
968k views

Can someone explain what the "Proficiency Bonus" is in D&D 5e/Next exactly?

I am reading the 5e rules, and I keep seeing how you can add proficiency bonus to attack rolls checks with weapons you are proficient in and skill checks in skills you are proficient in, but I can't ...
Bubbleforhire's user avatar
52 votes
3 answers
96k views

What happens if I get the same skill from both my background and my class?

I made a trickster cleric with spy background. This caused an overlap of stealth and disguise. (Further compounded by me wanting to take hide in shadow ... which again granted me stealth.) What ...
Brian Ballsun-Stanton's user avatar
48 votes
7 answers
200k views

What is the point of a shield proficiency?

PHB describes the downsides of wearing an armor you are not proficient with: Armor Proficiency. Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of armor. If you wear armor that you lack ...
enkryptor's user avatar
  • 70.3k
46 votes
3 answers
10k views

I Roll To Seduce The Dragon! (or, Do doublings of proficiency bonus stack?) [duplicate]

Lets say there exist some enterprising young bard 3/ sorcerer 1 named Kirk. Deciding to uphold (long past) family tradition, he has chosen to go out and have a little half-dragon of his own. He ...
Ajn's user avatar
  • 615
44 votes
4 answers
201k views

How can you gain proficiency in a skill after level 1?

I have been reading the Basic Rules a couple times, but could not find any way to gain proficiency in skills past level 1. For example, if I create a Rogue, I may chose 4 skills among 11: ...
Matthieu M.'s user avatar
  • 9,532
34 votes
1 answer
61k views

Do you have to be proficient in armour to use it?

Do you have to be proficient in armour to be able to actually wear it?
JudgeArmada's user avatar
31 votes
9 answers
69k views

Is there any way for my wizard to learn just sword proficiency?

Can a wizard learn a single weapon proficiency (similar to how they can learn a tool set or language, which use Training rules), or are costly and over-blown options like multi-classing, feats, or ...
Venkelos's user avatar
  • 695
30 votes
4 answers
46k views

Are Monks proficient with unarmed strikes by default?

I can't find anything in the PHB that actually says that Monks are proficient with unarmed strikes by default. Their Proficiencies list just says simple weapons and shortswords. Their Martial Arts ...
Alex319's user avatar
  • 3,268
30 votes
4 answers
10k views

What values do I recalculate when I Wild Shape?

When I Wild Shape, I take a beast's STR, DEX, and CON scores. I keep my proficiency bonus and my INT, WIS, and CHA scores. I will focus this question on the assumption I'm proficient in Athletics, and ...
BlueMoon93's user avatar
  • 46.7k
28 votes
3 answers
5k views

Why do we assume that PHB rules apply to monsters?

The party is deep into my 5e-updated classic Greyhawk Giants series. They are returning the body of a stone giant killed in the siege of Headwater to the stone giant's clan. The Thane of the Stone ...
Kirt's user avatar
  • 55.2k
28 votes
4 answers
286k views

What are the choices for proficiency in a musical instrument?

The rules say the following regarding musical instruments (PH p.154): Each type of musical instrument requires a separate proficiency. Since this text is an annotation for the equipment list on ...
Sebkha's user avatar
  • 12.2k
28 votes
1 answer
13k views

How long does it take to read and learn from a book?

My party has stumbled upon an abandoned library. They've found some books that they want to read and study. I've told them if they read and study the books they'll gain a proficiency bonus for the ...
The Lost Kitten's user avatar
27 votes
3 answers
51k views

How can a Cleric be proficient in warhammers?

I'm just starting to learn 5e, so I might miss something obvious. The "Equipment" section of the Cleric description assumes that Cleric can be proficient in warhammers: Starting Equipment ...
enkryptor's user avatar
  • 70.3k
27 votes
4 answers
23k views

How does Jack of All Trades interact with Reliable Talent?

The Bard's Jack of All Trades says you can add half of your proficiency bonus to rolls to skills that you otherwise can't add your proficiency bonus. And the Rogue's Reliable Talent feature lets them ...
Vodkaholic's user avatar
26 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is it possible to have a character with proficiency in all martial weapons without proficiency in Medium armor?

When thinking more about this question: Are the requirements of a Horn of Valhalla cumulative?, I started to wonder if characters could effectively use horns without being able to use their lesser ...
David Coffron's user avatar

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