D&D 5E [Poll] What is. The best saving throw proficency?

[Kithas]

http://www.strawpoll.me/13874545

What, in your experience and opinion, is the 1 best saving throw proficiency to have for a player character?

This has become a curiosity of mine very recently, and I am hoping to get a large sample size of results thanks!

 

[Leatherhead]

It's pretty much Con>Dex>Wis>Str>Cha>Int.

Constitution is the most common saving throw called for. Meaning more abilities, attacks, and spells use it (by a significant margin). Notably, it's also used for Concentration checks, which are rather important and frequent.

Dexterity saves might happen more often, due to hazards, traps, and Fireballs being commonplace. However, most of the time if you fail a Dex save, it isn't very hindering. They normally just cause HP damage, or some movement penalty (such as being knocked prone or pushed around).

 

[Kithas]

So I've seen that post on gitp before. My issue with it is that the numbers are wrong.

The easy place to see this is the spells, D&D beyond has an easily searchable by save required spell list. That I have checked against the paper books. The results from that are as follows;

Str 17
Dex 58
Con 36
Int 3
Wis 40
Cha 12

Source

The counts he got wrong are bolded. The only one he got correct is Dex saves. I don't have a searchable version of the MM/volo's or an infinite amount of time so I don't have those numbers. However, the fact that he has 5/6 of the counts for spells incorrect brings the accuracy of his counts in other areas definitely into question.

For bonus I'll also do class features

Str 5
Dex 3
Str or dex 1 (nature's wrath let's the target choose, this may be where he got 6 and 4)
Con 5
Int 1
Wis 16
Cha 1
the target's spellcasting modifier 1 (spell thief)

Even discounting the str and dex assuming it was nature's wrath added to both he has 2 more incorrect counts.

I didn't count anything on the wild magic surge table because of the inherent randomness involved.

I really can't trust a 58.3% accuracy for the massive job of digging through the MM/volo's.

 

[Shiroiken]

Depends on the characters role. A support character needs Con to stay alive, so they can help the others. A high DPR character needs Wis... otherwise they become a liability

 

[Blue]

In what level range? Low levels DEX is more common plus more important because HPs are lower. But at high levels getting controlled is a real danger, so WIS. Losing an action is also more prevalent starting mid levels when CON takes more importance.

For what class? Casters with concentration spells make a whole lot more CON saves then against spells and monster features.

Does your DM do a lot of foe casters? If not you're looking at more of the monster feature saves breakdown and not the spell list. Different ratios.

So, like many questions: "It depends".

 

[Tony Vargas]

Another way to look at this is character concept and agency.

Is a vital aspect of your character bravery? Most saves vs the Frightened condition are WIS.
Is it important your character retain mobility? Most saves to escape being Restrained are STR.
Is it important your character be strong-willed and focused? Concentration saves are CON.
etc...

 

[Kithas]

I used as little context as possible so as not to sway the voting. I wanted a large number of opinions on overall, all things considered which save is the best. If concentration saves make con pull ahead absolutely pick con.

It is naturally very contextual. Which is why I was hoping for a big sample so that each person answering in their own context would point a picture of what generally happens at tables.

 

[Mistwell]

Wisdom.

Failing your wisdom save can mean you attack the party. With your sword, or fireball, or whatever. The rest pale in comparison to that. Particularly dex. Dex is just more damage...when you're already likely taking damage from that attack. Con is similar. Damage to one PC can be healed. But the barbarian raging on the Wizard? Might not be healable. The Wizard blasting the party? Going to need a lot more healing.

 

[Blue]

I used as little context as possible so as not to sway the voting. I wanted a large number of opinions on overall, all things considered which save is the best. If concentration saves make con pull ahead absolutely pick con.

It is naturally very contextual. Which is why I was hoping for a big sample so that each person answering in their own context would point a picture of what generally happens at tables.

There's a TED Talk by Malcolm Gladwell about a brand specialist. Pepsi hired him to find the right taste for Diet Pepsi. He did poll after poll and couldn't find something that people agreed on. It wasn't a bell curve, there were distinct peaks. That's not what Pepsi wanted, so they sent him on.

They he worked for Campbells on Prego Spaghetti Sauce. Blind taste tests, focus groups - didn't find one answer. Some wanted spicy, some chunk, some sweet.

And that's why there are lots of different flavors of Prego - because there is no right one choice for everyone, and this way people can pick their favorite.

I fear that while summing all of the votes for each will give you totals you can rank, stripped of context they won't have meaning in any particular context. It will be as if you mixed 31 flavors of ice cream together in ratios of peoples votes and claimed to have the best ice cream flavor for everyone.

 

[FrogReaver]

http://www.strawpoll.me/13874545

What, in your experience and opinion, is the 1 best saving throw proficiency to have for a player character?

This has become a curiosity of mine very recently, and I am hoping to get a large sample size of results thanks!

I wish it was broken up between full caster and not full caster.

I believe wisdom is the best for a non-full caster. Even the most simple wisdom based save effects can be very debilitating for a guy relying on attacks.

I believe for a full caster it's constitution that's most important.