Charisma

Charisma is one of the six basic stats of DDO.

Charisma (CHA)

Charisma measures a player character's force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and physical attractiveness. This ability represents actual strength of personality, not merely how one is perceived by others in a social setting. Charisma is most important for bards, paladins, sorcerers, and warlocks. It is also important for clerics, since it affects their ability to turn undead. Every creature has a Charisma score.

You apply your character's Charisma modifier to:

• Bluff, Diplomacy, Haggle, Intimidate, Perform, and Use Magic Device checks. These are the skills that have Charisma as their key ability.
• Checks that represent attempts to influence others.
• Turning checks for clerics and paladins attempting to turn zombies, vampires, and other undead.
• Healing capacity of Lay on Hands.
• Increasing the saving throws of a level 2 (or higher) paladin via Divine Grace.
• Increasing the benefits of Divine Might for Cleric, Favored Soul and Paladin.
• Spell Difficulty Class (DC) for Sorcerer, Bard, and Warlock spells.
• Difficulty Class (DC) for many racial SLA/Enhancements, e.g.:
  • Dragonmarks
  • Dragonborn Breath Weapon
  • Drow Darkfire SLA
• Purple Dragon Knight Cormyrian Knight Training adds 1/3 of Charisma Modifier to Tactical Feats
• Purple Dragon Knight For Cormyr Enhancement's Damage Bonus
• DC on Bard Warchanter Enhancements: Frozen Fury, Spinning Ice
• DC on Warlock Enhancements: Devour the Soul, Hurl through Hell, Stricken
• Force of Personality Feat allows Charisma to be used for all Will Save rolls, instead of Wisdom

Charisma for Spellcasters

Bards, favored souls, sorcerers, and warlocks get bonus spell points based on their Charisma scores. The minimum Charisma score needed to cast a bard, sorcerer, or warlock spell is 10 + the spell's level.

Charisma for Attack and Damage

You can also apply your Charisma Modifier to your Melee attack rolls and/or damage rolls through the use of:

• Swashbuckler Tier 3 enhancement Different Tack (Damage Rolls Only)
• Purple Dragon Knight Tier 1 Enhancement - Cormyrian Knight Training (Short Swords, Long Swords, Bastard Swords, and Great Swords only)
• Eldritch Knight (Sorcerer): Tier 3 enhancement Eldritch Accuracy (Attack rolls including shield bash)
• Feydark Illusionist
  • Tier 1 Familiar's Flourish I: Use Charisma Modifier for attack rolls
  • Tier 2 Familiar's Flourish II: Use Charisma Modifier for damage rolls
  • Tier 1 Illusory Weaponry: Summoned Shadowblades can use Charisma for attack & damage
• Named Weapons will also allow you to use your Charisma Modifier. Such as Item:Elyd Edge or Item:Epic Elyd Edge. They are rare, however.

Feat Prerequisites

The following Feats have a minimum Charisma Requirement:

• Force of Personality Requires Charisma 13

Note: Feat Pre-reqs Only take into account the following bonuses:

• Base Stat value at Character Creation
• Level-Up stat point raises
• Inherent Bonuses from Ability tomes

Raising Charisma Scores

You can raise your Charisma score from different sources, among them:

Base

• During character creation, you can add up to 10 points to your basic Charisma score, which means:
  • A Drow Elf, Tiefling or Dragonborn character can start with a Charisma of up to 20
  • A Dwarf, Deep Gnome, Half-Orc or Shadar-Kai character can have a Charisma of up to 16.
  • All other races can start with a Charisma of up to 18
• At the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th, 24th, and 28th, you are allowed to raise a single ability by 1 point.
• The Stat point raises are often referred to as "level-ups". These increases count towards Feat Pre-requisites.

Inherent bonus

Inherent bonuses stack with all other bonuses and also count towards Feat Pre-requisites.

• A Manual of Leadership and Influence will raise the Charisma score by the appropriate value. For more information, refer to Tomes. These bonuses will show on your character sheet in the Feat section.

Feat bonus

Unless noted otherwise, Feat Bonuses stack with each other and other sources of bonuses.

• General Feats
  • Completionist feat - available at level 3 to completionists. Bonus of +2 to all abilities.- available at level 3 to completionists. Bonus of +2 to all abilities.
  • Great Ability - Epic feat available at level 21,24,27, or 30. Bonus of +1 to Charisma. May be selected multiple times.
  • Racial Past Life Feats - The second Past Life Feat for Dragonborn and Half-Elf is +1 Charisma. These are auto-granted at level 1, but do not count for feat pre-requisites. For more information see: Racial Reincarnation.

• Class Feats
  • Inspire Excellence Epic Feat provides Bard Song that gives +2 Competence Bonus to All Statistics. Does not stack with other Competence bonus.

• Class Enhancements
  • Bard: Spellsinger, Swashbuckler, Warchanter Enhancement - Charisma - Provides +1 Charisma at Tier 3 and Tier 4.
    • Swashbuckler Capstone - Evasive Manuvers - Provides +2 Charisma.
    • Spellsinger Capstone - Maestro of Life and death - Provides +4 Charisma.
  • Fighter:
    • Kensai Core Enhancement 4 - Power Surge - Provides +8 Psionic Bonus to Charisma for 60 seconds per use. Will not stack with other Psionic Bonuses.
    • Kensai Capstone - Alacrity - Provides +2 Charisma.
  • Cleric: Divine Disciple, Radiant Servant, Warpriest Enhancement - Charisma - Provides +1 Charisma at Tier 3 and Tier 4.
  • Favored Soul: Angel of Vengeance, Warpriest Enhancement - Charisma - Provides +1 Charisma at Tier 3 and Tier 4.
    • Angel of Vengeance Capstone - Ascendancy - Provides +2 Charisma.
  • Paladin: Knight of the Chalice, Sacred Defender Enhancement - Charisma - Provides +1 Charisma at Tier 3 and Tier 4.
    • Knight of the Chalice Capstone - Champion of Good - Provides +4 Charisma.
    • Sacred Defender Capstone - Eternal Defender - Provides +2 Charisma.
  • Monk: Henshin Mystic Enhancement - Charisma - Provides +1 Charisma at Tier 3 and Tier 4.
  • Sorcerer: Air Savant, Earth Savant, Fire Savant, Water Savant, Sorcerer Eldritch Knight Enhancement - Charisma - Provides +1 Charisma at Tier 3 and Tier 4.
    • Water Savant Capstone - Provides +2 Charisma.
    • Fire Savant Capstone - Provides +2 Charisma.
    • Earth Savant Capstone - Provides +2 Charisma.
    • Air Savant Capstone -Provides +2 Charisma.
    • Sorcerer Eldritch Knight Capstone - Provides +2 Charisma.
  • Warlock: Enlightened Spirit Enhancement - Charisma - Provides +1 Charisma at Tier 3 and Tier 4.
    • Enlightened Spirit Capstone - Provides +2 Charisma.
    • Tainted Scholar Capstone - Provides +4 Charisma.
    • Soul Eater Capstone - Provides +4 Charisma.
  • Wizard:
    • Pale Master enhancements Enhancement - Shroud of the Vampire - Provides +2 Charisma while in Vampire Form.
    • Pale Master enhancements Enhancement - Shroud of the Lich - Provides +2 Charisma while in Lich Form.

• Patron Enhancements
  • Harper Enhancement - Charisma - Provides +1 Charisma in Core 2 and 4.

• Racial Enhancements - Five races allow to raise the Charisma score via enhancements:
  • Dragonborn, and Drow Elf characters can increase their Charisma by two
  • Human, Half-Elf, and Purple Dragon Knight characters can increase their Charisma by one (Human Racial Enhancements, Half-elf Racial Human Enhancements)
  • Any Half-Elf with can increase its Charisma by one as a Tier 3 Enhancement

• Epic Destiny Enhancements -
  • Draconic Incarnation Tier 1 - 6 Stat Increase - You can select a +1 Charisma increase at each level for 2 EDP. Maximum of +6 total.
  • Fatesinger Tier 1 - 6 Stat Increase - You can select a +1 Charisma increase at each level for 2 EDP. Maximum of +6 total.
  • Primal Avatar Spirit Boon - +2 primal bonus to Charisma while toggled on. Tier 5 Enhancement. Will not stack with other Primal Bonuses.
  • Fatesinger Echos of the Ancestors - Provides a +1 bonus to Charisma for the Fatesinger selector.
  • Exalted Angel Tier 1 - 6 Stat Increase - You can select a +1 Charisma increase at each level for 2 EDP. Maximum of +6 total.
  • Divine Crusader Tier 1 - 6 Stat Increase - You can select a +1 Charisma increase at each level for 2 EDP. Maximum of +6 total.
  • Unyielding Sentinel Tier 1 - 6 Stat Increase - You can select a +1 Charisma increase at each level for 2 EDP. Maximum of +6 total.
  • Shiradi Champion Audience with the Queen Can provide Pleasure of the Queen for a +4 Royal Bonus to Statistics or Joy of the Queen - Love for a +10 Royal Bonus. 5 minute duration.

• Reaper Enhancements -
  • Dire Thaumaturge Core Enhancement 2 adds +1 to Charisma. This stacks with all other sources.
  • Dire Thaumaturge Tier 1, 2, 3, and 5 add +1 to Charisma while in a quest or raid instance on Reaper difficulty. This is a total of +4 to Charisma. It stacks with the Core 2 enhancement above and all other sources, but will not show on your character sheet until you enter a quest on Reaper difficulty.

Items

Unless noted otherwise, bonuses within a single category do not stack.

• Enhancement Bonus
  • Random Loot Items may come with the enhancement bonus of +1 - +17.
  • Named Loot Items may come with the enhancement bonus of +1 - +18.
  • Cannith Crafting Items may come with the enhancement bonus of +1 - +15.
  • Slave Lords Crafting Items may come with an enhancement bonus of +5(heroic) or +17(Legendary) in the Prefix (Blue) Slot.
  • Colorless Augment Slots can be slotted with a Charisma augment with an enhancement bonus of +1 - +8

• Exceptional bonus
  • Globe of True Imperial Blood can be slotted into a Colorless Slot and provides +1 Exceptional Bonus.
  • Diamond of Exceptional Charisma +1 can be slotted into a Colorless Slot and provides +1 Exceptional Bonus.
  • Named Items may provide a +1 Exceptional Bonus to Charisma. Detailed List here: Category:Exceptional Charisma items
  • Dragontouched Armor Tempest Runes may be slotted to provide a +1 Exceptional Bonus to Charisma.
  • Legendary Green Steel items may be crafted with a +2 Exceptional bonus in Tier 3.

• Insight bonus
  • Random loot may come with a +1 - +8 Insight bonus.
  • Cannith Crafting items may come with a +1 - +7 Insight bonus.
  • Named items
  • Incredible Potential Tower of Despair crafting may add a +2 Insight Bonus to Charisma on Tower of Despair Rings.
  • Legendary Green Steel items may be crafted with a +7 Insight bonus in Tier 2.

• Quality bonus
  • Named items may come with a +1 - +4 Quality bonus.
  • Slave Lords Crafting Items may come with a Quality bonus of +1(heroic) or +4(Legendary) in the Extra 2(Yellow) slot.
  • The Devil's Handiwork Set provides a +2 Quality Bonus to Charisma.
  • Epic The Devil's Handiwork Set provides a +3 Quality Bonus to Charisma.

• Artifact bonus
  • Set bonuses Slave Lord's Sorcery Set provides +1 Artifact Bonus (Heroic 5 Piece Set) and +2 Artifact Bonus (Legendary 5 Piece Set)

• Alchemical bonus
  • Alchemical Crafting from the Secrets of the Artificers can provide a +2 Alchemical Bonus in Tier 2 for Alchemical Weapons.

• Profane bonus
  • Litany of the Dead - Ability BonusLitany of the Dead - Ability Bonus: The Litany of the Dead enhances the physical and mental abilities of its owner. Grants a +1 Profane bonus to all Abilities. - Litany of the Dead provides a +1 Profane Bonus to Charisma.
  • Litany of the Dead II - Ability BonusLitany of the Dead II - Ability Bonus: The Litany of the Dead enhances the physical and mental abilities of its owner. Grants a +2 Profane bonus to all Abilities. - Epic Litany of the Dead provides a +2 Profane Bonus to Charisma.
  • Profane Well Rounded +1Profane Well Rounded +1: +1 profane bonus to all abilities. - Executioner's Platemail and Band of Insightful Commands provide a +1 Profane Bonus to Charisma.
  • Profane Well Rounded +2Profane Well Rounded +2: +2 profane bonus to all abilities. - Legendary Executioner's Platemail and Legendary Band of Insightful Commands provide a +2 Profane Bonus to Charisma.

Named weapons that use Charisma for attack/damage

Name	ML	Type	Attack mod	Damage mod
Bouquet of Flowers	0	Club	CHA	CHA
Moonhowl Axe	4	Great Club	STR, CHA	STR, CHA
Corroded Rapier	5	Rapier	STR, CHA	STR
Elyd Edge	5	Rapier	STR, CHA	STR
Brine Shaman's Staff	6	Quarterstaff	INT, CHA	STR
Staff of Inner Sight	10	Quarterstaff	INT, WIS, CHA	INT, WIS, CHA
Dynastic Falcata	10	Khopesh	STR, CHA	STR, CHA
Scepter of Healing	10	Heavy Mace	WIS, CHA	WIS, CHA
Epic Dynastic Falcata	20	Khopesh	STR, CHA	STR, CHA
Epic Elyd Edge	20	Rapier	STR, CHA	STR, CHA
Epic Staff of Inner Sight	20	Quarterstaff	STR, INT	STR, CHA
Esper, the Shadowblade	29	Short Sword	CHA	CHA
Eidolon of the Shadow	29	Great Sword	CHA	CHA
Shadowscythe	29	Sickle	CHA	CHA
Legendary Elyd Edge	30	Rapier	STR, CHA	STR, CHA
Legendary Dynastic Falcata	30	Khopesh	STR, CHA	STR, CHA
Legendary Staff of Inner Sight	30	Quarterstaff	STR, INT	STR, CHA

Spells

Bonuses from spells will not stack with bonuses of the same type from other sources

• Enhancement Bonus
  • Eagle's Splendor - Provides a +4 Enhancement Bonus to Charisma

Temporary bonuses

Unless otherwise noted, Temporary bonuses will not stack with bonuses of the same type from other sources.

• Guild bonus
  • Guild Airship buff shrines - Provides a +1 or +2 Artifact bonus. (Note: Modern ship buffs only provide +2, but +1 or +2 legacy shrines may still be purchased.)

• Alchemical bonus
  • Potion of Influence - The House Deneith Collector, Maxon the Dreamwalker, may provide a Potion of Grace +1 - +3 alchemical bonus, in exchange for particular collectables.

• Profane bonus
  • Abishai Destroyer When you consume all five Abishai Cookies, you receive a +4 Profane Bonus to Charisma for 10 minutes.

• Stacking bonuses - These bonuses are all temporary and seem to be Untyped and stack with all other sources
  • Yugo Pot bonus - The Yugoloth Favor Potion, Essences of Seduction, adds a +2 bonus to Charisma for 15 minutes.
  • Long Lasting Elixir of Eagle's Splendor - Found in the DDO Store or the Monster Hunter Vendor, provides a +2 bonus to Charisma.

Theoretical maximum

NOTE: This is accurate through U35

The theoretical Sustainable maximum for Charisma for a caster is 115/106 (Situational/Sustainable) in Exalted Angel/Fatesinger/Draconic Incarnation using a Drow Elf/Dragonborn Warlock or Bard 20. (Note: A Sorcerer, or Favored Soul is -2 Charisma from Max)
The theoretical Situational maximum for Charisma for a caster is 119/100 (Situational/Sustainable) in Shiradi Champion using a Drow Elf/Dragonborn Warlock or Bard 20. (Note: A Sorcerer, or Favored Soul is -2 Charisma from Max)
The Breakdown is as follows:

• 20 Base (Spend 10 build points to get max possible for Race)
• +7 Level-up
• +8 Tome
• +2 Racial Enhancement (6 AP)
• +2 Racial Completionist
• +9 Class Enhancements
  • +6 from Soul Eater or Tainted Scholar (41 AP, Tier 3 & 4 Charisma +2, Capstone +4)
  • +2 from Enlightened Spirit or Tainted Scholar (22 AP, Tier 3 & 4 Charisma +2)
  • +1 from Harper (7 AP, Core 2 Charisma +1)
• +2 Racial PL Feats for Dragonborn and Half Elf
• +2 Completionist Feat
• +1 Reaper Enhancement - Core
• +4 Epic Feat (Great Ability x4)
• +5 Twists (+3 twisted in from EDs, +1 twisted in from Epic Completionist bonus +1 Twisted in with Level 30 bonus Twist)
• +22 Item Enhancement Bonus (Item)
• +10 Insightful(Item, Random loot (Legendary Greensteel +7 max)
• +2 Exceptional(Legendary Greensteel)
• +5 Quality
• +4 Artifact (Set Bonus)
• +2 Guild Airship Buffs
• +11 Sentient Filigrees (8 in weapon, 3 in artifact)
• +4 Profane(Abishai Bonus. +2 Sustainable from Well Rounded or Litany)
• +4 Alchemical (+2Alchemical Weapon or +3 from Deneith Pot)
• +2 Competence (Bard Inspire Excellence song)
• +2 Yugoloth
• +2 DDO Store Potion
• Now pick one of two destinies - Primal Avatar for Sustainable Max. Shiradi Champion for Situational Max. You cannot be in two destinies simultaneously.
  • +6 Tier 1-6 Charisma +1 Increase from Exalted Angel, Draconic Incarnation, or Fatesinger (all equal) (Sustainable) OR
  • +10 Royalty (+10 from Audience with the Queen Shiradi bonus, lasts 5 minutes)(Not Sustainable)

The theoretical Sustainable maximum for Charisma for a non-Caster Character is 143/134 (Situational/Sustainable) in Divine Crusader or Unyielding Sentinel using a Dragonborn or Drow Elf Fighter 12/Bard 8.(Technically only 4 Bard levels needed)
The theoretical Situational maximum for Charisma for a non-Caster Character is 149/128 (Situational/Sustainable) in Shiradi Champion using a Deep Gnome using a Dragonborn or Drow Elf Fighter 12/Bard 8. (Technically only 4 Bard levels needed)
Note: It is assumed that the only reason to maximize Charisma on a non-caster would be because you are using Charisma as your damage modifier. As noted above, this is only available (sustainable) on Swashbuckler Bard and Purple Dragon Knight. A PDK would cost -1 Charisma. But would allow you to pair 12 Fighter with 4 levels of Paladin, Favored Soul, Cleric, or Warlock.
The only difference will be the Class & Patron Enhancements, in either case.
Swashbuckler Variant

• +12 Class Enhancements
  • +8 from Kensai (21 AP, Power Surge +8 Charisma)
  • +2 from Swashbuckler (22 AP, Tier 3 & 4 Charisma +2)
  • +2 from Warchanter (22 AP, Tier 3 & 4 Charisma +2)

This yields a +3 Charisma difference from the Warlock/Bard Caster version above.