Active Effect Guide

This document only covers Active Effects available to the Core dnd5e System.

Legend

[number] - These square brackets mean "replace this with your value of the type within the brackets". So this example: [number] would mean you input 3. If roll data is allowed, you can input any roll data that would evaluate to a number.

[formula] - When formula is mentioned in this document it means this value can be populated with any dice formula. For example, Bless adds several effects with the Effect Value of 1d4. These fields always allow for the use of roll data.

See the Actor's Rolldata article for what is available for use as roll data.

Useful examples:

@attribute	Description
@abilities.dex.mod	Actor's Dexterity Modifier
@prof	Actor's Proficiency Bonus
@details.level	Actor's overall Level
@details.cr	Actor's Challenge Rating
@classes.barbarian.levels	Actor's Barbarian Class Level

Note

When using formulas in an Active Effect Value, the actor sheet display that corresponds to the changed value will not always display the evaluated formula, but it will be applied when rolled. E.g. When adding @abilities.cha.mod to system.bonuses.abilities.save to simulate a Paladin's Aura of Protection, the actor sheet will not display that bonus applied to saving throws. The bonus will be present when the saving throw is rolled.

Change Mode	Description
Add	Adds the provided value to the specified attribute. For numerical attributes, this can be used to both add and subtract from a particular value by specifying 1 or -1 as the value to add. For sets such as an item's properties or character's damage resistances this can be used to add or remove and entry (e.g. mgc to add the magical property, or -mgc to remove it).
Multiply	Multiplies the defined attribute by the numeric value in the Effect Value field.
Override	Replaces the defined attribute with the value provided in the Effect Value field. If applied to a text value such as a name or description a pair of curly brackets like {} can be used to include the value being overriden in the final output. So overriding on the name of "Breastplate" with Arcane Propulsive {} will result in the final name of "Arcane Propulsive Breastplate".
Downgrade	Reduces the defined attribute only in cases where the current value of that attribute would be greater than value specified in the Effect Value field.
Upgrade	Increases the defined attribute only in cases where the current value of that attribute would be less than value specified in the Effect Value field.
Custom	The Custom change mode applies logic defined by a game system or add-on module. The dnd5e system does not utilize the Custom Change Mode

Commonly Desired Effect Examples

Abilities

system.abilities.[abbreviation].value
                                bonuses.check
                                        save

Ability Abbreviations

Ability	Abbreviation
Strength	str
Dexterity	dex
Constitution	con
Wisdom	wis
Intelligence	int
Charisma	cha

Source: CONFIG.DND5E.abilities

Overriding an Ability Score

E.g. an Item or potion that sets an ability score to a set value while in use

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.abilities.[abbreviation].value	Override	[number]	No

Upgrading an Ability Score

E.g. an Item or potion that sets an ability score to a set value, if the value does not already exceed that value, such as the Gauntlets of Ogre Power

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.abilities.[abbreviation].value	Upgrade	[number]	No

Bonus to a Specific Saving Throw

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.abilities.[abbreviation].bonuses.save	Add	[formula]	Yes

Bonus to a Specific Ability Check

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.abilities.[abbreviation].bonuses.check	Add	[formula]	Yes

Bonus to All Ability Checks

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.bonuses.abilities.skill	Add	[formula]	Yes

Bonus to All Saving Throws

E.g. Paladin Aura of Protection

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.bonuses.abilities.save	Add	[formula]	Yes

Bonus to Initiative

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.init.bonus	Add	[formula]	Yes

Concentration

Bonus to Concentration

Add a bonus to concentration saving throws.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.concentration.bonuses.save	Add	[formula]	Yes

Concentration Limit

Change the amount of effects you can maintain concentration on at the same time.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.concentration.limit	Override	[number]	No

---

Skills

system.skills.[abbreviation].value
                             bonuses.check
                                     passive

Skill Abbreviations

Skill	Abbreviation
Acrobatics	acr
Animal Handling	ani
Arcana	arc
Athletics	ath
Deception	dec
History	his
Insight	ins
Investigation	inv
Intimidation	itm
Medicine	med
Nature	nat
Persuasion	per
Perception	prc
Performance	prf
Religion	rel
Sleight of Hand	slt
Stealth	ste
Survival	sur

Source: CONFIG.DND5E.skills

Bonus to a Specific Skill Check

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.skills.[abbreviation].bonuses.check	Add	[formula]	Yes

Bonus to a Specific Skill Passive

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.skills.[abbreviation].bonuses.passive	Add	[number]	No

Upgrade Proficiency Level to Expertise

The number must be one of 0, 0.5, 1, and 2.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.skills.[abbreviation].value	Upgrade	[number]	No

Bonus to All Skill Checks

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.bonuses.abilities.skill	Add	[formula]	Yes

---

Encumbrance

system.attributes.encumbrance.multipliers.encumbered
                                         .heavilyEncumbered
                                         .maximum
                                         .overall
                             .bonuses.encumbered
                                     .heavilyEncumbered
                                     .maximum
                                     .overall

Multipliers will multiply the default encumbrance values and bonuses will add a fixed amount to them. The values for encumbered, heavilyEncumbered, and maximum apply to the three encumbrance thresholds while overall applies to all three equally. Each of these takes a formula.

---

Movement

system.attributes.movement.[movementType]

Movement Types

Movement Type	Value
Burrow	burrow
Climb	climb
Fly	fly
Swim	swim
Walk	walk

Source: CONFIG.DND5E.movementTypes

Multiply Speed by modifier

E.g. An Item or Spell which doubles/halves/etc. an Actor's speed.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.movement.[movementType]	Multiply	[number]	No

Add a different Speed

E.g. An Item or Spell which grants an Actor a flying or swimming speed.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.movement.[movementType]	Override	[number]	No

---

Armor Class

system.attributes.ac.bonus
                     formula
                     calc
                     cover
                     flat
                     min

Add a Bonus to AC

E.g. An Item or Spell which adds something to the Actor's current AC for the duration.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.ac.bonus	Add	[number]	Yes

Override the AC Calculation to a custom formula

E.g. An Item or Spell which sets the Actor's AC to 12 + Int for the duration.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value
system.attributes.ac.calc	Override	custom
system.attributes.ac.formula	Override	12 + @abilities.int.mod

---

Bonus to Spell DCs

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.bonuses.spell.dc	Add	[number]	Yes

---

Attack Roll Bonuses

system.bonuses.msak.attack
               mwak
               rsak
               rwak

Attack Roll Types

Movement Type	Value
Melee Spell attack	msak
Melee Weapon attack	mwak
Ranged Spell attack	rsak
Ranged Weapon attack	rwak

Source: CONFIG.DND5E.itemActionTypes

Bonus to All Melee Attack Rolls (both spell and weapon)

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.bonuses.mwak.attack	Add	[formula]	Yes
system.bonuses.msak.attack	Add	[formula]	Yes

Bonus to All Ranged Attack Rolls (both spell and weapon)

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.bonuses.rwak.attack	Add	[formula]	Yes
system.bonuses.rsak.attack	Add	[formula]	Yes

---

Damage Roll Bonuses

system.bonuses.msak.damage
               mwak
               rsak
               rwak

Attack Roll Types

Movement Type	Value
Melee Spell attack	msak
Melee Weapon attack	mwak
Ranged Spell attack	rsak
Ranged Weapon attack	rwak

Source: CONFIG.DND5E.itemActionTypes

Bonus to All Melee Attack Damage Rolls (both spell and weapon)

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.bonuses.mwak.damage	Add	[formula]	Yes
system.bonuses.msak.damage	Add	[formula]	Yes

Bonus to All Ranged Attack Damage Rolls (both spell and weapon)

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.bonuses.rwak.damage	Add	[formula]	Yes
system.bonuses.rsak.damage	Add	[formula]	Yes

---

Immunities/Resistances/Vulnerabilities

system.traits.ci.value
              di
              dr
              dv

Add a Condition Immunity

Condition Types

Condition	Value
Blinded	blinded
Charmed	charmed
Deafened	deafened
Diseased	diseased
Exhaustion	exhaustion
Frightened	frightened
Grappled	grappled
Incapacitated	incapacitated
Invisible	invisible
Paralyzed	paralyzed
Petrified	petrified
Poisoned	poisoned
Prone	prone
Restrained	restrained
Stunned	stunned
Unconscious	unconscious

Source: CONFIG.DND5E.conditionTypes

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value
system.traits.ci.value	Add	[conditionType]

Add a Damage Type Immunity

Damage Types

Damage Type	Value
Acid	acid
Bludgeoning	bludgeoning
Cold	cold
Fire	fire
Force	force
Lightning	lightning
Necrotic	necrotic
Piercing	piercing
Poison	poison
Psychic	psychic
Radiant	radiant
Slashing	slashing
Thunder	thunder

Source: CONFIG.DND5E.damageTypes

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value
system.traits.di.value	Add	[damageType]

Add a Damage Type Resistance

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value
system.traits.dr.value	Add	[damageType]

Add a Damage Type Vulnerability

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value
system.traits.dv.value	Add	[damageType]

Add a Damage Type Modification

These are properties that cause the actor to take increased or decreased damage from certain damage types.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.traits.dm.amount.[damageType]	Add	[number]	Yes

---

Creature Type

Temporarily override the displayed creature type of an actor. For example using 'humanoid' as the value and 'elf' as the subtype to display an actor's creature type as 'Humanoid (elf)'.

Creature Types

The available creature types for the `system.details.type.value` property. The `subtype` property is free-form text.

Creature Type	Key
Aberration	aberration
Beast	beast
Celestial	celestial
Construct	construct
Dragon	dragon
Elemental	elemental
Fey	fey
Fiend	fiend
Giant	giant
Humanoid	humanoid
Monstrosity	monstrosity
Ooze	ooze
Plant	plant
Undead	undead

Source: CONFIG.DND5E.creatureTypes

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value
system.details.type.value	Override	[creatureType]
system.details.type.subtype	Override	[text]

---

Scale Value

system.scale.[classIdentifier].[scaleIdentifier]
                                                .value
                                                .number
                                                .die
                                                .faces
                                                .modifiers

Dice Scale Values

The Dice Scale Values have a few unique keys, here is an example of the result for these keys based on a scale value that is 3d8. If the dice scale value has any dice modifiers attached (via .modifiers, see below), you can use .denom to retrieve the die denomination without modifiers attached if desired.

Key	Value
@scale.[classIdentifier].[scaleIdentifier]	3d8
@scale.[classIdentifier].[scaleIdentifier].number	3
@scale.[classIdentifier].[scaleIdentifier].die	d8
@scale.[classIdentifier].[scaleIdentifier].faces	8
@scale.[classIdentifier].[scaleIdentifier].denom	d8

Increase the value of a Scale Value

E.g., an Item or Spell which allows additional use(s) of a Class Feature (e.g. adds an additional use of a Barbarian's Rage).

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.scale.barbarian.rages.value	Add	[number]	No

Increase the number of die of a Dice Scale Value

E.g., an Item or Spell which increases the number of die in a Dice Scale Value (e.g. adds a die to a Rogue's Sneak Attack), and increases the size of the dice.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.scale.rogue.sneak-attack.number	Add	[number]	No
system.scale.rogue.sneak-attack.faces	Add	[number]	No

Add a dice modifier to a Dice Scale Value

E.g., making Sneak Attack reroll 1s by using the Effect Value r=1. For details on dice modifiers, see Dice Modifiers.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.scale.rogue.sneak-attack.modifiers	Add	[text]	No

---

Hit Points

system.attributes.hp.value
                     max
                     temp
                     tempmax
                     bonuses.level
                             overall

Warning

Never alter the value, max, or temp attributes with an active effect, as this will cause issues.

Temporary Bonus to the Maximum HP

E.g. An Item or Spell which temporarily increases a character's Max HP (e.g. Aid).

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.hp.tempmax	Add	[number]	No

Bonus to the Maximum HP

E.g. An Item or Feature which increases a character's Max HP by a flat amount.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.hp.bonuses.overall	Add	[formula]	Yes

Bonus HP for each Character Level

E.g. An effect that provides a bonus to the hit points a character gains for each level they acquire (e.g., the Tough feat).

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.hp.bonuses.level	Add	[formula]	Yes

Honorable Mentions

You can override the name of an actor (on the actor sheet, not the token), as well as its displayed image.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
name	Override	Steve	No
img	Override	assets/steve.webp	No

Overriding or adding to the proficiency modifier of the actor.

Attribute Key	Change Mode	Effect Value	Roll Data?
system.attributes.prof	Override	[number]	No