Uncovering the Mystery: How Does Expertise Work in 5e?
Have you ever wondered how expertise works in the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons? If you’ve played or run a game of 5e before, you may have encountered the term “expertise” while creating a character or designing an encounter. Expertise is a special feature that allows a character to double their proficiency bonus in certain skills, making them exceptionally skilled in those areas. But how does it work exactly? Let’s dive in.
What is Expertise?
Expertise is a feature that some classes and subclasses in the 5th edition of D&D can gain access to. It allows a character to add their proficiency bonus twice to a specific skill, essentially making them twice as good at that task as they would normally be. This can be incredibly useful, especially for classes that rely heavily on certain skills, such as the Rogue’s Stealth or the Bard’s Persuasion.
How Do You Get Expertise?
Not every class or subclass has access to Expertise, so it’s important to check your class features to see if you can gain this benefit. The Rogue is the most well-known class that has access to expertise, gaining it at 1st level for two skills of their choice. The Bard can choose expertise in two skills at 3rd level as part of their Expertise feature. The Cleric’s Knowledge Domain and the Barbarian’s Path of the Totem Warrior also have access to expertise in specific skills.
How Does Expertise Work in Play?
When a character with expertise attempts a skill check in their chosen area of expertise, they get to add their proficiency bonus twice to the roll. For example, if a Rogue has expertise in Stealth and has a proficiency bonus of +3, they would add +6 to any Stealth checks they make. This makes them exceptionally skilled in that area and allows them to do things that other characters may not be able to accomplish.
Why is Expertise Important?
Expertise can be incredibly powerful in 5e, especially when combined with other class features and abilities. It allows certain characters to excel in specific areas, such as stealth, persuasion, or combat. Additionally, it encourages players to think about their characters beyond just their stats and abilities and develop a deeper understanding of who their character is and what skills they excel at.
Conclusion
Expertise is a powerful feature in the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons that allows certain classes to excel in specific areas. It’s important to check your class features to see if you have access to this benefit and to utilize it in play to make your character stand out. Whether you’re a Rogue sneaking through the shadows or a Bard charming your way out of trouble, expertise can help you achieve your goals and become a more fully-realized character in your game.
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