# Simple D&D 4e rules question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-d-d-4e-rules-question/580866>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [May 5, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-d-d-4e-rules-question/580866 "2011-05-05T19:17:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-d-d-4e-rules-question/580866/1 "2011-05-05T19:17:01Z")

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For some reason the part of the PHB clarifying this is not appearing to me as I peruse the thing. I’m sure it’s right in front of my eyes.

Every few levels, you get to add two attribute points. Can you add both points to a single attribute, or must they be to two separate attributes?

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**Author:** ![Unpronounceable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de0a6/32.png) [@Unpronounceable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unpronounceable)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-d-d-4e-rules-question/580866/2 "2011-05-05T19:25:45Z")

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> [@Frylock](#):
>
> For some reason the part of the PHB clarifying this is not appearing to me as I peruse the thing. I’m sure it’s right in front of my eyes.
> 
> Every few levels, you get to add two attribute points. Can you add both points to a single attribute, or must they be to two separate attributes?

Haven’t played that edition, but from a quick perusal of the “Gaining Levels” section (p27):

> [@](#):
>
> Check the Ability Scores column to see if you can improve your ability scores. If you can, choose the abilities you want to increase. At 4th, 8th, 14th, 18th, 24th, and 28th levels, you increase two ability scores by 1 **(you can’t take both increases in the same score)**. At 11th and 21st level, you increase each of your ability scores by 1.

(bolding mine)

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-d-d-4e-rules-question/580866/3 "2011-05-05T19:54:01Z")

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That’s correct; the bumps at 4th, 8th, 14th, 18th, etc., have to be applied to two different stats.

At 11th and 21st level, you add 1 point to all 6 stats.