[3.5] What is the highest single ability score of any official printed creature?

[Mr Adventurer]

By which I mean, in a 3.5 branded book from WotC.

Idly considering the theory of introducing a cap on ability scores to bound some of that accuracy.

[Telonius]

Just from a quick read of the Epic monsters on the SRD, Living Vault and Iron Colossus both have Strength scores of 80. Probably a good starting point; I'll look into it a bit more in a little while.

EDIT: Deities and Demigods lists Thor's strength at 92, though that's taking into account a magic belt that doubles his strength score.

[Eladrinblade]

Deities and Demigods lists Thor's strength at 92, though that's taking into account a magic belt that doubles his strength score.

I was going to say this, but the book is 3.0.

[Mr Adventurer]

80 is pretty high! Also close enough that a cap of 100 would make sense.

[Gemini476]

Remember, the Epic Level Handbook is 3.0!

[Morof Stonehands]

It is 3.0, but still interesting to note, but the Sphinx, from "Relics of Myth" in Dragon #297, has a Strength of 290.

[Eldan]

None of the aspects of the Lords of the Nine or Demon Princes in the Fiendish Codices go over 39 in any ability score. Talisid in the BoED has Str 43. Juiblex in the Book of Vile Darkness manages 47 constitution, the rest of that book doesn't go over 43. A quick search of other high epic creatures (over CR 25) shows that anything over 35 is quite rare. The Dread Linnorm (MMII), has Str 40.

So, the ELH still wins by some distance.

[Someguy231]

It is 3.0, but still interesting to note, but the Sphinx, from "Relics of Myth" in Dragon #297, has a Strength of 290.

Holy crap! And a CR of 100. Who in the right mind is gonna play through the game up to that lvl, or even stat out a lvl 100 character?

[Endarire]

Why are you so interested in finding the highest official ability score?

[Remuko]

Why are you so interested in finding the highest official ability score?

He said why in the OP


Idly considering the theory of introducing a cap on ability scores to bound some of that accuracy.

[Big Fau]

None of the aspects of the Lords of the Nine or Demon Princes in the Fiendish Codices go over 39 in any ability score. Talisid in the BoED has Str 43. Juiblex in the Book of Vile Darkness manages 47 constitution, the rest of that book doesn't go over 43. A quick search of other high epic creatures (over CR 25) shows that anything over 35 is quite rare. The Dread Linnorm (MMII), has Str 40.

So, the ELH still wins by some distance.

Yeah, it seems in 3.5 the Devs had the idea to limit the stats a little. Nothing in Elder Evils has above a 50, and the few with a 50 have it in Str.

[Eldan]

So, looks like as if with maybe three or four exceptions, you could easily put a cap at 45 or 50.

[Eladrinblade]

In core, without resorting to shapeshifting or artifacts, you can get to 50 strength. I'd cap it right there for a nice even number, which happens to be exactly twice the limit in 2e.

[Gemini476]

In core, without resorting to shapeshifting or artifacts, you can get to 50 strength. I'd cap it right there for a nice even number, which happens to be exactly twice the limit in 2e.

How do you do that, by the way? +5 from tomes, +6 from items, +5 from levels and rolling an 18 leaves you with 34 - where's the extra +16 coming from? A monster race, I guess?

Although, well, Epic kind of throws the whole thing in the bin with its uncapped +1/4 levels stat boosts.

[Eladrinblade]

How do you do that, by the way? +5 from tomes, +6 from items, +5 from levels and rolling an 18 leaves you with 34 - where's the extra +16 coming from? A monster race, I guess?

Although, well, Epic kind of throws the whole thing in the bin with its uncapped +1/4 levels stat boosts.

18 base
20 half-orc
26 belt of giant str
30 righteous might
32 rage spell
40 mighty rage
45 wish
50 levels

eh, there's death knell and dragon disciple now that I think about it

[Gemini476]

Also, you used the spell's +2 morale to Strength rather than the Barbarian's +8 untyped to Strength. Although they also stack so, well, that's a thing.