INT (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)
Definition
Intelligence is the ability of stored knowledge and deliberate reasoning. It carries more skills than any other score except Wisdom: Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, and Religion, which together cover most of what a party needs to identify before they can deal with it. Investigation in particular is the difference between finding a hidden door and walking past it. It is also the Wizard's spellcasting ability, which sets their spell attack bonus, their save DC, and how many spells they can prepare each day. Outside of Intelligence casters the score is often dumped, and the cost shows up as the worst saving throw in the game to be bad at against mind-affecting effects.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
Investigation or Perception: which finds the secret door?
Perception (Wisdom) notices that a section of wall looks wrong. Investigation (Intelligence) works out that it pivots and where the catch is. Many tables call for Perception to spot and Investigation to understand.
Is Intelligence safe to dump?
It is the most commonly dumped score, and the cost is real but back-loaded: five skills go dead and Intelligence saves against illusions and psychic effects get worse, and few classes are proficient in that save to compensate.
What exactly does Intelligence do for a Wizard?
It sets the spell attack bonus, the save DC of 8 plus proficiency bonus plus the modifier, and the number of spells you prepare, which is your Intelligence modifier plus your Wizard level. It is the whole class in one score.