Advancement
Characters advance by accumulating experience points (XP) from encounters, traps, and story awards. Three progression tracks — Slow, Medium, and Fast — let the GM tune the pace of the campaign. Each track lists the total XP needed to reach a given level; the character levels up immediately upon hitting that threshold.
Experience Point Tracks
| Level | Slow | Medium | Fast | Feats | Ability +1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | — | ✓ | |
| 2 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 1,300 | ||
| 3 | 7,500 | 5,000 | 3,300 | ✓ | |
| 4 | 14,000 | 9,000 | 6,000 | ✓ | |
| 5 | 23,000 | 15,000 | 10,000 | ✓ | |
| 6 | 35,000 | 23,000 | 15,000 | ||
| 7 | 53,000 | 35,000 | 23,000 | ✓ | |
| 8 | 77,000 | 51,000 | 34,000 | ✓ | |
| 9 | 115,000 | 75,000 | 50,000 | ✓ | |
| 10 | 160,000 | 105,000 | 71,000 | ||
| 11 | 235,000 | 155,000 | 105,000 | ✓ | |
| 12 | 330,000 | 220,000 | 145,000 | ✓ | |
| 13 | 475,000 | 315,000 | 210,000 | ✓ | |
| 14 | 665,000 | 445,000 | 295,000 | ||
| 15 | 955,000 | 635,000 | 425,000 | ✓ | |
| 16 | 1,350,000 | 890,000 | 600,000 | ✓ | |
| 17 | 1,900,000 | 1,300,000 | 850,000 | ✓ | |
| 18 | 2,700,000 | 1,800,000 | 1,200,000 | ||
| 19 | 3,850,000 | 2,550,000 | 1,700,000 | ✓ | |
| 20 | 5,350,000 | 3,600,000 | 2,400,000 | ✓ |
Highlighted rows = ability score increase. Feats are gained at every odd level (1, 3, 5 … 19). Humans also gain one bonus feat at 1st level.
XP Track Picker
What Changes at Level-Up
| What | When | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Hit Points | Every level | Roll the class hit die and add your CON modifier (minimum 1 HP gained per level). Alternatively, take the fixed value listed in the class entry (usually ½ die + 1). |
| Skill Ranks | Every level | Gain a number of ranks equal to your class's skill ranks per level + INT modifier (minimum 1/level, even with a negative INT modifier). Retroactive INT changes grant additional ranks immediately for all past levels. |
| BAB & Saves | Every level | Each class level increases your BAB and saves according to the class progression. See tables below. |
| Feats | Odd levels (1, 3, 5 … 19) | Gain one feat from any source you qualify for. Humans gain one additional bonus feat at 1st level. Some classes grant bonus feats at specific levels (Fighter, Wizard, etc.). |
| Ability Score | Levels 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 | Permanently increase one ability score of your choice by 1. This counts as a permanent increase — it affects all derived statistics immediately, including bonus spells per day and modifier-based HP (for CON). See Ability Scores. |
| Favored Class Bonus | Every level in favored class | +1 HP or +1 skill rank or the racial/class alternative bonus for that combination. See Favored Class section below. |
| Class Features | Varies by class | New class abilities, spells per day, spells known, and similar features as listed on the class progression table. Check the Classes index for details. |
Base Attack Bonus Progressions
Each class uses one of three BAB progressions. Iterative attacks are gained at BAB +6, +11, and +16 — each additional attack is at −5 from the previous. The highest total BAB from all class levels determines the iterative attack schedule.
| Level | Full BAB (+1/level) | ¾ BAB | ½ BAB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | +0 | +0 |
| 2 | +2 | +1 | +1 |
| 3 | +3 | +2 | +1 |
| 4 | +4 | +3 | +2 |
| 5 | +5 | +3 | +2 |
| 6 | +6/+1 | +4 | +3 |
| 7 | +7/+2 | +5 | +3 |
| 8 | +8/+3 | +6/+1 | +4 |
| 9 | +9/+4 | +6/+1 | +4 |
| 10 | +10/+5 | +7/+2 | +5 |
| 11 | +11/+6/+1 | +8/+3 | +5 |
| 12 | +12/+7/+2 | +9/+4 | +6/+1 |
| 13 | +13/+8/+3 | +9/+4 | +6/+1 |
| 14 | +14/+9/+4 | +10/+5 | +7/+2 |
| 15 | +15/+10/+5 | +11/+6/+1 | +7/+2 |
| 16 | +16/+11/+6/+1 | +12/+7/+2 | +8/+3 |
| 17 | +17/+12/+7/+2 | +12/+7/+2 | +8/+3 |
| 18 | +18/+13/+8/+3 | +13/+8/+3 | +9/+4 |
| 19 | +19/+14/+9/+4 | +14/+9/+4 | +9/+4 |
| 20 | +20/+15/+10/+5 | +15/+10/+5 | +10/+5 |
Highlighted rows = levels where a new iterative attack is unlocked. Full BAB classes: Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger. ¾ BAB: Alchemist, Bard, Cavalier, Cleric, Druid, Inquisitor, Monk, Oracle, Rogue, Summoner, Witch. ½ BAB: Magus, Sorcerer, Wizard.
Saving Throw Progressions
Each class designates each save as Good or Poor. The base save shown below is added to the relevant ability modifier (CON for Fort, DEX for Ref, WIS for Will) and any feat or magic bonuses.
| Level | Good Save (+2 + ½ level) | Poor Save (⅓ level) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | +2 | +0 |
| 2 | +3 | +0 |
| 3 | +3 | +1 |
| 4 | +4 | +1 |
| 5 | +4 | +1 |
| 6 | +5 | +2 |
| 7 | +5 | +2 |
| 8 | +6 | +2 |
| 9 | +6 | +3 |
| 10 | +7 | +3 |
| 11 | +7 | +3 |
| 12 | +8 | +4 |
| 13 | +8 | +4 |
| 14 | +9 | +4 |
| 15 | +9 | +5 |
| 16 | +10 | +5 |
| 17 | +10 | +5 |
| 18 | +11 | +6 |
| 19 | +11 | +6 |
| 20 | +12 | +6 |
When multiclassing, calculate each class's save contribution separately and add them together, then add the ability modifier once. Do not double-count the +2 starting bonus for a Good save progression that you already have from a different class.
Favored Class
At character creation, designate one class as your favored class. Whenever you gain a level in that class, choose one of the following bonuses:
Only one class may be favored, chosen permanently at character creation. A class must be your favored class to grant this bonus — levels in non-favored classes do not provide it. Alternative favored class bonuses (from APG and other sources) let certain race/class combinations gain more specific benefits instead of the standard HP or skill rank.
Multiclassing
You may take levels in more than one class. Each class level costs the same XP to reach. There are no multiclassing XP penalties in Pathfinder.
- BAB: Add the BAB values from all class levels together. The combined total determines your iterative attack schedule.
- Saves: Add each class's save progression contribution, then add the ability modifier once. The +2 bonus for a Good save progression applies only the first time you gain a Good progression — not once per class.
- Spellcasting: Caster levels do not combine. A Cleric 5 / Wizard 5 casts as a 5th-level Cleric and a 5th-level Wizard separately — there is no unified 10th-level caster. Mystic Theurge and similar prestige classes explicitly advance two casting progressions.
- Favored class: Only your designated favored class provides the favored class bonus — levels in other classes do not.
- Arcane spell failure: When casting arcane spells, apply the ASF chance from all worn armor, regardless of which class provides the spell. See Arcane & Divine Magic (coming soon).
Beyond 20th Level
The CRB rules cap the standard progression at 20th level. Characters can continue accumulating XP past level 20, but the base rules do not provide additional standard class levels — the intent is that 20th level represents the pinnacle of a class's normal capability.
Two supported paths exist for play beyond 20th level:
- Prestige class levels: Many prestige classes require 5–10 character levels as a prerequisite. A character at 20th level can technically have 10 levels in a prestige class in addition to 10 levels of a base class — the total character level is still 20, but the prestige class provides unique abilities beyond what either class alone would offer.
- Mythic Adventures: The mythic rules (from the Mythic Adventures sourcebook) overlay on top of normal advancement. Characters gain mythic tiers through story-based trials rather than XP. Tier 1–10 mythic advancement stacks with all 20 character levels and provides a separate power track. This is the primary supported high-level play system in Pathfinder 1e.