D&D 5e Point Buy Calculator

How Point Buy Works in D&D 5e

1. Start every ability at 8

   Point buy is the ability score generation method in the Player’s Handbook. Character creation opens all six abilities at 8.

2. Spend a budget of 27

   It hands each character 27 points, or whatever budget your Dungeon Master (DM) sets. The calculator validates a legal array as you spend.

3. Pay more at the top

   Each step costs one point up to 13, then two per step for 14 and 15.

4. Add your increase last

   A race provides an ability bonus under the 2014 rules; a background grants the increase under 2024. Both apply after the spend, so a bought 15 becomes a 17.

What the Six Ability Scores Do

An ability score determines a modifier, which applies to attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks before proficiency.

• STR Strength

  Melee attack rolls, damage, Athletics, carrying capacity, and Strength saving throws.

• DEX Dexterity

  Ranged attacks, Armor Class in light armor, Stealth, Acrobatics, initiative, and Dexterity saving throws.

• CON Constitution

  Hit points per level, concentration saves, and Constitution saving throws.

• INT Intelligence

  Arcana, History, Investigation, and the spell save DC for the Wizard and Artificer.

• WIS Wisdom

  Perception, Insight, Survival, and the spell save DC for the Cleric, Druid, Ranger, and Monk.

• CHA Charisma

  Persuasion, Deception, Intimidation, and the spell save DC for the Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Paladin.

The Point Buy Cost Table

A 14 costs 7 and a 15 costs 9, so 15 is the maximum base score: three of them spend the whole budget.

Each modifier is floor((score − 10) / 2), so it climbs one step per two points of score. See every modifier from 1 to 30.

Three Worked Point Buy Examples

A player spends points down the same table every time. Score 15 costs 9 points, so two 15s consume 18 of the 27. A dump stat left at 8 costs 0 points, and that is what pays for them.

2014 vs 2024 Rules

Recommended Arrays by Class

Each array below is a legal full spend, in STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA order. Open a class for the full reasoning.

• Barbarian

  STR 15 DEX 13 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 12 CHA 10

  Strength drives Rage damage; Constitution feeds both hit points and Unarmored Defense.

  Primary: STR and CON · 27 spent

• Bard

  STR 8 DEX 14 CON 13 INT 10 WIS 12 CHA 15

  Charisma sets spell save DC; Dexterity covers light armor and initiative.

  Primary: CHA and DEX · 27 spent

• Cleric

  STR 13 DEX 10 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 15 CHA 10

  Wisdom powers every spell; Strength 13 clears the heavy armor requirement.

  Primary: WIS and CON · 27 spent

• Druid

  STR 8 DEX 13 CON 14 INT 12 WIS 15 CHA 10

  Wisdom carries spellcasting; Constitution holds Concentration through Wild Shape.

  Primary: WIS and CON · 27 spent

• Fighter

  STR 15 DEX 13 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 12 CHA 8

  Strength for heavy weapons and plate; swap STR and DEX for an archer build.

  Primary: STR and CON · 27 spent

• Monk

  STR 10 DEX 15 CON 13 INT 10 WIS 15 CHA 8

  Monks need Dexterity and Wisdom together — both feed Unarmored Defense and Ki DCs.

  Primary: DEX and WIS · 27 spent

• Paladin

  STR 15 DEX 8 CON 14 INT 8 WIS 12 CHA 14

  Paladins require Strength and Charisma, the most expensive pair of abilities to raise.

  Primary: STR and CHA · 27 spent

• Ranger

  STR 12 DEX 15 CON 13 INT 10 WIS 14 CHA 8

  Dexterity for archery, Wisdom for Hunter’s Mark and Perception.

  Primary: DEX and WIS · 27 spent

• Rogue

  STR 8 DEX 15 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 13 CHA 12

  Dexterity does everything; Wisdom and Charisma carry the skill half of the class.

  Primary: DEX and CON · 27 spent

• Sorcerer

  STR 8 DEX 13 CON 15 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 15

  Charisma sets the DC; a d6 hit die makes Constitution non-negotiable.

  Primary: CHA and CON · 27 spent

• Warlock

  STR 8 DEX 14 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 15

  Charisma for Eldritch Blast; Constitution keeps Hex up through a fight.

  Primary: CHA and CON · 27 spent

• Wizard

  STR 8 DEX 14 CON 14 INT 15 WIS 12 CHA 8

  Wizards prioritize Intelligence, then Constitution to protect Concentration.

  Primary: INT and CON · 27 spent

• Artificer

  STR 8 DEX 13 CON 14 INT 15 WIS 12 CHA 10

  Intelligence runs infusions and spells; medium armor keeps Dexterity cheap.

  Primary: INT and CON · 27 spent

Point Buy vs Standard Array vs Rolling

These three stat generation methods differ in variance, not in ambition. The Adventurers League allows the first two for organized play and forbids the dice roll method.

Common Point Buy Mistakes

• Odd scores waste points

  An odd score costs a point and grants nothing. A 13 and a 12 share the +1 modifier, so that last step buys you a prerequisite, not a bonus.

• Treating Constitution as optional

  Constitution affects Concentration saves as well as hit points. Dropping it to 8 on a spellcaster loses a spell the first time anything hits you.

• Trying to buy a 16

  The purchase stops at 15. Higher scores arrive from your race or background now, or from an Ability Score Improvement at level 4.

• Missing a multiclass prerequisite

  Multiclassing needs 13 in the primary ability of both classes. A fighter/wizard wants 13 Strength and 13 Intelligence, which is two expensive steps you must plan from level one.

• Assuming the budget is fixed

  Plenty of tables run house rules instead, from a larger budget to a different cap.

  Set your own budget

Frequently Asked Questions