This post promises to walk through all the steps in calculating proficiency bonus in D&D 5e.
So if that is what you have been searching for all this while, then stay glued as you are about learning that right here.
While reading the 5e rules, you will keep seeing how to add proficiency bonus and all of that.
But specifically, you will not find any useful information on how to calculate it.
From the roleplaying viewpoint, the proficiency bonus denotes your experience and from the game design viewpoint, it denotes your power curve.
You can add the proficiency bonus to saves, skills, weapons, or attacks that you are experienced with.
The same cuts across each class.
Comparing the 5e to other versions/editions, some things vary here.
The 5e bonus level is calculated differently and the D&D bonuses are lower.
On like other editions, your progress in D&D 5e is pretty much slower.
And when you get to level 11, your attack is 5 higher.
Here is the analysis:
2 from ability, 2 from prof, and 1 from magic.
What this means is that you raise over worldly threats pretty much slower.
Based on the level, this lower bonus shows a variant calculation.
The calculation in D&D 5e is so complicated that the digits are repeated at every class description.
In the PHB, you can check out the tables listing your class features from levels 1-20, respectively.
How to calculate proficiency bonus 5e
In your class description, the table there shows your proficiency bonus.
Plus 2 is for a 1st-level character.
Your bonus will apply to many numbers you will be recording on your character sheet:
- 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 you cast
Another thing to note here is that your class and weapon are relative.
Meaning that it determines your weapon proficiencies.
The tools are described in chapter 5 and the skills in chapter 7.
You might want to check that out.
You need to look at your chart at the beginning of your class description for basic or regular edition to find out your proficiency bonus.
They are currently the same for all the classes and are also class independent.
So here is how your proficiency bonus goes:
1st +2
2nd +2
3rd +2
4th +2
5th +3
6th +3
7th +3
8th +3
9th +4
10th +4
11th +4
12th +4
13th +5
14th +5
15th +5
16th +5
17th +6
18th +6
19th +6
20th +6
To answer your question specifically…
The bonus is not calculated on the class level but on your character level.
So whether or not you multi-class, it is the same thing.
If you were a 3rd level Elf with a 16(+3) Knowledge, your final score would be:
Knowledge Mod (+ 3) + Skill Bonus (+ 2)= + 5 Perception
I hope this helps you calculate proficiency bonus 5e?
Got some more questions or confused along the line?
You can simply leave a comment.