D&D 5E (2014) Jack of All Trades and Saves (?)

[scruffygrognard]

The bard ability Jack of All Trade lets you apply 1/2 of your proficiency bonus on all ability checks are are not proficient with. I know that this applies to initiative checks, but what about Saving Throws?

 

[brehobit]

Saves are not ability checks as I recall.

 

[Paraxis]

Saves and attacks are called out as separate things.

 

[scruffygrognard]

Ah! Thanks. I saw that Saving Throws are listed in the Using Ability Scores section (and have proficiency bonuses applied to them at times)... hence my confusion.

 

[ccooke]

Everything in 5e comes down to one of an ability check, attack roll or saving throw. Jack of All Trades is a bonus applied to ability checks only.

It does apply to initiative checks, though, since those are ability checks. A generic bonus to saving throws will also apply to things like death saves. There are a (very) few untyped checks and saves in 5e - if you see a d20 roll and you add an ability score and it is not a saving throw or attack roll, JoAT will apply.