Some monsters or effects can cause a character's ability scores to be decreased.
The Greater Restoration spell can end "any reduction to one of the target's ability scores".
Is there any other way to reduce or remove ability score damage in 5e?
[RPG] Is Greater Restoration the only way to reverse Ability Score Damage
ability-scoresdnd-5ehealing
Related Topic
- [RPG] Can either flavor of Restoration remove the Frightened condition
- [RPG] Do spellcasters know that the Lesser and Greater Restoration spells can cure madness
- [RPG] How many vampire bites are undone by one casting of Greater Restoration
- [RPG] Can you cast the Greater Restoration spell to cure an unknown condition
Best Answer
There are no generalised rules for ability score decreases, reductions, penalties, or damage. Every effect that reduces an ability score is highly specific, and sets its own rules and conditions. It might be worth mentioning that (as far as I'm aware), no such effect uses the term "ability score damage".
For examples, the Shadow can reduce Strength, and said reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest.
On the other hand, the Intellect Devourer can reduce Intelligence to 0, and does not specify a way to regain Intelligence, so only effects like Greater Restoration that specifically remove reductions to ability scores would be effective here.
And for something completely different, the Feeblemind spell reduces Intelligence and Charisma to 1, specifying that the target can be fixed by making a saving throw, or any of Greater Restoration, Heal, or Wish.
So the short answer is that it depends entirely on the source of the ability score reduction. However, the only general solutions appear to be Greater Restoration and Wish.