Making The Most Of Your Dump Stats In Dungeons & Dragons

Even novice players of DnD know about the basic stats: constitution, wisdom, strength, dexterity, charisma, and intelligence. Some players choose to min-max their attributes, while others prefer a more well-balanced character sheet. Even if you try to build a balanced character, each class favors certain stats, meaning that you’ll likely end up with one or two that are low. It’s hard not to think of them as a hindrance, but don’t discount them just yet. You can use these dump stats to your advantage!

As a quick example, if you’re playing a wizard, you’ll look to intelligence as your highest stat. When you’re finished setting up your character sheet, you may find that your strength is your lowest stat. But what do you need muscles for when you have spells?

Use these “dump stats” to your advantage. Lean into them for role-playing; this will help flesh out your character more. If you have trouble with RP-ing, don’t let it trip you up. The dump stats will set up some character flaws from the get-go, making it easier to get started building your character’s personality.

Or, if you’re feeling bold, you can go against character types and make your core stats low. For example, a bard with low charisma could be played off as goofy and charming, just not in the traditional sense of a charming bard. This doesn’t work with every class, so make sure to check your abilities before setting up your low stats in the normally strong areas.