Passive Checks are a way for DMs to check whether or not players are noticing or succeeding at something without having to roll dice. ..

Passive checks in 5e are usually reserved for skills that are always active, even if a player isn’t explicitly stating that their character is using that skill at a particular moment in time.

A company has a passive check system in place that allows employees to input their personal information into a secure system. If an employee is found to be unauthorized, the company can take appropriate action. One scenario where this could be used is if an employee is caught stealing company property. The company could use the passive check system to catch the employee and take appropriate action.

Passive Checks in 5e

A DM might want to ask players if they can detect a secret door. ..

If the players’ Passive Perception is equal to or better than the pre-established DC, they detect the secret door. If not, they continue to search for it without any results.

A character’s score for a passive check is 10 + ability modifier + proficiency bonus if they’re proficient in that skill.

A level 1 character with a wisdom of 16 (+3) would have a passive perception of 13 (10 + 3), or 15 (10 + 3 + 2) if they are proficient in perception.

If a creature has a passive skill that gives them an advantage or disadvantage, they add or subtract 5 from their passive skill score depending on whether they have an advantage or disadvantage. ..

In the case of the secret door, it’s up to the DM to set the DC of the passive check. If the DC is 15, characters with a passive perception of 15 or higher would automatically succeed at spotting the door, while characters with a lower passive perception would not spot the door unless they also had advantage on their passive check for some reason.

Passive perception is a skill that allows you to detect traps, spot hidden items, and spot someone who’s hiding.

Some monsters have passive skills that can be very helpful in the player’s favor.

If the character succeeds at their Stealth check, they remain hidden from view for the duration of the encounter. If their Dexterity check is lower, then they are revealed to the DM and must make a separate Dexterity check (or else they are revealed and take damage) to remain hidden.

Investigation and Insight are two other skills that can be used for passive checks. ..

This is why DNDBeyond character sheets include PASSIVE INT (INVESTIGATION), PASSIVE WIS (INSIGHT) and PASSIVE WIS (PERCEPTION).

In theory, a DM can turn any kind of check into a passive check. Although it often doesn’t make sense to do so.

-Checking to see if the player has enough health left to continue -Checking for an enemy that is about to attack -Checking for a hidden item

The character has a passive ability that allows them to detect lies or sense the mood of NPCs. They have a passive ability that allows them to remain undetected when someone isn’t actively trying to hide. They have a passive ability that allows them to spot a hidden clue. They have a passive ability that allows them to notice tracks when they aren’t actively looking for them. They have a passive ability that allows them to notice sick NPCs. They have a passive ability that allows them to recognize famous wizards. They have a passive ability that allows them to attract the attention of friendly dogs. ..

A DM might choose to use passive skills when it makes sense, rather than using a set DC. This can make things more interesting for the player, as they have to worry about an enemy or NPC trying to outscore them on a roll.

An enemy soldier could roll perception vs. the player’s passive stealth score to see if they spot the character carrying an illegal weapon in a crowd.

Some DMs require players to use certain passive skills in order to participate in the game. ..

Jeremy Crawford, the Lead Rules Designer for D&D 5e, once said that he likes using Passive Perception as a floor to determine the minimum roll a player can get on certain perception checks. For example, a character with a passive perception of 13 might be allowed to automatically get a 13 on any perception check, even if they rolled poorly. ..

The DM has the final say on whether a passive or active check is used, and whether a passive check is used as the skill check minimum. ..

Passive Checks In-Game

There is no one definitive answer to this question, as it largely depends on the DM’s preferences and game style. ..

Personally, I prefer to avoid passive checks when I DM. ..

Players might pre-roll several dice before a session starts to help them get started more easily. For example, players might roll 5 random perception checks, which I would put into a random order and use throughout the session for secret skill checks.

I prefer to use dice rolls over passive perception checks with a set DC because I believe that they are more accurate. ..

Despite my personal preferences, I think it’s perfectly fine to use passive checks in D&D. Ultimately, the goal of the game is to have fun, so I suggest that DMs play passive checks in whatever way is most fun for their group!