WIS
What is WIS short for in Dungeons & Dragons?
Wisdom
Example
"Okay, my character's WIS modifier is ... -2. Is that bad?"
"Yup, it's pretty bad. Roll your Wisdom check."
"Yup, it's pretty bad. Roll your Wisdom check."
Jake the Dog, succeeding on a WIS check
Related Slang
Usage
Last Updated: November 6, 2020
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In Dungeons & Dragons (DnD), WIS is short for Wisdom. Dungeon Masters (DMs) and players may use WIS in place of Wisdom when discussing an in-game action that references a character's Wisdom score or modifier.
Each DnD character possesses six basic abilities that describe that character's physical and mental capabilities. These are:
Each ability has a numeric score and ability check modifier (such as +2 or -1) associated with it. Players reference these numbers when performing actions related to an ability.
For example, if a player attempts to determine whether an NPC is lying, their DM will ask them to make a Wisdom check to determine whether they are successful. The player then rolls a d20 and adds their WIS modifier to the result, hoping for a high total that will lend their character some insight.
In forums, rulebooks, and virtual DnD-playing platforms, many players and DMs abbreviate Wisdom as WIS. So, in the example provided above, the DM might ask the player to make a WIS check, which is the same as a Wisdom check.