Leveling Checklist

Below is a list of steps to go through whenever your character levels.

Class Level

Choose a class to gain a level in. This is often the same as the previous level unless multiclassing.

Ability Score Increases

At levels 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20, characters choose an ability score to permanently increase by 1.

Example: At level 4, a rogue decides to increase their Intelligence. Their Intelligence increases from 15 to 16, which changes the modifier from +2 to +3, giving them a number of bonus skill points equal to their level; in thier case, 4, which they can spend as they choose.

House Rule: From level 5 a character may be eligible for an additional ability score increase acfording to Automatic Bonus Progression.

Favored Class Bonus

Your favoured class was chosen by you when you first made your character, and this selection doesn’t change. If you gained a level in your favoured class, you get to choose between +1 bonus HP or +1 skill rank. You can change this decision each time you gain a level in your favoured class. Half-elves are able to select two favoured classes (but prestige classes can never be favoured classes).

See also Hit Points and Skill Points.

Hit Points

Check your class entry to see how many hit points you gain when you go up a level. Remember to add your Constitution modifier, and any other bonuses you might have, such as from the Toughness feat.

House Rule: Gain max hit points every level instead of rolling.

Example: A fighter with a Constitution of 16 (i.e. a +3 modifier) gains 13 hit points when they level up.

Base Attack Bonus

Check your class entry to see if your base attack bonus increases when you level up. Some classes, such as barbarian, fighter, paladin, and ranger, have a base attack bonus that increases at every level. Others advance slower.

Example: A rogue who goes from level 4 to level 5 wouldn’t increase their base attack bonus according to their class entry, but their barbarian pal would increase their by 1.

Saving Throws

Make sure you update your saving throws to match your class entry, and don’t forget any bonuses from feats (Great Fortitude / Iron Will / Lightning Reflexes), special class features (like the paladin’s Divine Grace) or from Automatic Bonus Progression.

Class Features

Check your class entry to see what cool new class features you get at a particular level. These are very important, so make sure you read and understand what your new class features do, as they give you more options and make you better at what you already do!

Example: At level 4, a druid gains the ability to use Wild Shape, and a barbarian gains a new Rage Power.

Skill Ranks

Your class entry tells you how many skill points you gain at each level up. Remember to add your Intelligence modifier and whatever other bonus skill points you gain, such as the bonus skill for being human or from his favoured class bonus. Remember that your number of ranks in a given skill cannot exceed your character level, and that you gain a +3 bonus on class skills you put ranks in.

Example: A rogue with an Intelligence of 16 (that’s a +3 modifier) gains 11 (8 +3) skill points at each level. If they were human, they would gain a bonus skill point.

Background Skills

House Rule: An additional 2 background skill points are earned at each level.

Feats

Some classes gain bonus feats from class-specific lists as they level up, and all characters gain bonus feats at levels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19. Make sure you meet a feat’s prerequisite before you add it to your sheet!

Example: A fighter gains a bonus feat at almost every level, but the ones listed in their class entry have to be designated as Combat Feats. Similarly, a ranger gains bonus feats based on a chosen combat style, and has a much smaller list to choose from.

Automatic Bonus Progression

Consult the Automatic Bonus Character Advancement table to see if you gained any inherit bonuses that you haven't yet recorded. These can include, but are not limited to, ability score increases, saving throw bonuses as well as weapon and armor enhancements.

See also Automatic Bonus Progression on d20PFSRD or Pathfinder Unchained for more information.

Spells

Your class entry will tell you how many spells per day your character has, and if you’re a bard or sorcerer, how many spells you know. Remember to keep track of bonus spells due to having a high casting ability score, as well as domain and bloodline spells.

Example: A wizard with an Intelligence of 18 (+4 bonus) who reaches level 5 gains access to 3rd-level spells. Their class entry says they can now memorize and cast a single 3rd-level spell, but due to their high Intelligence score, they can prepare a bonus spell of their choosing.