How is it possible to have an ability score that is less than 3?





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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.










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$endgroup$



















    9












    $begingroup$


    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











    $endgroup$















      9












      9








      9





      $begingroup$


      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 5 hours ago







      Greg0141

















      asked 5 hours ago









      Greg0141Greg0141

      36214




      36214






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          10












          $begingroup$

          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









          $endgroup$









          • 2




            $begingroup$
            related: recovering from ability damage
            $endgroup$
            – nitsua60
            4 hours ago






          • 1




            $begingroup$
            Feeblemind is also maybe even a better example since it sets Int and Cha to 1.
            $endgroup$
            – Rubiksmoose
            1 hour ago



















          10












          $begingroup$

          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
            3 hours ago



















          6












          $begingroup$

          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. 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











          $endgroup$





















            4












            $begingroup$

            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 have their heart set on roleplaying an orc barbarian with an intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible even if it would take some very "lucky" rolls.



            This is by no means the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will probably 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. It may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects, though this would typically only get them below three if they started with very low stats. 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 also anticipated that they might eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which had existed in most prior editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid them in 5e.






            share|improve this answer









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              4 Answers
              4






              active

              oldest

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              4 Answers
              4






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              10












              $begingroup$

              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









              $endgroup$









              • 2




                $begingroup$
                related: recovering from ability damage
                $endgroup$
                – nitsua60
                4 hours ago






              • 1




                $begingroup$
                Feeblemind is also maybe even a better example since it sets Int and Cha to 1.
                $endgroup$
                – Rubiksmoose
                1 hour ago
















              10












              $begingroup$

              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









              $endgroup$









              • 2




                $begingroup$
                related: recovering from ability damage
                $endgroup$
                – nitsua60
                4 hours ago






              • 1




                $begingroup$
                Feeblemind is also maybe even a better example since it sets Int and Cha to 1.
                $endgroup$
                – Rubiksmoose
                1 hour ago














              10












              10








              10





              $begingroup$

              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 4 hours ago









              nitsua60nitsua60

              76.3k14312435




              76.3k14312435








              • 2




                $begingroup$
                related: recovering from ability damage
                $endgroup$
                – nitsua60
                4 hours ago






              • 1




                $begingroup$
                Feeblemind is also maybe even a better example since it sets Int and Cha to 1.
                $endgroup$
                – Rubiksmoose
                1 hour ago














              • 2




                $begingroup$
                related: recovering from ability damage
                $endgroup$
                – nitsua60
                4 hours ago






              • 1




                $begingroup$
                Feeblemind is also maybe even a better example since it sets Int and Cha to 1.
                $endgroup$
                – Rubiksmoose
                1 hour ago








              2




              2




              $begingroup$
              related: recovering from ability damage
              $endgroup$
              – nitsua60
              4 hours ago




              $begingroup$
              related: recovering from ability damage
              $endgroup$
              – nitsua60
              4 hours ago




              1




              1




              $begingroup$
              Feeblemind is also maybe even a better example since it sets Int and Cha to 1.
              $endgroup$
              – Rubiksmoose
              1 hour ago




              $begingroup$
              Feeblemind is also maybe even a better example since it sets Int and Cha to 1.
              $endgroup$
              – Rubiksmoose
              1 hour ago













              10












              $begingroup$

              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
                3 hours ago
















              10












              $begingroup$

              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
                3 hours ago














              10












              10








              10





              $begingroup$

              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 4 hours ago









              BlckknghtBlckknght

              866711




              866711












              • $begingroup$
                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
                3 hours 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
                3 hours 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
              3 hours 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
              3 hours ago











              6












              $begingroup$

              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. 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











              $endgroup$


















                6












                $begingroup$

                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. 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











                $endgroup$
















                  6












                  6








                  6





                  $begingroup$

                  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. 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. 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 5 mins ago









                  Adeptus

                  21.1k360106




                  21.1k360106










                  answered 3 hours ago









                  RuseRuse

                  7,04711658




                  7,04711658























                      4












                      $begingroup$

                      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 have their heart set on roleplaying an orc barbarian with an intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible even if it would take some very "lucky" rolls.



                      This is by no means the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will probably 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. It may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects, though this would typically only get them below three if they started with very low stats. 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 also anticipated that they might eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which had existed in most prior editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid them in 5e.






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$


















                        4












                        $begingroup$

                        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 have their heart set on roleplaying an orc barbarian with an intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible even if it would take some very "lucky" rolls.



                        This is by no means the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will probably 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. It may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects, though this would typically only get them below three if they started with very low stats. 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 also anticipated that they might eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which had existed in most prior editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid them in 5e.






                        share|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$
















                          4












                          4








                          4





                          $begingroup$

                          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 have their heart set on roleplaying an orc barbarian with an intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible even if it would take some very "lucky" rolls.



                          This is by no means the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will probably 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. It may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects, though this would typically only get them below three if they started with very low stats. 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 also anticipated that they might eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which had existed in most prior editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid them in 5e.






                          share|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          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 have their heart set on roleplaying an orc barbarian with an intelligence of 1 can take heart, the dream is possible even if it would take some very "lucky" rolls.



                          This is by no means the most important time when sub-three scores would come up. Most players will probably 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. It may also come up for them when suffering from temporary negative ability effects, though this would typically only get them below three if they started with very low stats. 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 also anticipated that they might eventually add player races with negative stat bonuses, which had existed in most prior editions of the game, though they have clearly made a decision to mostly avoid them in 5e.







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                          answered 3 hours ago









                          Benjamin OlsonBenjamin Olson

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