Skills

Learn how to effectively use and invest in Pillars of Eternity's five core skills: Athletics, Lore, Mechanics, Stealth, and Survival. Maximize your character's potential.

In Pillars of Eternity, characters can learn five core skills: Athletics, Lore, Mechanics, Stealth, and Survival. Your starting skills are determined by your class and background. With each character level, you gain 6 skill points to distribute. The cost to increase a skill rank increases with each level of investment.

Rank	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	+6	+7	+8	+9	+10	+11	+12
Investment	1	3	6	10	15	21	28	36	45	55	66	78

By level 16, you will have earned a total of 90 skill points. The maximum skill rank achievable through spending points is 12, as a 13th rank would require an unfeasible 91 skill points. The effective rank of a skill is the sum of your starting rank, purchased ranks, and any bonuses from gear or completed quests. For example, a Ranger with 2 Survival, the Colonist background (+2 Survival), and 6 invested points in Survival would have an effective rank of 7.

Skill Descriptions:

Athletics

A rank in Athletics allows the use of the Second Wind ability once per encounter to restore Endurance. The amount restored is calculated as 20 + 4 * rank (e.g., 24 at rank 1, 60 at rank 10).

Lore

Ranks in Lore enable casting spells from scrolls. The maximum spell level castable from a scroll is half the skill rank (capped at level 6 at rank 12). A single rank in Lore allows casting level 1 spells, while 4 ranks are needed for level 2 spells.

Mechanics

With ranks in Mechanics, you can open locks and disarm traps with a difficulty rating less than or equal to your skill rank. A lock's difficulty can be overcome one rank higher than your skill using lockpicks. Mechanics is also used to detect hidden items. When setting traps, each rank in Mechanics adds +3 to the trap's Accuracy. The highest Mechanics difficulty in the game is 15, requiring a maximum rank of 14. Items like the Gloves of Manipulation can provide a +2 bonus to Mechanics.

Stealth

Stealth is used for scouting, evading enemies, and stealing. A higher rank allows a character to remain undetected for longer periods.

Survival

One or more ranks in Survival grant access to rank-dependent buffs when camping. These buffs include increased Damage Resistance, improved received healing, bonus Move Speed, Accuracy bonuses against specific creature categories, extended Consumable duration, and increased damage to flanked creatures. Higher ranks provide greater benefits, with Rank 18 being theoretically possible with a starting innate rank of 4.

Skill Checks

Skill checks occur at various points in the game, influencing outcomes based on specific skills. For instance, knowledge of the natural world might trigger a Survival check. Conversational skill checks are made against the player character's skill rank. Other challenges may involve the party member with the highest rank or all party members. Athletics is frequently used for environmental challenges like climbing walls or jumping gaps, with a rank of 5 generally sufficient for most checks.

Innate Skills from Class and Background

Your initial skill values are determined by your class and background choices.

	Athletics	Lore	Mechanics	Stealth	Survival
Barbarian	+2	-	-	-	+1
Chanter	-	+2	+1	-	-
Cipher	-	+1	+1	+1	-
Druid	-	+1	-	-	+2
Fighter	+1	+1	-	-	+1
Monk	+1	-	-	+1	+1
Paladin	+2	+1	-	-	-
Priest	+1	+2	-	-	-
Ranger	+1	-	-	-	+2
Rogue	-	-	+2	+1	-
Wizard	-	+2	+1	-	-
Aristocrat	-	+2	-	-	-
Artist	-	+2	-	-	-
Clergyman	-	+2	-	-	-
Colonist	-	-	-	-	+2
Dissident	-	+1	-	+1	-
Drifter	-	-	+1	+1	-
Explorer	-	+1	-	-	+1
Hunter	-	-	-	+1	+1
Laborer	+1	-	+1	-	-
Mercenary	+1	+1	-	-	-
Merchant	-	+1	+1	-	-
Mystic	-	+2	-	-	-
Philosopher	-	+2	-	-	-
Raider	+1	-	-	+1	-
Scholar	-	+2	-	-	-
Scientist	-	+1	+1	-	-
Slave	+1	-	-	-	+1
Farmer	+1	-	-	-	+1
Gentry	-	+2	-	-	-
Midwife	-	+1	-	-	+1
Soldier	+1	+1	-	-	-
Trapper	-	-	+1	+1	-