Create a balanced, rules-legal D&D 5e character with the standard point-buy system. Start from all 8s, spend your 27 points, and watch the running total and modifiers update live so you never make an illegal array.
How it works
Point buy gives you a 27-point budget. Every ability starts at 8 (free) and can be raised to at most 15 before racial bonuses. The cost to reach each score is:
Score: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Cost: 0 1 2 3 4 5 7 9Notice the cost jumps by 2 at 14 and again at 15, which is why pushing a single stat to the cap is
expensive. The ability modifier is floor((score − 10) / 2), so 14 and 15 both give a +2.
The tool tracks total points spent, prevents you from going over budget or out of the 8-15 range, and shows each modifier so you can build an efficient array.
Tips and example
- A popular balanced array is 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 — that spends exactly 27 points on three primary stats while dumping three others.
- Because only even scores raise the modifier, ending a stat on an odd number (like 13) is often wasteful unless you expect a later +1 to make it even.
- Put your highest score in your class’s key ability, and avoid dumping Constitution too low — hit points come from it every level.
Point buy strategy — building effective characters
Why odd scores are often wasted points
The ability modifier only changes every two score points: 14 and 15 both give +2; 16 and 17 both give +3. This means putting a score at 13, 15, or 17 — all odd numbers — costs a point without gaining any in-play benefit compared to the even number below it. The only reason to end on an odd score is if you expect a +1 bonus from somewhere: a racial bonus, the Ability Score Improvement feature at level 4, or a feat that gives +1 to a stat. If you know you will get a racial +1 to Intelligence, setting Intelligence at 15 (for 9 points) becomes excellent value because the racial bonus immediately raises it to 16 (+3), and you paid for a 15, not a 16 (which would cost more in a system that allowed it — but point buy caps at 15 before racial bonuses).
Comparing point buy to the standard array
The standard array in 5e is the alternative to point buy: a preset list of 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 that you assign freely to the six abilities. This is faster than point buy but gives every character the same spread of scores. Point buy is for players who want to tailor their distribution more precisely. In terms of total modifier value, the standard array and a well-optimized point buy array are often similar, but point buy allows specialization — concentrating points into two or three primary stats — at the cost of below-average scores in others.
Common optimized arrays for different builds
| Build goal | Suggested point-buy array | Points spent |
|---|---|---|
| Three-stat primary (ranger, paladin) | 15, 13, 13, 8, 8, 8 + racial | 27 |
| Two-stat focus (wizard, rogue) | 15, 15, 10, 8, 8, 8 | 25 |
| Balanced all-round | 13, 13, 13, 11, 10, 8 | 27 |
| SAD (single attribute dependent) class | 15, 8, 14, 8, 10, 8 | 25 |
(These are illustrative starting points, not optimal builds for every subclass. Racial bonuses are applied after point buy, so a +2 to your primary stat from race effectively buys you a 17 without paying for 14 in point buy.)
Dump stats — how low is too low?
Point buy allows starting scores as low as 8 (the minimum). This gives a -1 modifier — not as bad as it sounds for rarely-used stats. But some scores carry hidden costs when dumped:
- Constitution affects HP at every level, concentration saves for spellcasters, and endurance checks. A -1 is manageable; below 8 (only possible at race selection) becomes risky.
- Wisdom governs Perception (the most common passive check in the game) and Insight, and is a saving throw proficiency for most enemy spells. A Wisdom of 8 (-1) means a passive Perception of 9, which misses many hidden threats.
- Dexterity affects initiative, AC for unarmored characters, and a wide range of Dex saves. Classes in heavy armour can safely dump it; others cannot.
- Strength is safely dumpable for most casters and Dexterity-focused characters, but note the carrying capacity implications if your character carries heavy equipment.