Perception's checks are based on the Intelligence ability score.
Make a Perception check to notice clues, detect secret doors, spot imminent dangers, find traps, follow tracks, listen for sounds behind a closed door, or locate hidden objects.
This skill is used against another creature’s Stealth check or against a DC set by the DM. In most situations, the DM uses your passive Perception check result to determine if you notice a clue or an imminent danger.
Perception: No action required—either you notice something or you don’t. Your DM usually uses your passive Perception check result. If you want to use the skill actively, you need to take a minor action or spend 1 minute listening or searching, depending on the task.
- Opposed Check: Perception vs. Stealth when trying to spot or hear a creature using Stealth. Your check might be modified by distance or if you’re listening through a door or a wall (see the table).
- DC: See the table for DCs when you’re trying to hear or spot something, searching an area, or looking for tracks.
- Success: You spot or hear something.
- Failure: You can’t try again unless circumstances change.
- Searching: When actively searching an area or looking for something specific, assume you’re searching each adjacent square. The DM might allow you to do this as a standard action, but usually searching requires at least 1 minute.
| Listen | Perception DC |
| Battle | 0 |
| Normal conversation | 10 |
| Whispers | 20 |
| Through a door | +5 |
| Through a wall | +10 |
| More than 10 squares away | +2 |
| Spot or Search | Perception DC |
| Barely hidden | 10 |
| Well hidden | 25 |
| More than 10 squares away | +2 |
| Find Tracks | Perception DC |
| Soft ground (snow, loose dirt, mud) | 15 |
| Hard ground (wood or stone) | 25 |
| Rain or snow since tracks were made | +10 |
| Each day since tracks were made | +2 |
| Quarry obscured its tracks | +5 |
| Huge or larger creature | -5 |
| Group of ten or more | -5 |