Unleashing the true potential of your DND character is possible through Skill Synergy.
This powerful concept, detailed in the Player’s Handbook, allows players to utilize their skills in tandem to create incredible effects.
In this blog post, we’ll:
- Explore the meaning and game mechanics of Skill Synergy
- Provide you with a comprehensive chart of skills that synergize
- Discuss how to make the most of these synergies in your campaign
Here is what you need to know about Skill Synergy in DND.
What Is Skill Synergy? (Understanding the Game Mechanic)
As per the Player’s Handbook, Skill Synergy is the concept of combining two or more skills to create a bonus or advantage.
The key components are:
- Rank
- Skill
- Bonus
When a character has 5 ranks in a specific skill, they receive a +2 synergy bonus on certain related skills. This synergy bonus represents the character’s enhanced ability due to their proficiency in the initial skill.
Next, let’s look at the skill synergy chart and then a bunch of in-game examples.
Skill Synergy Chart
The following chart illustrates which skills can synergize with others, granting a +2 bonus:
| Skill | +2 Synergy Bonus to |
| Autohypnosis | Rolls or checks for Knowledge (Psionics) |
| Bluff | Rolls or checks for Sleight of Hand, Disguise, Intimidate, or Diplomacy |
| Concentration | Rolls for Lucid Dreaming or Autohypnosis |
| Control Shape | Disguise rolls or checks |
| Cooking | Related Profession rolls |
| Craft | Rolls for MacGyver or Related Appraise checks |
| Decipher Script | Rolls for using Mystic Device |
| Escape Artist | Checks for using ropes and bindings |
| Forgery | Rolls for hacking |
| Handle Animal | Checks for wild empathy and Ride |
| Jump | Checks for Tumbling |
| Knowledge (Arcana) | Rolls for Spellcrafting |
| Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) | Rolls for Hacking, Search, or Macgyver checks |
| Knowledge (Dungeoneering) | Rolls for Survival (when in dungeons or underground) |
| Knowledge (Geography) | Checks for Prospect or Survival |
| Knowledge (History) | Rolls for Bardic knowledge |
| Knowledge (Local) | Checks for Gathering Information |
| Knowledge (Nature) | Survival rolls in nature |
| Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) | Rolls for Diplomacy |
| Knowledge (Psionics) | Rolls or checks for Psicraft |
| Knowledge (Religion) | Rolls for turning or repelling undead |
| Knowledge (The Planes) | Rolls for Survival when on other planes |
| Lucid Dreaming | Tinkering rolls or checks |
| Profession | Related MacGyver rolls or checks |
| Psicraft | Rolls for using a Mystic Device |
| Search | Rolls for Survival checks (when tracking) |
| Sense Motive | Rolls for Diplomacy skill checks |
| Spellcraft | Rolls for using Mystic Device with scrolls |
| Survival | Rolls for Knowledge skill checks |
| Tumble | Rolls for Balancing or Jumping |
| Use Mystic Device | Rolls for using Psicraft with power stones or Spellcraft with scrolls |
| Use Rope | Rolls for Climbing with ropes or Escape Artist rolls |
Do All Skills Synergize and Stack?
No, not all skills synergize or stack with one another.
The chart above lists the specific skills that have synergies, and any unlisted skills do not provide synergy bonuses.
Additionally, skill synergy bonuses do not stack.
In other words, if multiple skills offer a synergy bonus to the same skill, only one +2 bonus can be applied.
Of course, a Dungeon Master (GM) can always overrule this general guideline.
Examples of Skill Synergy in a DND Campaign
I always like to see, read, and experience examples when I’m learning a new game mechanic.
So, here are 50 in-game examples of skill synergy in DND:
- A rogue proficient in Bluff gains a synergy bonus to their Disguise checks when pretending to be a guard to infiltrate a heavily guarded fortress.
- A ranger with Knowledge (Nature) uses their Survival skill to find a hidden path through a dense forest, bypassing dangerous wild beasts.
- A wizard with Knowledge (Arcana) gains a synergy bonus to their Spellcraft checks when identifying the magical properties of a recently discovered ancient artifact.
- A bard with Knowledge (History) uses their bardic knowledge to recall information about a long-lost civilization to unlock a secret chamber in an ancient tomb.
- A cleric with Knowledge (Religion) gains a synergy bonus to their checks to turn or rebuke undead when confronting an undead army led by a powerful necromancer.
- A fighter with a high Jump skill uses their synergy bonus to Tumble checks to quickly move through a narrow passage filled with deadly traps.
- A cook with Cooking skills uses their synergy bonus to related Profession checks to impress a local lord during a feast, opening up new quest opportunities.
- A rogue with Decipher Script gains a synergy bonus to Use Mystic Device checks when attempting to activate a magical trapdoor hidden within a complex code.
- An artificer with Lucid Dreaming skill uses their synergy bonus to Tinkering checks to create a makeshift glider to escape a collapsing tower.
- A druid with Handle Animal skill gains a synergy bonus to their wild empathy class feature checks when attempting to calm a rampaging dire bear.
- A sorcerer with Spellcraft skill uses their synergy bonus to Use Mystic Device checks to quickly cast a spell from a scroll to save a falling ally.
- A psion with ranks in Autohypnosis uses its synergy bonus to Knowledge (Psionics) checks to decipher an ancient psionic code to access a hidden vault.
- A character with ranks in Escape Artist uses their synergy bonus to Use Rope checks to quickly tie a captured enemy before they can escape.
- A hacker proficient in Forgery uses their synergy bonus to Hacking checks to create fake credentials to infiltrate a secure facility.
- A character with Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) uses their synergy bonus to Search checks to find a hidden passageway in an old castle.
- A character with Knowledge (Dungeoneering) uses their synergy bonus to Survival checks to navigate a complex underground labyrinth.
- A character with Knowledge (Geography) uses their synergy bonus to Survival checks to predict a sandstorm in a desert and find shelter in time.
- A character with Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) uses their synergy bonus to Diplomacy checks to negotiate a truce between warring noble families.
- A character with Knowledge (The Planes) uses their synergy bonus to Survival checks to find a safe passage through a treacherous planar rift.
- A character with the Concentration skill uses their synergy bonus to Lucid Dreaming checks to successfully navigate a dream-based puzzle.
- A rogue with Bluff skill uses their synergy bonus to Sleight of Hand checks when stealing a key from a guard’s belt without being noticed.
- A character with the Control Shape skill uses their synergy bonus to Disguise checks when transforming into a werewolf to blend in with a pack.
- A character with Craft skill uses their synergy bonus to related Appraise checks to identify valuable items in a dragon’s hoard.
- A character with Decipher Script skill uses their synergy bonus to Hacking checks when attempting to crack an encrypted magical lock.
- A character with Handle Animal skill uses their synergy bonus to Ride checks when mounting a newly tamed griffin for the first time.
- A character with Knowledge (Local) uses their synergy bonus to Gather Information checks to uncover the whereabouts of a notorious criminal hiding in a busy city. 27. A character with Knowledge (Arcana) uses their synergy bonus to Spellcraft checks to quickly dispel a magical barrier protecting a cursed treasure.
- A character with Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) uses their synergy bonus to Macgyver checks to construct a makeshift battering ram to breach a castle gate.
- A character with Knowledge (Dungeoneering) uses their synergy bonus to Survival checks to find a hidden source of fresh water in an underground cavern.
- A character with Knowledge (Geography) uses their synergy bonus to Prospect checks to locate a rare mineral deposit in the mountains.
- A character with Knowledge (History) uses their synergy bonus to bardic knowledge checks to recall the details of an ancient prophecy needed to stop a cataclysmic event.
- A character with Knowledge (Nature) uses their synergy bonus to Survival checks to track an elusive fey creature through a magical forest.
- A character with Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) uses their synergy bonus to Diplomacy checks to convince a noble to lend their support to the party’s cause.
- A character with Knowledge (Psionics) uses their synergy bonus to Psicraft checks to unlock the hidden potential of a powerful psionic artifact.
- A character with Knowledge (Religion) uses their synergy bonus to checks to turn or rebuke undead when fighting a powerful lich and its undead minions.
- A character with Knowledge (The Planes) uses their synergy bonus to Survival checks to locate a portal back to the Material Plane when trapped in the Shadowfell.
- A character with the Profession skill uses their synergy bonus to related Macgyver checks to create a makeshift defense using only the tools of their trade.
- A character with Psicraft skill uses their synergy bonus to Use Mystic Device checks when attempting to activate a powerful psionic device.
- A character with Search skill uses their synergy bonus to Survival checks to follow the tracks of a kidnapped villager through difficult terrain.
- A character with Sense Motive skill uses their synergy bonus to Diplomacy checks when negotiating with a deceitful merchant.
- A character with Spellcraft skill uses their synergy bonus to Use Mystic Device checks when attempting to unleash a potent spell from a scroll, altering the course of the battle in their favor.
- A character with the Survival skill uses their synergy bonus to Knowledge (nature) checks to identify a rare plant needed to create a potent antidote.
- A character with Tumble skill uses their synergy bonus to Balance checks to walk across a narrow ledge in a treacherous mountain pass.
- A character with the Tumble skill uses their synergy bonus to Jump checks to leap across a chasm to reach a trapped ally.
- A character with the Use Mystic Device skill uses their synergy bonus to Psicraft checks to address power stones when attempting to recharge a psionic artifact.
- A character with the Use Mystic Device skill uses their synergy advantage to Spellcraft rolls to read the magical spells on scrolls found in a wizard’s library.
- A character with the Use Rope skill uses their synergy bonus to Climb checks involving climbing ropes when scaling a sheer cliff face.
- A character with the Use Rope skill uses their synergy bonus to Escape Artist checks involving ropes when attempting to escape a trap set by a cunning enemy.
- A character with the Cooking skill uses their synergy bonus to related Profession checks to create a feast that impresses the gods themselves.
- A character with the Concentration skill uses their synergy bonus to Autohypnosis checks to resist a powerful enchantment attempting to control their mind.
- A bard with Knowledge (Local) uses their synergy bonus to Gather Information checks to piece together clues about a secret society operating within a city, ultimately revealing their hidden lair and foiling their nefarious plans.
DM Uses for Skill Synergy
Skill Synergy provides an excellent opportunity for Dungeon Masters (DMs) to create engaging and challenging campaigns, one-shots, or encounters that encourage players to think creatively and strategically.
Here are 10 unique and creative ways DMs can plan their games around skill synergy:
1. Puzzle Encounters
Design puzzles that require players to use their skills synergistically to solve them.
For example, an ancient door with a complex locking mechanism may require the combined use of Decipher Script and Use Mystic Device skills to unlock it.
2. Skill-based Traps
Create traps that can only be disarmed or bypassed by employing skill synergies.
For instance, a trap that requires players to use their Escape Artist and Use Rope skills to safely navigate through a room filled with razor-sharp wires.
3. Synergy-based Negotiations
Plan encounters that involve diplomatic negotiations.
As an example, where players need to employ their synergistic skills, such as Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) and Diplomacy, to achieve a favorable outcome.
4. Environmental Challenges
Design environmental challenges that encourage players to use their synergistic skills to overcome them.
Players may need to use their Knowledge (Geography) and Survival skills to safely navigate a treacherous mountain pass during a blizzard.
5. Skill-based Contests
Introduce skill-based contests where players need to use their synergistic skills to succeed.
For example, a festival with a cooking competition that requires participants to use their Cooking and related Profession skills to create a winning dish.
6. Hidden Secrets
Incorporate hidden secrets.
You can include concealed treasure or hidden passages, that can only be discovered by using skill synergies.
A character with Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering) could use their synergy bonus to Search checks to find a secret chamber within a dungeon.
7. NPC Interactions
Design encounters with NPCs that require players to utilize their synergistic skills to gain valuable information or assistance.
Perhaps an NPC who only trusts someone knowledgeable about their culture might require a character with Knowledge (Local) and Sense Motive skills to establish a rapport.
8. Intricate Heists
Plan heist scenarios that require players to employ various skill synergies to achieve their objectives.
Maybe a character with Bluff and Sleight of Hand skills may need to work together with another character proficient in Tumble and Jump skills to infiltrate a heavily guarded vault.
9. Combat Encounters
Design combat encounters where enemies have specific weaknesses that can only be exploited by using skill synergies.
For instance, a powerful golem that can only be deactivated by a character with Knowledge (Arcana) and Spellcraft skills.
10. Multi-stage Quests
Create multi-stage quests that require players to use different skill synergies at each stage to progress.
For example, the first stage might involve tracking down an elusive creature using Knowledge (Nature) and Survival skills.
Then you follow it up with a stage that requires Use Rope and Climb skills to scale a cliff face where the creature’s lair is located.
Another creative use of skill synergy is building what is often referred to as a “Skill Monkey” character in DND:
Final Thoughts: Skill Synergy in DND
These creative and unique examples of skill synergy demonstrate how understanding and applying skill synergies can lead to exciting gameplay.
I hope this information helps you and your DND group!
Related Posts:
- DND Deep Speech: Ultimate Guide for Beginners
- DND: Can Players Get Legendary Actions? (Solved + 30 Tips)
- 1,000 DND OC Ideas (With Pictures)
Sources
Player’s Handbook
Personal Experience & Research