Game Rules

Skill Proficiencies

(Character Creation)

Most ability checks involve using a skill, which represents a category of things creatures try to do with an ability check. The descriptions of the actions you take specify which skill applies if you make an ability check for that action, and many other rules note when a skill is relevant. The DM has the ultimate say on whether a skill is relevant in a situation.

If a creature is proficient in a skill, the creature applies its Proficiency Bonus to ability checks involving that skill. Without proficiency in a skill, a creature can still make ability checks involving that skill but doesn't add its Proficiency Bonus. For example, if a character tries to climb a cliff, the DM might ask for a Strength (Athletics) check. If the character has Athletics proficiency, the character adds their Proficiency Bonus to the Strength check. If the character lacks that proficiency, they make the check without adding their Proficiency Bonus.

Skill List

The skills shown on the Skills table below, which notes example uses for each skill proficiency as well as the ability check the skill most often applies to.

Skill Ability Example Uses
Acrobatics Dexterity Stay on your feet in a tricky situation, or perform an acrobatic stunt.
Animal Handling Wisdom Calm or train an animal, or get an animal to behave in a certain way.
Arcana Intelligence Recall lore about spells, magic items, and the planes of existence.
Athletics Strength Jump farther than normal, stay afloat in rough water, or break something.
Deception Charisma Tell a convincing lie, or wear a disguise convincingly.
History Intelligence Recall lore about historical events, people, nations, and cultures.
Insight Wisdom Discern a person's mood and intentions.
Intimidation Charisma Awe or threaten someone into doing what you want.
Investigation Intelligence Find obscure information in books, or deduce how something works.
Medicine Wisdom Diagnose an illness, or determine what killed the recently slain.
Nature Intelligence Recall lore about terrain, plants, animals, and weather.
Perception Wisdom Using a combination of senses, notice something that's easy to miss.
Performance Charisma Act, tell a story, perform music, or dance.
Persuasion Charisma Honestly and graciously convince someone of something.
Religion Intelligence Recall lore about gods, religious rituals, and holy symbols.
Sleight of Hand Dexterity Pick a pocket, conceal a handheld object, or perform legerdemain.
Stealth Dexterity Escape notice by moving quietly and hiding behind things.
Survival Wisdom Follow tracks, forage, find a trail, or avoid natural hazards.

Determining Skills

A character's starting skill proficiencies are determined at character creation, and a monster's skill proficiencies appear in its stat block.

Skills with Different Abilities

Each skill proficiency is associated with an ability check. For example, the Indimidation skill is associated with Charisma. In some situations, the DM might allow you to apply your skill proficiency to a different ability check. For example, if a character tries to intimidate someone through a show of physical strength, the DM might ask for a Strength (Intimidation) check rather than a Charisma (Intimidation) check. That character would make a Strength check and add their Proficiency Bonus if they have Intimidation proficiency.

Player's Handbook. Wizards of the Coast, 2024.