Characters in the game have proficiencies in skills, saving throws, weapons, and abilities based on their backgrounds and training. ..

A character’s proficiency bonus is a number shown in the class table of D&D sourcebooks for each and every class.

A character with a proficiency bonus of +2 can use any weapon they are proficient with.

Every character who reaches level 5 total receives an increase in their proficiency bonus from +2 to +3, regardless of whether they multiclassed.

  • checks to Profession (Archery)
  • checks to Survival (Wilderness)
  • checks to Sleight of Hand (Throwing)
  • checks to Stealth (Stealth)

Weapon attack rolls: -To hit with a weapon, the caster must make a Strength check. -If the caster is wielding a two-handed weapon, they must make a Constitution check. -If the caster is wielding a one-handed weapon, they must make an Intelligence check. -For each type of weapon the caster is wielding, they have a different attack bonus and damage bonus. For example, if the caster is wielding a sword, they have a +2 attack bonus and damage bonus.

5e often bases abilities on a character’s proficiency bonus, which can be a helpful tool if you want to create a versatile character.

A Battle Master Fighter’s Maneuver Save DC is based partly on their proficiency bonus, while a Phantom Rogue has certain abilities that they can use a number of times per day equal to their proficiency bonus.

Armor and shields do not grant a proficiency bonus to the AC, even if the character is proficient in them. This is because armor and shields are only effective when worn by someone who is proficient in them, and without that proficiency, they are not effective at all. For example, a character with a fast movement speed can still not cast spells while wearing armor or shields, as they would be unable to move as quickly and would be vulnerable to attacks.

A player character can only have one magic item. This item must be of the same type as the character’s spellcasting ability.

Morgana is a Level 1 wizard.

She is proficient with daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, and light crossbows, having a +2 proficiency bonus. ..

Her strength is 10, her dexterity is 16, and her Int is 16.

Morgana can attack with a dagger using dexterity, since it is a finesse weapon, for a total of +5 to hit (+3 for Dexterity modifier, +2 for proficiency), with damage of d4+3. ..

Morgana could use a light crossbow for +5 to hit, with d8+3 damage. ..

If she attacks with the quarterstaff, she needs to use strength (+0), but she can still add her proficiency bonus, for a total of +2 to attack. The quarterstaff deals damage as d6 or d8 if it has the versatile property. ..

Morgana can use a rapier with finesse, even though she is not proficient with it and cannot add her proficiency bonus to the attack roll. She has a +3 to hit from her Dexterity and does d8+3 damage. ..

In theory, Morgana could fight with a great sword. But since she has a low strength (+0) and is not proficient in the great sword, her attack roll bonus would be +0 and her damage would be 2d6.

Morgana could use a cantrip like fire bolt to attack, which would have +5 to hit (Int modifier + proficiency bonus) and do d10 damage.

She casts Toll the Dead, which has a Spell Save DC of 13 for her target (8 + her Intelligence modifier + proficiency bonus). ..