What is a Strength Check in D&D?

A Strength check in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is an ability check that measures a character’s raw physical power. It represents their capability to exert brute force in various situations, encompassing tasks like lifting heavy objects, pushing obstacles, breaking barriers, and even forcing their body through tight spaces. Essentially, it’s the game mechanic used when a character attempts something requiring physical might beyond what is considered routine. Unlike attack rolls or saving throws, Strength checks are purely about the character’s physical capability to overcome an obstacle or complete a task.

Understanding the Core Mechanics

When is a Strength Check Required?

A Strength check is called for by the Dungeon Master (DM) whenever a player attempts an action that relies primarily on raw physical strength. Common examples include:

• Lifting or carrying heavy objects: Determining if a character can lift a massive boulder or carry a struggling companion.
• Pushing or pulling: Shoving a heavy door open, dragging a wagon, or pulling a lever that requires significant force.
• Breaking objects: Attempting to smash through a wooden door, bend iron bars, or snap a rope.
• Forcing a path: Squeezing through a narrow passage, wedging oneself into a tight space, or breaking free from restraints.
• Grappling and Shoving: Initiating a grapple on a foe, or attempting to shove them.

These are just examples, as the uses of Strength checks are diverse and depend on the scenario presented by the DM.

Strength Checks and the Athletics Skill

While Strength checks always utilize the character’s Strength ability score, they may also incorporate skill proficiencies. The most common skill associated with Strength checks is the Athletics skill. When a character makes a Strength (Athletics) check, their proficiency bonus (if applicable) is added to their Strength modifier to determine the result.

The Athletics skill specifically governs challenging situations involving:

• Climbing: Ascending steep walls, slippery cliffs, or precarious ledges.
• Jumping: Clearing wide gaps, jumping over obstacles, or achieving maximum jump distance.
• Swimming: Navigating strong currents, swimming against tides, or maintaining pace in rough water.

It’s important to distinguish that not all Strength checks rely on Athletics. A simple task like breaking a wooden crate only requires a basic Strength check, not Athletics. Athletics is brought into play when the situation has some additional complexity, especially with physical movement.

How a Strength Check is Conducted

1. The DM Calls for a Check: When a player attempts an action involving brute strength, the DM will ask them to make a Strength check, often specifying whether Athletics is involved (Strength (Athletics)).
2. The Player Rolls: The player rolls a 20-sided die (d20).
3. Modifiers Are Added: The player adds their Strength modifier to the result of the d20 roll. If they are proficient in Athletics, they add their proficiency bonus as well.
4. Compare to a Difficulty Class (DC): The DM has already determined a Difficulty Class (DC) for the task. The total result is compared to this DC. If the result meets or exceeds the DC, the check is a success. If it falls short, it’s a failure.
5. Result and Consequence: The DM describes the outcome based on the success or failure of the check.

Significance of Strength in D&D

A high Strength score in D&D offers several practical advantages, not just for Strength checks. It determines how much a character can lift, carry, and even how effective they are in combat.

• Carrying Capacity: Characters with higher Strength can carry more gear without becoming encumbered.
• Melee Combat: Strength affects the accuracy and damage of many melee weapon attacks. Stronger characters are therefore more formidable in close-quarters combat.
• Grappling and Shoving: High Strength makes a character more successful at grappling and shoving opponents, providing battlefield control.

Strength Checks vs Other Checks and Rolls

It’s essential to distinguish between Strength checks and other game mechanics. Strength checks are specifically about the character’s physical power in non-combat, task-oriented scenarios:

• Saving Throws: Unlike a Strength check where a player initiates action, a saving throw is a reaction to external forces or circumstances. Saving throws often involve avoiding a negative consequence.
• Attack Rolls: An attack roll is the mechanism used in combat to determine if an attack strikes an opponent. While Strength can affect melee attack rolls, they are separate from Strength checks.
• Other Ability Checks: Checks like Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, are used in scenarios that involve those specific skills and abilities.

Strength in Action: Examples

To better illustrate Strength checks, consider these scenarios:

• A character tries to push over a statue blocking a passage: This would be a Strength check. If Athletics is also needed to get a running start or find the right footing, then it will be a Strength (Athletics) check.
• A character attempts to break a locked chest with brute force: This would involve a Strength check.
• A character tries to climb a crumbling wall: This would require a Strength (Athletics) check.
• A character attempts to grapple a foe: This action initiates a Strength (Athletics) check.

In essence, a Strength check models any situation where physical force is applied to influence a result, making it a versatile and integral part of gameplay in D&D.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is a Strength check the same as an Athletics check?

No, they are not the same, but they are closely related. A Strength check is any check utilizing your Strength ability score for physical force. An Athletics check uses both Strength and Athletics skill proficiency when attempting more complex physical tasks like climbing, jumping, or swimming.

2. Can you have a Strength check that is not Athletics?

Yes, you can. Any action that involves applying raw physical force, such as pushing a door open, lifting a heavy object, or breaking a crate, calls for a Strength check and might not involve Athletics.

3. How is a Strength check different from a Strength saving throw?

A Strength check is when a player tries to do something involving physical force. A Strength saving throw is when a character must resist something that may hinder or hurt them due to a physical force acting upon them.

4. What happens if you fail a Strength check?

The consequences for failing a Strength check vary depending on the situation, as determined by the DM. It could mean failing to lift something, getting stuck in a tight space, failing to break through a barrier, or the possibility of taking damage as you failed in your endeavor.

5. What is a passive Strength check?

A passive check means the DM does not require the player to roll a die. A passive check uses a formula to determine a result, usually taking the base ability score, adding proficiency if applicable, and a certain bonus (+10). While not very common, DMs may ask for a passive Strength check if there is a task that is routine and does not need to be actively rolled for. A passive check is more of a “the character is doing this and has no reason to fail” scenario, rather than an active roll where the character may fail the task.

6. Can you “critically” succeed or fail a Strength check on a roll of 20 or 1?

In D&D 5e, natural 20s and 1s only have special effects in the context of attack rolls and death saving throws. For Strength checks, and all ability checks, they do not trigger automatic successes or failures.

7. What can give you advantage on a Strength check?

Various factors can grant advantage on a Strength check. A crowbar for leverage or a similar tool can do it. Some spells and magic items may also grant advantage on ability checks, including Strength.

8. Can you use a Strength check to grapple an opponent?

Yes, to grapple an opponent, you use a Strength (Athletics) check. This is a core element of Strength’s function in a combat situation.

9. Does rage from the Barbarian class impact Strength checks?

Yes, while raging, Barbarians get an advantage on Strength checks, which is incredibly beneficial for tasks like grappling or lifting.

10. Is Strength more important for some classes?

Yes. Paladins, Fighters, and Barbarians heavily rely on Strength for combat and many of their abilities. They are often designed to have high Strength scores and to excel at Strength-based challenges.

11. What is the difference between an Ability Check and an Attack Roll?

An ability check is a general term for any roll of a d20 + an ability score modifier + proficiency if applicable to see if a character succeeds in an action. Attack rolls are only used in combat and involve rolling to hit your enemy. Ability checks focus on all other tasks outside of combat.

12. What is the god of strength in D&D?

The god of strength in D&D, among other things, is Kord. He is the god of athletics, sports, brawling, strength, and courage.

13. Can you choose to fail a strength check?

No, you cannot choose to fail an ability check, like a Strength check. The rules do not allow characters to intentionally fail.

14. What is considered “a lot” of strength in D&D?

A Strength score of 20 is considered the maximum for most characters, and grants substantial strength. You can carry 300lbs and lift/drag 600lbs.

15. How does encumbrance affect strength checks?

If you are encumbered, your speed is reduced, and you may have disadvantage on Strength checks. Managing encumbrance is important, especially if you have a low Strength score.