Nature

Key facts

Ability

INT

Overview

Nature is the Intelligence skill for the natural world as a body of knowledge: which berries are safe, what kind of beast left these claw marks, whether a storm is coming, and why the river runs red. Survival is doing; Nature is knowing. It comes up during wilderness travel, when the party meets an unfamiliar creature, and when a natural hazard has to be understood before it can be avoided.

How it works

Ability: Intelligence Common checks: Recalling facts about terrain, plants and animals, weather patterns, and natural cycles; identifying a beast, a plant, or a poison from a natural source. Typical DCs: 10 to name a common animal or plant, 15 to know the habits of a rare predator, 20 or more for the properties of an exotic fungus or the ecology of a strange region. Proficiency: On the skill lists for Barbarian, Druid, Ranger, and Warlock. Rangers in favored terrain double their proficiency bonus on Intelligence and Wisdom checks about that terrain.

Tips and playstyle

Best for: Druids and Rangers, who have the class flavor, and Wizards who want an out-of-doors knowledge skill. Character concepts: Naturalist, herbalist, beast hunter, hermit, botanist, weather-wise fisher. Synergies: Pairs with Survival for a complete wilderness expert and with Medicine for natural remedies and poisons. Animal Handling covers the living animal in front of you.

Frequently asked questions