Point Buy 5e Explained: Costs, Legal Spreads and a Free Calculator

How does point buy work in 5e?

Point buy is the "build it yourself" way to create ability scores. Instead of rolling dice, every one of your six abilities starts at 8 and you get a budget of 27 points to raise them. The only limits are that no score can go above 15 or below 8 before you add bonuses.

You can test any spread with the point-buy calculator on the stat roller page: set each score and it shows how many points you have left. If you want a broader comparison of rolling, the standard array and point buy, see how to roll stats in 5e. This page goes deeper on point buy alone.

How much does each ability score cost?

Each step from 8 to 13 costs 1 point. The last two steps, to 14 and to 15, cost 2 points each. That jump is what stops everyone from simply buying three 15s and calling it a day (although you can, as shown below).

Notice that odd scores do not change your modifier: a 9 has the same −1 as an 8, and a 15 has the same +2 as a 14. Odd scores only pay off when a +1 bonus later pushes them to the next even number.

What is the 27-point budget actually worth?

Because the costs are uneven, 27 points can buy quite different characters. A few useful landmarks:

• Three 15s: 9 + 9 + 9 = 27, so 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 is legal. It leaves you with three −1 modifiers.
• The standard array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 costs 9 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 27, exactly the budget.
• No weak spots: 13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12 costs 27 and has no negative modifier at all.
• Highest raw total: spreads with no score above 13, such as 13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12, reach a score total of 75, while 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 totals only 69.

If you spend all 27 points, there are 65 different combinations of six scores (ignoring which ability gets which number). Their totals range from 69 to 75.

What are the most common point buy spreads?

Most players pick from a short list of proven spreads. All of these cost exactly 27 points.

The "total modifiers" column is before bonuses. The best spread depends on where your bonuses go, which is covered next.

How do 2024 and 2014 bonuses change point buy?

Point buy itself is the same in both rule sets: 27 points, the same cost table, and a cap of 15 before bonuses. What changed is where the bonuses come from.

In the 2024 rules

In the 2024 Player's Handbook, your background lists three abilities. You add +2 to one of them and +1 to another, or +1 to all three. No score can go above 20 this way. Your species does not give ability score increases.

In the 2014 rules

In the 2014 Player's Handbook, your race gives the bonuses, most often +2 to one ability and +1 to another (some races differ, such as the standard human's +1 to every score). Later optional rules in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything let you move those racial bonuses to different abilities.

Turning bonuses into even numbers

Since only even scores raise your modifier, plan your buy around your bonuses:

• +2 on a 15: gives 17 (+3). Your next +1, such as from a feat that raises a score, reaches 18 (+4).
• +2 on a 14 and +1 on a 15: gives two 16s (+3 each), a popular choice for classes with two key abilities.
• +1, +1, +1 on three 15s: gives 16, 16, 16 if all three are listed on your 2024 background.
• +1 on a 13: gives 14 (+2), which is why a 13 is often the right buy for a third ability.

Is point buy better than the standard array or rolling?

The standard array is simply a pre-made point buy, since it costs exactly 27 points. Point buy gives you the same power level with more control, at the cost of a few extra minutes of math. Choose the array when you want to start playing quickly, and point buy when you have a clear build in mind.

Rolling 4d6 drop lowest is different: it averages about 12.24 per score, so a typical rolled set is slightly stronger than point buy, but the results swing widely. A lucky player can roll an 18, which point buy can never reach before bonuses, while an unlucky one can end up with several scores under 10. Many tables use point buy precisely so no one at the table feels outclassed. You can roll a set with the 4d6 roller to see how it compares.

How should you spend your 27 points?

1. Find your class's main ability (Strength for most Fighters, Dexterity for Rogues, the casting ability for spellcasters) and buy it to 15.
2. Decide where your +2 and +1 bonuses go, then adjust so they land on even numbers.
3. Put 13 to 14 in Constitution. Every class benefits from extra hit points.
4. Spend what is left on secondary abilities your class uses, such as Wisdom for a Ranger.
5. Leave the abilities you care least about at 8. That is normal, not a mistake.

Once your scores are set, you can learn how each one shapes your character in ability scores in 5e.

FAQ

How many points do you get in 5e point buy?

You get 27 points. All six scores start at 8, and you spend points to raise them, up to a maximum of 15 before bonuses.

Is the standard array better than point buy?

Neither is stronger. The standard array of 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 costs exactly 27 points, so it is one of the legal point-buy builds. Point buy simply lets you choose a different spread with the same budget.

Can you get a 16 or 17 with point buy?

Not from points alone, since 15 is the cap. A 15 plus a +1 bonus gives 16, and a 15 plus a +2 bonus gives 17, using background bonuses in the 2024 rules or species bonuses in the 2014 rules.

Do you have to spend all 27 points?

No rule forces you to, but leftover points are simply lost, so almost every player spends the full 27.

Can you lower a score below 8 to get more points?

Not in the official rules. Scores start at 8 and cannot be reduced to buy more points, although some DMs allow it as a house rule.

Related

• DnD Stat Roller
• How to Roll Stats in D&D 5e: 4d6 Drop Lowest, Standard Array & Point Buy
• Ability Scores and Modifiers in 5e
• What Changed in the 2024 D&D Rules