5th edition sets a soft limit of 20 on player characters but through the use of rare magic manuals it can reach 22. Some item combinations can set strength as high as 25 (I think) and magical buffs and special class abilities can push stats quite high up for a few minutes.
What is the highest ability score in D&D?
18
A score of 18 is the highest that a person usually reaches. Adventurers can have scores as high as 20, and Monsters and divine beings can have scores as high as 30. Each ability also has a modifier, derived from the score and ranging from −5 (for an ability score of 1) to +10 (for a score of 30).
Is there a maximum ability score above 30?
The Ability Scores and Modifiers table notes the ability modifiers for the range of possible ability scores, from 1 to 30. This means that the PHB explicitly defines 30 not just as a maximum (as 20 is also described), but as the highest possible Ability Score. Nothing can go above it, not even a Tome/Manual.
Can the manual and Tome magic items that increase?
…your [STAT] score increases by 2, as does your maximum for that score. The manual then loses its magic, but regains it in a century. Now, normally this would be a once-in-a-lifetime use, or maybe twice (due to the lifespan of the races), but if a wizard used Sequester on themself, many years can pass without growing older:
Can a creature’s ability score go above 30?
Ability scores, even when you raise the maximum, can never go above 30. Ability scores go no higher than 30. For regular folk, they go no higher than 20. Q: It wouldn’t allow a creature to ignore the max cap of 30, however, would it?
What’s the maximum ability score for a divine being?
Adventurers can have scores as high as 20, and monsters and divine beings can have scores as high as 30. Ability Score Improvement. The character can increase one ability score by 2 or increase two ability scores by 1 each. The ability score can now be increased above 20, up to a maximum of 3 0.
