How to Make a DnD Character in 2024

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An updated version of Dungeons & Dragons is upon us, and while it’s not quite a new edition (with the rules still technically falling under the fifth edition), we have received a new 2024 Player’s Handbook which has made a number of significant changes to the game. This includes new mechanics for character creation, with a number of major revisions from the previous 2014 version.

So just how does it all work now? Grab your new DnD character sheet and a handful of dice as we break out exactly how to make a DnD character using the new 2024 rules.

The Five Steps of DnD Character Creation

• Step 1: Choose a Class
• Step 2: Choose an Origin
• Step 3: Determine Ability Scores
• Step 4: Choose an Alignment
• Step 5: Fill Out Character Sheet

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Step 1: Choose Your Class

The first step is to determine your Class. This is the role that your character will take as an adventurer. In the 2024 rules there are 12 official starting DnD classes. When selecting a class it’s a good idea to chat with your Dungeon Master to make sure it works with their campaign. You should also chat with your fellow players to see what they’re playing and try to find a good balance of options (a classic DnD party often includes a good mix of magic, combat and healing).

For ease of reference, the table below lists each class along with a description, likes and the complexity to play (something which is particularly important for newer and younger DnD 5e players).

Class	Description	Likes…	Complexity
Barbarian	Fierce warriors who channel primal rage into devastating attacks.	Battle	Average
Bard	Performers who weave magic through music, storytelling and dance.	Performing	High
Cleric	Devout servants of the gods who wield powerful divine magic.	Gods	Average
Druid	Guardians of the wild who tap into nature to cast spells and shapeshift.	Nature	High
Fighter	Masters of combat, skilled in a wide array of weapons and tactics.	Weapons	Low
Monk	Martial artists who blend physical prowess with spiritual abilities.	Unarmed Combat	High
Paladin	Holy warriors bound by sacred oaths who unleash divine power.	Defense	Average
Ranger	Skilled hunters and trackers adept in combat and the wilds.	Survival	Average
Rogue	Shadowy experts in stealth, cunning and the art of subterfuge.	Stealth	Low
Sorcerer	Innate spellcasters who can channel and manipulate magical energy.	Power	High
Warlock	Spellcasters whose magic comes from pacts with otherworldly beings.	Occult lore	High
Wizard	Scholarly magic users who study arcane tomes to master spells.	Spellbooks	Average

Note the Parts of Your DnD Class

Once you’ve selected a class, you’ll want to look it up in the 2024 Player’s Handbook. At that point, you’ll need note of a few key elements that will impact how your character plays (we’ll refer to these elements again later in Step 5).

• Primary Ability: The key Ability Score that influences a class’s moist important abilities and spells (we’ll cover more on Ability Scores in Step 3).
  Example: Dexterity is the primary ability for a Rogue, enhancing their stealth, agility and attack accuracy.
• Hit Point Die: The type of die you roll to determine the hit points your character gets when starting out and levelling up.
  Example: A Barbarian uses a d12 Hit Die, which makes them one of the more resilient classes.
• Saving Throw Proficiencies: Extra bonuses that help provide resistance against certain effects like spells or poisons.
  Example: A Paladin has proficiency in Wisdom and Charisma saving throws, helping them resist mental manipulation and influence.
• Skill Proficiencies: The particular skills your character is trained in, granting them expertise and higher chances of success.
  Example: A Ranger might be proficient in Survival and Perception, making them adept at tracking creatures and noticing hidden threats.
• Weapon Proficiencies: The types of weapons your character is trained to use effectively in combat, increasing their damage and attack options.
  Example: A Fighter is proficient with all Simple and Martial weapons, giving them the versatility to wield anything from a dagger to a greatsword.
• Armor Training: The categories of armor your character can wear without penalty, affecting your defense and mobility in battle.
  Example: A Cleric is trained to wear Light and Medium armor and use Shields.
• Starting Equipment: The gear and items a character begins their adventure with, tailored to their class’s role and style.
  Example: A Wizard might start with 2 daggers, a quarter stafff, a robe, spellbook, scholar’s pack and 5 gold pieces.

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Step 2: Choose Your Origin

The next step in creating your DnD character is to build out your Origin. This consists of two key elements: your Background and your Species, both of which we’ll cover below.

i. Select a Background

In the DnD 2024 rules, a Background represents where you came from and what you did before your character embarked on a life of adventure. In the 2024 rules there are 16 new DnD backgrounds to choose from. Each Background includes a brief narrative of your character’s past, although you can change these details if you want. In addition, your background includes the following components (we’ll refer to these elements later in Step 5).

• Ability Scores. A background lists three ability scores. You can increase one by 2 and another one by 1, or increase all three by 1. None of these increases can raise a score above 20.
  Example: The Acolyte background lets you increase your Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma.
• Feat. A background gives your character a specified Origin Feat, which provides extra in-game mechanics.
  Example: The Charlatan background gives you the “Skilled” Feat, which grants proficiency in any three skills or tools of your choice.
• Skill Proficiencies. A background gives your character proficiency in two specified skills.
  Example: The Criminal Background gives you proficiency in the Deception and Sleight of Hand skills.
• Tool Proficiency. Each background gives a character proficiency with one tool—either a specific tool or one chosen from the Artisan’s Tools category.
  Example: The Farmer Background gives you tool proficiency in Carpenter’s Tools.
• Equipment. Each background gives you a package of equipment. Alternatively, you can skip the equipment and take 50 gold pieces instead.
  Example: The Guide Background gives you a shortbow, 20 arrows, cartographer’s tools, bedrool, quiver, tent, traveler’s clothes and 3 gold pieces .

ii. Select a Species

Next, you’ll choose your character’s species. In the 2024 rules that are 10 base DnD species to choose from: Aasimar, Dragonborn, Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Goliath, Halfling, Human, Orc and Tiefling. A species includes the following elements, which you can jot down on your character sheet.

• Creature Type. Every playable species is considered Humanoid (non-Humanoid species may appear in future DnD 5e books).
• Size. Your character’s species determines the character’s size. Individuals within a species cover a wide range of heights, and some species include such diversity of size that you can choose whether your character is Small or Medium.
  Example: A dragonborn is considered Medium in size (about 5-7 feet tall).
• Speed. Your character’s species determines your character’s Speed.
  Example: A Goliath has a speed of 35 feet.
• Special Traits. Each species gives a character special traits. When you choose a species, your character gets all the special traits listed for it. Some traits involve making a choice from a handful of options.
  Example: Halflings have the Brave trait which provides Advantage on saving throws against being Frightened.

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Step 3: Determine Your Ability Scores

In DnD, ability scores represent your character’s physical and mental attributes and are used to determine effectiveness in various tasks, including combat, skill checks and saving throws. When creating a first level character you can’t have a score higher than 20 (although at later levels you can get as high as 30).

The six ability scores are as follows:

• Strength (STR): Measures physical power, determining your character’s ability to lift, push, or break objects, as well as your effectiveness in melee combat.
• Dexterity (DEX): Represents agility, reflexes and balance, influencing your character’s ability to dodge attacks, perform acrobatics and handle ranged weapons.
• Constitution (CON): Reflects endurance and stamina, affecting your character’s hit points, resilience to damage and ability to survive long-term physical strain.
• Intelligence (INT): Indicates your character’s reasoning, knowledge and analytical ability, which is crucial for solving puzzles, understanding languages, and casting certain spells.
• Wisdom (WIS): Captures perception, intuition and insight, guiding your character’s ability to make sound judgments, spot hidden threats, and resist mind-altering effects.
• Charisma (CHA): Represents your character’s force of personality, persuasiveness and leadership, determining your effectiveness in social interactions and magical abilities reliant on charm.

i. Calculate your ability scores

in the 2024 DnD rules, there are still three recommended methods for generating your ability scores:

• Standard Array: With this method, you assign the following fixed set of numbers to your ability scores: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10 and 8. You can assign these six numbers to any ability scores in any order you choose.
• Point Buy System: With this method, you start with a base value of 8 for all your ability scores and are given 27 points to spread out (although the higher the score the more points it costs).
• Random Generation: For this method, you roll four six-sided dice (4d6) for each ability score, then drop the lowest die roll and add the remaining three together.

No matter what system you use, you want to assign higher scores to your class’s primary ability (as identified in Step 1). For example, if you’re playing a Fighter, you would assign as high a score as possible to Strength, whereas if you’re playing a Rogue, you’ll want Dexterity to be your highest score.

During, this step you can write down your ability scores on your character sheet. Be sure to increase your scores based on the Background you chose in Step 2.

ii. Calculate Ability Score Modifiers

Next, you’ll need to determine your ability score modifiers. For example, if your have an Intelligence of 7, you would have a -2 modifier to Intelligence-based d20 rolls. Conversely, if you have a 20 Strength you would get a +5 to Strength-based d20 rolls.

On your character sheet write your ability score and modifier from the table below.

Ability Score	Modifier
1	−5
2–3	−4
4–5	−3
6–7	−2
8–9	−1
10–11	+0
12–13	+1
14–15	+2
16–17	+3
18–19	+4
20	+5

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Step 4: Choose Your Alignment

In the 2024 rules, the DnD alignment chart is a guideline that helps establish the moral and ethical compass that guides your character. There are nine alignments indicating where you fall between Law and Chaos, as well as Good and Evil.

While alignment does have a minor impact on gameplay in DnD 2024, it’s really meant to be more of a guideline to help roleplay your character. When choosing an alignment it can be helpful to consult with your Dungeon Master to make sure it works with the campaign. You should also consult with your fellow players to ensure it works and doesn’t create inner party conflict (a Lawful Good character for example, may end up butting heads with a party made up of more rule breaking Chaotic Neutral characters).

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Step 5: Fill Out Your Character Sheet

Now that you you’ve determined your class, background, species and ability scores, you’ll need to do a bit of math and fill out with your character sheet. Below are a few of the most important stats you’ll need to calculate:

i. Proficiency Bonus

Your proficiency bonus is an in-game mechanic designed to reflect certain skills and abilities you are exceptionally good at. This bonus is added to any D20 tests, saving throws and spells which you are proficient in. At first level your Proficiency bonus is +2. This number will increase as you advance in level.

ii. Skills

On your character sheet you’ll note that the are certain skills under each ability. For example, Athletics appears under Strength. Next to each skill you’ll note a small circle. If you are proficient in that skill fill in the circle. (Remember that skill proficiencies are grated by your class and background).

Next to each skill, you’ll also notice a dash. Here you’ll enter a modifier (as a + or -). A skill modifier = your ability score modifier + proficiency bonus. For example, if you are a creating a Rogue with a 18 Dexterity (which grants +4 to Dexterity skills) and are Proficient in Acrobatics (remember that you get +2 to anything you are proficient in) you would write +6 next to your Acrobatics skill.

iii. Saving Throws

Saving throw modifiers (entered as a + or -) also appear on your character sheet under ability scores and represent your resistance to certain effects. For example, your Dungeon Master may ask you to roll a Dexterity saving throw to try to avoid damage from a dragon’s breath weapon.

Saving throw modifiers = ability score modifier + proficiency bonus. For example, you are creating a Paladin with an 18 Wisdom score (granting a +4 bonus). As a Paladin your class also grants you proficiency in Wisdom saving throws (which gives you +2). Therefore your Wisdom saving throw would be +6.

iv. Hit Points (HP)

At Level 1 your hit points are equal to the maximum roll of your hit dice + your Constitution modifier. For example, I am creating a Level 1 Ranger (which uses a 1d10 Hit Dice) with a 12 Constitution (which grants a +1). My total hit points would therefore be 11. This is indicated in the table below.

Class	Hit Point Maximum (Level 1)
Barbarian	12 + Con. modifier
Fighter, Paladin, or Ranger	10 + Con. modifier
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Monk, Rogue, or Warlock	8 + Con. modifier
Sorcerer or Wizard	6 + Con. modifier

The character sheet includes room to note your current Hit Points when you take damage, as well as any Temporary Hit Points you might gain. There’s also space to track Death Saving Throws.”

v. Armor Class (AC)

Your Armor Class determines how difficult you are to hit in combat. Your base AC = 10 + your Dexterity modifier. You can, however, increase your AC if you are wearing certain types of armor or using a shield (which you either purchased or were given as part of or your background and class). You must have proficiency to wear certain types of armor or use a shield.

For example, if I am a Fighter with a 12 Dexterity (which provides a +1 bonus) and am wearing Leather Armor (which has a base AC of 11) my total AC would be 12.

vi. Attacks

In the Weapons & Damage Cantrips section of the character sheet, write your starting attack. The attack roll bonus for a weapon with which you have proficiency is one of the following unless a weapon’s property says otherwise:

• Melee attack bonus = Strength modifier +Proficiency Bonus
• Ranged attack bonus = Dexterity modifier +Proficiency Bonus

Look up the damage and properties of your weapons in the Player’s Handbook. You add the same ability modifier you use for attacks with a weapon to your damage rolls with that weapon.

If you are a magic user, note both the saving throw DC for your spells and the attack bonus for attacks you make with them, using these formulas:

• Spell save DC = 8 + spellcasting ability modifier + Proficiency Bonus
• Spell attack bonus = spellcasting ability modifier + Proficiency Bonus

vii. Initiative

Initiative determines how quickly you can enter combat. Initiative = 10 + your Dexterity modifier.

viii. Passive Perception

In DnD 2024, passive Perception is your character’s ability to notice details without actively searching and is often used by the Dungeon Master to determine if a character notices hidden creatures or objects without the need for a roll.

Passive Perception = 10 + Wisdom (Perception) modifier.

ix. Spells

If your class gives you the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature, your class features table shows the number of spell slots you have available, how many cantrips you know, and how many spells you can prepare. Choose your cantrips and prepared spells, and note them—along with your number of spell slots—on your character sheet.

x. Other Details

Be sure to fill out everything else such as your character’ name, equipment, languages, appearance and other details.

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Final Thoughts

Creating a character in DnD may seem complicated, but the new 2024 rules have streamlined the process considerably and made it easier for new players to jump in. By following these five steps, you’ll have your character up and rolling and no time.

You can find the complete character creation rulesin the 2024 Player’s Handbook, which is available now on D&D Beyond and Amazon.

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