Strength

Ability Scores

Strength (STR) measures raw physical power — muscle, brawn, and the ability to apply force. It governs melee attacks, the damage you deal in close combat, how much you can carry, and physical skills like climbing and swimming. A STR penalty hurts fighters; a STR bonus rewards them twice (attack and damage).

What Strength Affects

Stat / Check	How STR applies
Melee attack rolls	STR modifier added to the attack roll
Melee damage	STR modifier × 1 (one-handed), × 1½ (two-handed), × ½ (off-hand). See below.
CMB (Combat Maneuver Bonus)	STR modifier added to CMB for most maneuvers
CMD (Combat Maneuver Defense)	STR modifier added to CMD
Carrying capacity	Determines light / medium / heavy load thresholds in pounds. See table below.
Climb skill	STR is the key ability; modifier applies to all Climb checks
Swim skill	STR is the key ability; modifier applies to all Swim checks
Breaking objects	STR check to burst bonds, break doors, etc. — DC set by the object's hardness

Strength to Damage

Situation	STR Multiplier	Notes
One-handed melee weapon	× 1	Standard — full STR modifier to damage
Two-handed melee weapon	× 1½	Round down; applies to both hands on the same weapon, not two separate weapons
Off-hand weapon (TWF)	× ½	Round down; a negative STR modifier still applies in full (no halving of penalties)
Ranged weapon	× 0	STR is not added to ranged damage (except thrown weapons and composite bows)
Thrown weapon	× 1	Full STR modifier to damage, same as one-handed melee
Composite bow	up to STR bonus	Composite bows have a strength rating; you add STR modifier up to that rating

Carrying Capacity

Your carrying capacity is determined by your STR score (not modifier). The three load thresholds determine your encumbrance level; exceeding the heavy load maximum is not normally possible without special abilities.

STR	Light Load	Medium Load	Heavy Load
1	3 lb.	4–6 lb.	7–10 lb.
2	6 lb.	7–13 lb.	14–20 lb.
3	10 lb.	11–20 lb.	21–30 lb.
4	13 lb.	14–26 lb.	27–40 lb.
5	16 lb.	17–33 lb.	34–50 lb.
6	20 lb.	21–40 lb.	41–60 lb.
7	23 lb.	24–46 lb.	47–70 lb.
8	26 lb.	27–53 lb.	54–80 lb.
9	30 lb.	31–60 lb.	61–90 lb.
10	33 lb.	34–66 lb.	67–100 lb.
11	38 lb.	39–76 lb.	77–115 lb.
12	43 lb.	44–86 lb.	87–130 lb.
13	50 lb.	51–100 lb.	101–150 lb.
14	58 lb.	59–116 lb.	117–175 lb.
15	66 lb.	67–133 lb.	134–200 lb.
16	76 lb.	77–153 lb.	154–230 lb.
17	86 lb.	87–173 lb.	174–260 lb.
18	100 lb.	101–200 lb.	201–300 lb.
19	116 lb.	117–233 lb.	234–350 lb.
20	133 lb.	134–266 lb.	267–400 lb.
21	153 lb.	154–306 lb.	307–460 lb.
22	173 lb.	174–346 lb.	347–520 lb.
23	200 lb.	201–400 lb.	401–600 lb.
24	233 lb.	234–466 lb.	467–700 lb.
25	266 lb.	267–533 lb.	534–800 lb.
26	306 lb.	307–613 lb.	614–920 lb.
27	346 lb.	347–693 lb.	694–1,040 lb.
28	400 lb.	401–800 lb.	801–1,200 lb.
29	466 lb.	467–933 lb.	934–1,400 lb.
30	533 lb.	534–1,066 lb.	1,067–1,600 lb.

Sizes other than Medium. For creatures of non-Medium size, multiply the capacity by: Fine ×¼, Diminutive ×½, Tiny ×¾, Small ×¾, Large ×2, Huge ×4, Gargantuan ×8, Colossal ×16. For quadrupeds, multiply by 1½.

Lifting and Dragging

Lift off ground	Up to your heavy load maximum — you can lift this as a move action (counts as being staggered while holding it)
Lift over head	Up to your maximum heavy load as a full-round action
Push or drag	Up to 5 × heavy load maximum along the ground; moving while pushing/dragging counts as difficult terrain