Character Advancement
As your character grows in power, you gain new abilities, hit points, and options. This chapter covers how to level up, when to take ability score improvements, and how multiclassing works.
When You Level Up
After each significant milestone or enough experience, your character gains a level. You get:
- More hit points (roll your class hit die + CON modifier)
- New class features (check your class at each level)
- Proficiency bonus increases at levels 5, 9, 13, and 17
- Spell slots if your class casts spells (new levels unlock at specific thresholds)
- Ability Score Improvements at levels 4, 8, 12, 16, and 19
Ability Score Improvements
At levels 4, 8, 12, 16, and 19, you choose one of:
+2 to one ability score (up to 20)
Focus your character's strength. A fighter might boost Strength; a wizard might take Intelligence to 20.
+1 to two ability scores (up to 20)
Spread your growth. Good for characters who use multiple abilities.
Take a feat
Feats give special abilities instead of raw stat boosts. Some feats also include a +1 to an ability score.
Choosing Wisely
| If your character is... | Consider boosting... |
|---|
| A melee fighter | STR or DEX, CON |
| A ranged attacker | DEX |
| A caster | Your spellcasting ability (INT, WIS, or CHA) |
| A tank | CON, then STR or DEX |
| A skill monkey | Your primary skill ability |
Multiclassing
Sometimes you want to dabble in another class. Multiclassing lets you take levels in a second class, but there are prerequisites and trade-offs.
Prerequisites
Your ability scores must meet the minimum for the secondary class:
| Class | Minimum |
|---|
| Barbarian | STR 13+ |
| Bard | CHA 13+ |
| Cleric | WIS 13+ |
| Druid | WIS 13+ |
| Fighter | None |
| Monk | DEX 13+ and WIS 13+ |
| Paladin | STR 13+ and CHA 13+ |
| Ranger | DEX 13+ and WIS 13+ |
| Rogue | None |
| Sorcerer | CHA 13+ |
| Warlock | None |
| Wizard | INT 13+ |
The Trade-Offs
Multiclassing gives you versatility but delays power:
- Delayed ASIs. A Fighter 5 / Rogue 5 doesn't get an ASI until Fighter 8 (level 13 total).
- Delayed subclass features. You don't get the secondary class's subclass until it reaches level 3.
- Slower spell progression. You don't get higher-level spells as fast.
- Hit dice are separate. A Fighter 5 / Wizard 5 rolls d10s and d6s.
Good Multiclass Combos
| Combo | Why It Works |
|---|
| Fighter / Rogue | Extra Attack + Sneak Attack + Action Surge |
| Warlock / Sorcerer | Pact slots + Font of Magic for short-rest spell slots |
| Barbarian / Monk | Rage + Unarmored Movement + martial arts |
| Paladin / Warlock | Smite + Pact Magic for short-rest smite slots |
| Ranger / Rogue | Sneak Attack + Favored Enemy + spellcasting |
| Cleric / Druid | Double prepared spell lists + Wild Shape |
Bad Multiclass Combos
| Combo | Why It's Rough |
|---|
| Wizard / Fighter (early) | Delays spell progression with no immediate payoff |
| Barbarian / Monk | Rage conflicts with unarmored requirements |
| Any / Monk (late) | Monk needs DEX and WIS investment; hard to justify on most builds |
What Changes at Key Levels
| Level | What Happens |
|---|
| 1 | Proficiency bonus +2, class features, cantrips |
| 2 | Subclass choice (most classes), fighting style (Barb/Fighter/Paladin/Ranger) |
| 3 | Subclass features unlock, 2nd-level spells (full casters) |
| 4 | ASI or Feat |
| 5 | Extra Attack (martial), 3rd-level spells, proficiency bonus +3 |
| 6 | Subclass features (Barb/Fighter), 3rd-level spells (half casters) |
| 8 | ASI or Feat |
| 9 | 5th-level spells (full casters), proficiency bonus +4 |
| 11 | Extra Attack (Ranger/Paladin), 6th-level spells |
| 12 | ASI or Feat |
| 13 | Proficiency bonus +5, 7th-level spells |
| 16 | ASI or Feat |
| 17 | 9th-level spells, proficiency bonus +6 |
| 19 | ASI or Feat |
| 20 | Capstone feature |
Your Character Sheet
Your character sheet automatically tracks most of these changes:
level — your current levelproficiencyBonus — computed from levelmaxHitPoints — computed from class, level, and CON modifierspellSlotsLevel1..9 — computed from caster levelclassFeaturesLevel1..20 — displays when you reach that levelsubclassFeaturesLevel3..20 — displays when you reach that level
What you set manually:
currentHitPoints — your actual HP (set to max on level up)baseStr/Dex/Con/Int/Wis/Cha — ability scores (update on ASIs)feats — add feat files when you take oneknownCantrips — add new cantripspreparedSpellsLevel1..9 — prepare new spellsmulticlassClass, multiclassLevel, multiclassSubclass — if you multiclass
What the platform computes:
- All skill modifiers, saves, AC, attack bonuses, spell save DC, spell attack bonus, caster level, hit dice remaining
- Class and subclass feature text at the appropriate levels
- Multiclass feature accumulation
