31 October 2021

Strength is weak in D&D 5E (and how to strengthen it)

Minimum melee damage

If a character uses strength to determine attack and damage and the result of a damage die is lower than the character's strength modifier, you can choosee to use your strength modifier instead.

Tordek has a strength score of 16 and a modifier of 3. He swings his mace to break a wooden door. He rolls a six-sided die and the die shows 2. Since Tordek's strength modifier is 3, he chooses to use it as the result, then adds 3 strength bonus to the damage, to a total of 6 damage.

Grapple

Strength (Athletics) or Strength (Acrobatics) is used to escape grapple. Originally it was Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics).

Sprint action

Once per short rest, any character who has move speed can sprint for up to ten times their Strength modifier feet as a bonus action.