[RPG] Does a Druid in Wild Shape add their own Proficiency Bonus to the physical attribute of the Beast for Skills

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The PHB entry on Wild Shape states: "You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature."

Does this mean you add the character's Proficiency Bonus to the beast's physical attribute modifiers to arrive at the Skill total? For instance, my Druid has a PB of +3, proficiency in Stealth and an 18 Dex, for a total of +7 Stealth in normal form. But in Polar Bear form, her Dex drops to 10…does that mean I'd only be at +3 in Stealth in bear form?

Best Answer

You recalculate skills and saving throws a proficiency bonus is applied to:

  • Skill and saving throws based on Str, Dex and Con in which you have proficiency
  • Skills and saving throws based on Int, Wis and Cha in which the target beast has proficiency (not common, but perception is the usual case)

You should "extract" the beast's standard proficiency bonus by subtracting the total attack modifier or skill modifier from it's related stat bonus. Example:

The beast has a Strength score of 16, and thus a +3 Str bonus. If it's melee attack modifier is +7, then it's proficiency bonus is 7-3= 4.

Then, If your proficiency bonus is greater than the one extracted, you should use yours to recalculate the skill, saving throws.

As a DM I tell my druid player to keep a record of the adjusted stat block of the 3 most used beasts, and adjust them when his proficiency bonus changes, to speed up the gameplay.

According to Jeremy Crawford, the druid has no proficiency with natural attacks, therefore the attack bonuses should not be recalculated