View source for Attribute

{{tocright}}
{{otheruses|the stats that measure the abilities of the [[hero]]|the various intrinsic and extrinsic qualities of a hero or monster|property}}
{{for|the screen that displays the hero's in-depth current status|base attributes}}
In ''[[NetHack]]'', a [[hero]] has six basic '''attributes''' or '''ability scores''' that determine their levels of ability for each attribute type, as in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''. Four of these attributes can be gradually increased by [[exercise]], and all of them can be directly increased through various means.

==Strength==
{{main|Strength}}
'''Strength''' corresponds to the ability to have more [[weight]] in [[you]]r [[inventory]]. Also, the stronger you are, the more damage you do in melee combat, and the farther you can [[throw]] objects.

==Dexterity==
{{main|Dexterity}}
'''Dexterity''' has a multitude of effects, of which the most significant is probably that it affects your chance of hitting monsters, whether in melee combat or with a missile or spell.

==Constitution==
{{main|Constitution}}
Having a high '''constitution''' increases your healing rate and the number of [[HP]] you gain when levelling up and allows you to carry more [[weight]] in your [[inventory]].

==Intelligence==
'''Intelligence''' is useful for [[read]]ing [[spellbook]]s, for [[spellcasting]] (unless you are a [[Healer]], [[Knight]], [[Monk]], [[Priest]] or [[Valkyrie]], in which case it is wisdom that affects your chances of successfully casting a spell) and for encounters with [[foocubi]]. [[Mind flayer]]s have a brain-eating attack that can drain your intelligence; if you are hit by a successful brain-eating attack when your base intelligence is already 3, you die of [[brainlessness]].

Intelligence cannot be [[exercise]]d, but can be permanently increased by drinking a blessed [[potion of enlightenment]] or a [[potion of gain ability]]. It can also be temporarily increased by wearing a [[helm of brilliance]]. If you eat a mind flayer corpse, there is a 50% chance your intelligence will be permanently increased by one point.

==Wisdom==
{{main|Wisdom}}
A Healer, Knight, Monk, Priest or Valkyrie requires '''wisdom''' to cast [[spell]]s. Wisdom is not particularly important for most other classes, though it affects how fast your [[power]] regenerates (and is thus fairly important for [[wizard]]s) and how much power you gain when leveling up.

==Charisma==
'''Charisma''' is mostly useful for obtaining better prices at [[shop]]s.{{refsrc|src/shk.c|2134|nethack=3.6.7}} It also helps with [[foocubus]] encounters, both by increasing the chance of a positive result and by giving more control over whether they remove your armor.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2431|nethack=3.6.7}}

Charisma also has other effects:
* The chance of successfully [[bribe#Bribing_in_Gehennom|bribing demons]] with less money than they demand.{{refsrc|src/minion.c|304|nethack=3.6.7}}
* The amount of gold required to [[bribe#Bribing_the_Yendorian_Army|bribe the Yendorian army]].{{refsrc|src/dokick.c|372|nethack=3.6.7}}
* The chance of successfully applying a [[saddle]] to a monster.{{refsrc|src/steed.c|94|nethack=3.6.7}}
* The initial [[apport]] of new pets is equal to your charisma.{{refsrc|src/dog.c|45|nethack=3.6.7}}
* Several [[YAFM|messages]] that don't affect game mechanics.{{refsrc|src/dig.c|1362|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|826|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|751|nethack=3.6.7}}

{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Charisma affects the probability that monsters are affected by [[conflict]].}}

Charisma is a difficult stat to increase, as it cannot be exercised. It can be permanently increased by drinking a [[potion of gain ability]], or temporarily increased by wearing a charged [[ring of adornment]]. You can also gain charisma by triggering a [[magic trap]]; however, this can be dangerous.

{| class="prettytable striped" 
!| Charisma
!| Price 
|- 
|| 3&ndash;5 || ×2 
|-
|| 6&ndash;7 || ×1.5
|-
|| 8&ndash;10 || ×1.33
|-
|| 11&ndash;15 || ×1
|-
|| 16&ndash;17 || ×0.75
|-
|| 18 || ×0.67
|-
|| 19&ndash;25 || ×0.5
|}
Reference: {{sourcecode|shk.c|1910}}.

==Starting attributes==
The player's starting attributes depend on their [[role]] as follows:{{refsrc|src/role.c|54|nethack=3.6.7|comment=base attributes and distributions}}

{| class="prettytable"
!| Class || [[Strength]] ||  [[Dexterity]] || [[Constitution]] ||[[Intelligence]] || [[Wisdom]] || [[Charisma]] || Remaining
|-
| [[Archeologist]] || 7\20% || 7\10% || 7\20% || 10\20% || 10\20% || 7\10% || 27
|-
| [[Barbarian]] || 16\30% || 15\20% || 16\30% || 7\6% || 7\7% || 6\7% || 8
|-
| [[Caveman]] || 10\30% || 7\20% || 8\30% || 7\6% || 7\7% || 6\7% || 30
|-
| [[Healer]] || 7\15% || 7\15% || 11\25% || 7\20% || 13\20% || 16\5% || 14
|-
| [[Knight]] || 13\30% || 8\10% || 10\20% || 7\15% || 14\15% || 17\10% || 6
|-
| [[Monk]] || 10\25% || 8\20% || 7\15% || 7\10% || 8\20% || 7\10% || 28
|-
| [[Priest]] || 7\15% || 7\15% || 7\20% || 7\10% || 10\30% || 7\10% || 30
|-
| [[Ranger]] || 13\30% || 9\20% || 13\20% || 13\10% || 13\10% || 7\10% || 7
|-
| [[Rogue]] || 7\20% || 10\30% || 7\20% || 7\10% || 7\10% || 6\10% || 31
|-
| [[Samurai]] || 10\30% || 10\30% || 17\14% || 8\10% || 7\8% || 6\8% || 17
|-
| [[Tourist]] || 7\15% || 7\15% || 7\30% || 10\10% || 6\10% || 10\20% || 28
|-
| [[Valkyrie]] || 10\30% || 7\20% || 10\30% || 7\6% || 7\7% || 7\7% || 27
|-
| [[Wizard]] || 7\10% || 7\20% || 7\20% || 10\30% || 7\10% || 7\10% || 30
|}

First, points are distributed so that the player receives, as a minimum, the number indicated before the backslash. This is always out of a pool of 75 points, and the Remaining column contains the amount of leftover points from this step.

Next, the remaining points are distributed randomly according to the percentage after the backslash. If an attribute is chosen that would raise it above the player's racial maximum, it will try 99 more times to choose a different attribute to raise. If it fails to pick an attribute on all 100 attempts, it will abort this step and any remaining points will be lost.{{refsrc|attrib.c|565|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}

Third, each attribute has a 5% probability of having a random number from &minus;2 to +4 added to it {{refsrc|u_init.c|884|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}. These respect racial maximums.

Finally, strength will, if necessary, be increased until the player is [[Encumbrance|unencumbered]] by their starting inventory. If their racial maximum is not enough, constitution will be increased similarly.

==Maximum attributes==
The player's maximum attributes depend on their [[race]] as follows:{{refsrc|role.c|405}}
{| class="prettytable sortable striped"
!| [[Race]]
!| Strength
!| Dexterity
!| Constitution
!| Intelligence
!| Wisdom
!| Charisma
|-<!--                                St       Dx    Co    In    Wi    Ch -->
|| [[Human (starting race)|Human]] || 18/** || 18 || 18 || 18 || 18 || 18
|-
|| [[Elf (starting race)|Elf]]     || 18    || 18 || 16 || 20 || 20 || 18
|-
|| [[Dwarf (starting race)|Dwarf]] || 18/** || 20 || 20 || 16 || 16 || 16
|-
|| [[Gnome (starting race)|Gnome]] || 18/50 || 18 || 18 || 19 || 18 || 18
|-
|| [[Orc (starting race)|Orc]]     || 18/50 || 18 || 18 || 16 || 16 || 16
|}

These maxima only apply to your base "naked" attributes. Some magic items, like the [[helm of brilliance]], [[gauntlets of power]] and [[gauntlets of dexterity]], allow you to exceed these limits, up to 25 for all attributes. All attributes have a minimum of 3.

==Variants==
===NetHack brass===
[[NetHack brass]] implements different maximum attributes per role. Find your maximum attributes by looking for your role in the next table, then applying the racial modifiers. For example, humans have +2 to strength. All [[hero|heroes]] have a minimum of 3 for each attribute. The entries with the exclamation marks are the spellcasting stats for each role.

{| class="prettytable sortable striped"
!| [[Role]]
!| Strength
!| Dexterity
!| Constitution
!| Intelligence
!| Wisdom
!| Charisma
|-<!--                 St       Dx    Co    In        Wi    Ch -->
|| [[Archeologist]] || 16    || 10 || 17 || ''19!'' || 18 || 19
|-
|| [[Barbarian]]    || 18/** || 18 || 20 || ''12!'' || 16 || 10
|-
|| [[Caveman]]      || 18/** || 18 || 20 || ''14!'' || 16 || 15
|-
|| [[Healer]]       || 12    || 19 || 19 || 19 || ''19!'' || 18
|-
|| [[Knight]]       || 18/50 || 13 || 18 || 17 || ''19!'' || 19
|-
|| [[Monk]]         || 10    || 20 || 20 || 18 || ''20!'' || 18
|-
|| [[Priest]]       || 18    || 15 || 18 || 17 || ''20!'' || 18
|-
|| [[Ranger]]       || 17    || 21 || 13 || ''19!'' || 16 || 19
|-
|| [[Rogue]]        || 18    || 20 || 17 || ''17!'' || 17 || 16
|-
|| [[Samurai]]      || 18/50 || 20 || 19 || ''15!'' || 15 || 15
|-
|| [[Tourist]]      || 17    || 15 || 18 || ''19!'' || 19 || 19
|-
|| [[Valkyrie]]     || 18/** || 16 || 20 || 12 || ''17!'' || 16
|-
|| [[Wizard]]       || 10    || 19 || 16 || ''20!'' || 20 || 18
|}
Reference: src/role.c in NetHack brass 040923.

====Racial modifiers====
To find your maximum attributes in [[NetHack brass]], after finding your role in the above table, you must apply the racial modifiers of the below table. These racial modifiers apply only to the ''maximum'' attributes of each player, not the initial attributes.

An elven Ranger of NetHack brass, for example, can reach 19+1 = 20 in charisma by increasing charisma one more time after a human Ranger would have maxed at 19.

For strength modifiers only, a +1 raises 18 to 18/50, while a +2 raises 18 to 18/** or 17 to 18/50.

{| class="prettytable striped"
!| [[Race]]
!| Strength
!| Dexterity
!| Constitution
!| Intelligence
!| Wisdom
!| Charisma
|-<!--                                St    Dx    Co    In    Wi    Ch -->
|| [[Human (starting race)|Human]] || +2 ||  0 ||  0 ||  0 ||  0 ||  0
|-
|| [[Elf (starting race)|Elf]]     ||  0 ||  0 || −2 || +2 || +2 || +1
|-
|| [[Dwarf (starting race)|Dwarf]] || +2 || +2 || +2 || −2 || −2 || −2
|-
|| [[Gnome (starting race)|Gnome]] || +1 ||  0 ||  0 || +1 ||  0 ||  0
|-
|| [[Orc (starting race)|Orc]]     || +2 ||  0 ||  0 || −2 || −2 || −3
|}

In [[wizard mode]], the #[[rrllududab]] [[extended command]] sets your attributes to their maximum; this is a reference to the [[wikipedia:Konami code|Konami code]].

===SLASH'EM===
[[SLASH'EM]] handles several attributes differently compared to ''NetHack'' - see the articles on those attributes for details.

===UnNetHack===
[[UnNetHack]] adds the ability to exercise intelligence by fighting a [[weeping angel]]'s mental reflection, which requires that the player does ''not'' have [[reflection]].<ref>https://sourceforge.net/p/unnethack/git/ci/master/tree/src/mhitu.c#l2206</ref>

===FIQHack===
In [[FIQHack]], strength over 18 is no longer considered a special attribute, and "exceptional strength" of 18/XX does not exist - their numeric equivalents are used instead, as follows:

* [[Elf (starting race)|Elves]]: 18
* [[Gnome (starting race)|Gnomes]]: 19
* [[Orc (starting race)|Orcs]]: 20
* [[Human (starting race)|Humans]]: 21
* [[Dwarf (starting race)|Dwarves]]: 21

==See also==
* [[hit points]]
* [[inventory]]
* [[purse]]
* [[encumbrance]]
* [[weight]]
* [[intrinsic]]
* [[Drain for gain]], which involves manipulating your attributes, and discusses how to do so.

==References==
<references/>
{{nethack-367}}
[[Category:Your character]]