Character Advancement
As your character goes on adventures and overcomes challenges, he or she gains experience, represented by experience points. A character who reaches a certain experience point total advances in capability. This advancement is called gaining a level.
When your character gains a level, his or her class often grants additional features, as detailed in the class description. Some of these features allow you to increase your ability scores, either increasing two scores by 1 each or increasing one score by 2. You can't increase an ability score above 20. In addition, every character's proficiency bonus increases at certain levels.
Experience Points
The number of experience points (XP) a monster is worth is based on its challenge rating. Typically, XP is awarded for defeating the monster, although the GM may award XP for overcoming the encounter by other means, circumventing a trap, negotiating a peaceful resolution, etc.
Experience Points by Challenge Rating
| Challenge Rating | XP |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 or 10 |
| 1/8 | 25 |
| 1/4 | 50 |
| 1/2 | 100 |
| 1 | 200 |
| 2 | 450 |
| 3 | 700 |
| 4 | 1,100 |
| 5 | 1,800 |
| 6 | 2,300 |
| 7 | 2,900 |
| 8 | 3,900 |
| 9 | 5,000 |
| 10 | 5,900 |
| 11 | 7,200 |
| 12 | 8,400 |
| 13 | 10,000 |
| 14 | 11,500 |
| 15 | 13,000 |
| 16 | 15,000 |
| 17 | 18,000 |
| 18 | 20,000 |
| 19 | 22,000 |
| 20 | 25,000 |
| 21 | 33,000 |
| 22 | 41,000 |
| 23 | 50,000 |
| 24 | 62,000 |
| 25 | 75,000 |
| 26 | 90,000 |
| 27 | 105,000 |
| 28 | 120,000 |
| 29 | 135,000 |
| 30 | 155,000 |
Awarding Experience Points
The GM awards XP to each character that participated in the encounter. The total XP value of the encounter is divided evenly among all the characters who participated in defeating it. For example, if an encounter is worth 1,200 XP and there are four characters in the party, each character earns 300 XP.
The GM can also award XP for non-combat encounters, such as: - Successfully negotiating with NPCs - Disarming traps - Solving puzzles - Completing quests - Overcoming environmental challenges
Level Advancement
The Character Advancement table summarizes the XP you need to advance in levels from level 1 through level 20, as well as the proficiency bonus for each of those levels.
Character Advancement Table
| Level | XP Required | Proficiency Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | +2 |
| 2nd | 300 | +2 |
| 3rd | 900 | +2 |
| 4th | 2,700 | +2 |
| 5th | 6,500 | +3 |
| 6th | 14,000 | +3 |
| 7th | 23,000 | +3 |
| 8th | 34,000 | +3 |
| 9th | 48,000 | +4 |
| 10th | 64,000 | +4 |
| 11th | 85,000 | +4 |
| 12th | 100,000 | +4 |
| 13th | 120,000 | +5 |
| 14th | 140,000 | +5 |
| 15th | 165,000 | +5 |
| 16th | 195,000 | +5 |
| 17th | 225,000 | +6 |
| 18th | 265,000 | +6 |
| 19th | 305,000 | +6 |
| 20th | 355,000 | +6 |
Beyond 20th Level
The D&D rules assume that characters stop advancing in level at 20th level. However, some campaigns might continue beyond 20th level. The GM can use the Epic Boons system (see Feats) or create custom advancement rules for characters beyond 20th level.
Proficiency Bonus
Your proficiency bonus is always based on your total character level, not your level in a particular class. (An exception is multiclassing, as explained in the multiclassing rules.) The bonus is applied to:
- Attack rolls using weapons you're proficient with
- Attack rolls with spells you cast
- Ability checks using skills you're proficient in
- Ability checks using tools you're proficient with
- Saving throws you're proficient in
- Saving throw DCs for spells and other features
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach certain levels in your class, you gain the Ability Score Improvement feature. Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking that feature to take a feat of your choice instead. You can take each feat only once, unless the feat's description says otherwise.
You must meet any prerequisite specified in a feat to take that feat. If you ever lose a feat's prerequisite, you can't use that feat until you regain the prerequisite.
Standard Ability Score Improvements
Most classes grant the Ability Score Improvement feature at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level. When you gain this feature, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. You can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Multiclassing
If you choose to multiclass, your character level determines your proficiency bonus, not your individual class levels. For example, a 3rd-level fighter/2nd-level rogue is a 5th-level character with a +3 proficiency bonus.
For more information on multiclassing, see the multiclassing rules in the Player's Handbook or consult your GM.
Milestone Advancement
Some GMs prefer to award levels when characters accomplish significant goals rather than tracking experience points. This is called milestone advancement. When using milestone advancement, the GM decides when characters gain levels based on:
- Completing major quests
- Reaching important story points
- Overcoming significant challenges
- Achieving character goals
Milestone advancement can make leveling feel more natural and story-driven, but it requires the GM to carefully pace the campaign to ensure characters advance at an appropriate rate.
Related: Mechanics Index | Ability Scores | Skills | Feats | [[Classes]]