D&D Point Buy Calculator

Point Buy is an ability score generation method that gives players 27 points to spend on ability scores.

Basic Rules:

• You have 27 points to spend
• All ability scores start at 8
• You can increase scores by spending points
• Maximum score is 15 before racial bonuses
• Minimum score is 8 (you can't go lower)

Point Costs:

• Score 9: 1 point (8→9)
• Score 10: 2 points (8→10)
• Score 11: 3 points (8→11)
• Score 12: 4 points (8→12)
• Score 13: 5 points (8→13)
• Score 14: 7 points (8→14)
• Score 15: 9 points (8→15)

Notice: Higher scores cost more points. Going from 13 to 14 costs 2 points, but going from 14 to 15 costs 2 more points (total 4 for that +1 modifier).

After Point Buy:
Apply racial bonuses after spending your points. This can bring scores above 15 at 1st level.

Why Use Point Buy?

• More balanced than rolling
• More flexible than Standard Array
• Prevents extremely high or low stats
• Fair for all players
• Allows customization within balanced limits

Common Approaches:

The "Two High" Method:

• Put 15 in your primary stat (9 points)
• Put 14 in your secondary stat (7 points)
• Put 14 in another useful stat (7 points)
• Put 12 in a fourth stat (4 points)
• Leave two stats at 8
• Total: 27 points
• Result: 15, 14, 14, 12, 8, 8

The "Balanced" Method:

• Avoid dump stats (nothing below 10)
• Put 15 in primary stat (9 points)
• Put 14 in secondary stat (7 points)
• Spread remaining 11 points across other stats
• Result: 15, 14, 12, 11, 10, 10 or similar

The "Rounded" Method (Half-Feat Strategy):

• Aim for odd numbers to maximize half-feat benefits
• Put 15 in primary stat (gets rounded to 16 with half-feat)
• Put 13, 13, 13 in other useful stats (can all become 14 eventually)
• Result: 15, 13, 13, 13, 10, 8 or similar

Class-Specific Examples:

Fighter (Strength-based):

• STR 15, CON 14, DEX 14, WIS 10, INT 8, CHA 8
• With Mountain Dwarf: STR 17, CON 16, excellent survivability

Wizard:

• INT 15, DEX 14, CON 14, WIS 12, CHA 8, STR 8
• With High Elf: INT 17, DEX 16, DEX 16, great defense and casting

Rogue:

• DEX 15, CON 14, INT 14, WIS 10, CHA 8, STR 8
• With Lightfoot Halfling: DEX 17, CON 14, great for Arcane Trickster

Cleric:

• WIS 15, CON 14, STR 14, DEX 10, INT 8, CHA 8
• With Hill Dwarf: WIS 16, CON 15, durable support

Warlock:

• CHA 15, CON 14, DEX 14, INT 10, WIS 8, STR 8
• With Half-Elf: CHA 17, CON 15, DEX 15, strong all-around

The "Max Min" Method:

• Maximize primary stat and minimize dump stats
• Put 15 in primary (9 points)
• Put 15 in secondary (9 points)
• Put 13 in tertiary (5 points)
• Put 10 in fourth (2 points)
• Put 10 in fifth (2 points)
• Leave one at 8
• Total: 27 points
• Result: 15, 15, 13, 10, 10, 8

Online Point Buy Calculators:

Chicken Dinner's Point Buy Calculator

• Most popular and user-friendly
• Shows point costs clearly
• Can apply racial bonuses
• Mobile-friendly
• URL: chicken-dinner.com/5e/5e-point-buy.html

D&D Beyond Character Builder

• Official integrated calculator
• Part of full character creation
• Shows final stats with racial bonuses
• Requires D&D Beyond account

Orcpub Character Builder

• Integrated into character builder
• Legacy tool (no longer maintained)
• Still functional

5e Point Buy Calculator (mobile apps)

• Various apps available on iOS and Android
• Search "5e point buy" in app stores
• Good for on-the-go planning

Spreadsheet Calculators:

• Many available on Reddit and Google Sheets
• Can customize for houserules
• Good for experimenting with builds

Manual Calculation:
Simply use the point costs listed above:
1. Start with all scores at 8
2. Add points based on desired final scores
3. Ensure total doesn't exceed 27
4. Verify no score exceeds 15
5. Apply racial bonuses

Using Calculators Effectively:

• Try multiple combinations before committing
• Consider racial bonuses (use races that boost your key stats)
• Think about your 4th level ASI or feat
• Plan for odd scores if you want half-feats
• Don't stress about perfection - most arrays work fine

Point Buy vs Standard Array:

Standard Array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8

• Pre-determined scores
• Faster (no decisions needed)
• Equivalent to a specific point buy spread
• Less flexible than point buy

Point Buy is strictly better IF you want customization. You can recreate Standard Array with point buy, but you can also do other combinations.

Point Buy vs Rolling (4d6 Drop Lowest):

Rolling Advantages:

• Can get stats higher than 15
• Exciting and random
• Potential for very powerful characters
• Traditional method

Rolling Disadvantages:

• Can get very weak stats
• Unbalanced party (some players much stronger)
• Feels bad if you roll poorly
• Can't optimize freely

Point Buy Advantages:

• Perfectly balanced
• Reliable minimum power level
• Everyone has fair starting point
• Can plan your build

Point Buy Disadvantages:

• Can't get stats above 15 before racial bonuses
• Less excitement from randomness
• No chance of exceptional stats

DM Considerations:

When to Use Point Buy:

• You want balanced party
• Players are experienced and want to optimize
• Campaign is challenging
• You want predictable power levels

When to Use Standard Array:

• New players who might be overwhelmed
• Quick character creation
• You want balanced party with no decisions

When to Allow Rolling:

• You're okay with power imbalance
• Players enjoy gambling
• Campaign is sandbox/low stakes
• You can adjust difficulty on the fly
• You have safety nets (reroll if total too low, use Standard Array if unhappy, etc.)

Hybrid Approaches:

• Roll, but can use Standard Array if rolls are bad
• Roll, but minimum 72 total (sum of all six scores)
• Roll as a group, everyone uses the same array
• Point buy with 30 points instead of 27
• Point buy with max of 16 instead of 15

General Optimization Principles:

Maximize Your Primary Stat:

• Always put 15 in your most important ability
• Use races that boost that stat (+2 racial bonus)
• Result: 17 at 1st level, can reach 20 by 8th level

Value of 14 vs 15:

• 14 costs 7 points, gives +2 modifier
• 15 costs 9 points, gives +2 modifier
• The +1 score difference only matters for:

- Eventual ASI efficiency
- Multiclass prerequisites
- Breaking grapples (raw score used)

• Usually better to put 14 in secondary stats, save 2 points

Dump Stats vs Balanced:

• Leaving stats at 8 gives more points for important stats
• But -1 modifier can hurt in unexpected situations
• "Safe" dump stats by class:

- Martials: INT, CHA (sometimes WIS)
- Casters: STR, sometimes DEX (if using Mage Armor)
- Everyone needs CON for HP

Even vs Odd Scores:

• Modifiers only change every 2 points
• 14 and 15 both give +2 modifier
• Odd scores are "wasted" at 1st level
• BUT odd scores pair well with half-feats (+1 ASI)
• If you plan to take Resilient (CON), consider 13 CON instead of 14

Race Selection for Optimization:

• Choose race based on ability score synergy
• +2/+1 races (standard): Match to your primary/secondary stats
• Custom Lineage (Tasha's): Put +2 anywhere, incredibly flexible
• Variant Human: +1/+1 anywhere, plus feat at 1st level

Most Efficient Point Buy Arrays:

Maximum Main Stat (15+2 racial = 17):

• 15, 14, 14, 12, 8, 8 (27 points)
• Best for SAD (Single Ability Dependent) classes
• Leaves two dump stats

Balanced No Dumps:

• 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 (27 points)
• Only one dump stat
• Good for skill-heavy characters

Double Main Stats (MAD builds):

• 15, 15, 13, 10, 8, 8 (27 points)
• For Monk (DEX/WIS) or Paladin (STR/CHA) or Barbarian (STR/CON)
• Needs race that boosts both main stats

Odd Score Strategy (Half-Feat Planning):

• 15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8 (27 points)
• Terrible at 1st level (wasted modifiers)
• Amazing if you plan three half-feats
• High risk, high reward

Defensive Optimization:

• Never dump CON (HP is too valuable)
• Consider 14 DEX even for heavy armor users (max medium armor benefit)
• WIS saves are common, don't dump WIS lightly

The "16 at Level 1" Priority:
If your race gives +2 to your main stat, you start with 17 (15+2). This means:

• 18 at 4th level (one ASI)
• 20 at 8th level (two ASIs)
• You're ahead of the curve on your main stat

When NOT to Optimize:

• Your character concept requires specific stats
• You want to roleplay certain strengths/weaknesses
• Your party needs specific roles filled
• You're playing a low-stakes campaign
• Optimization isn't fun for you

Remember: The difference between optimized and unoptimized characters is usually small. D&D 5e is fairly forgiving. Play what sounds fun!