Point buy calculator
27 points, scores from 8 to 15, then your background's increase. 2024 rules, costs from the SRD 5.2.1.
Scores
27 points left
| Ability | Base score | Cost | Background | Final | Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 8 | 0 | — | 8 | −1 |
| Dexterity | 8 | 0 | — | 8 | −1 |
| Constitution | 8 | 0 | — | 8 | −1 |
| Intelligence | 8 | 0 | — | 8 | −1 |
| Wisdom | 8 | 0 | — | 8 | −1 |
| Charisma | 8 | 0 | — | 8 | −1 |
Background
Notes
Everything starts at 8. Going up costs 1 point per step until 13, then 14 and 15 cost 2 points a step, so a 14 is 7 points and a 15 is 9. Nothing goes above 15 before your background bonus.
In 2024 the increase comes from your background, not your species. Each background lists three abilities: put +2 on one and +1 on another, or +1 on all three. Nothing goes above 20. The four SRD backgrounds list:
- Acolyte: Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
- Criminal: Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence
- Sage: Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom
- Soldier: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution
Using a background from another book? Pick "Another background…" and tick the three abilities it lists.
Modifiers only go up on even scores, so an odd final score is usually a wasted point unless something will bump it later. A 15 with +1 and a 14 with +2 both land on 16.
The standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) also costs exactly 27, so you can punch it in here to see it with your background.
Point cost table
| Score | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
Sources
- SRD 5.2.1, p. 21: point costs, the 27-point budget, ability modifiers and the background increase rule
- SRD 5.2.1, p. 83: the abilities each of the four SRD backgrounds lists