Bonus Stacking question


Rules Questions


I know that bonuses of the same type are not supposed to stack (with specific exceptions); instead you take the larger. For example if you had a +3 armor to AC from studded leather and a +2 armor to AC from Ablative Barrier, you would only get the +3.

What happens if you have two different avenues to a given roll, each of which has a bonus? For example, you have 2 traits, one of which gives a +1 trait to will saves, and the second gives a +1 trait vs Mind-affecting effects. Then you get hit with a charm person spell... Do you get to apply one +1 trait bonus on the save or can you apply both bonuses?


You get a total of +1, because both bonuses are trait bonuses, which don't stack with each other.


The stacking rules are checked for what's (directly) applied to a specific roll or statistic.

"+1 trait vs Mind-affecting effects" is merely a shortened version of "+1 trait bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects", and this shows why it doesn't stack - the trait bonus would still be added to the will saving throw.

The only time two typed bonuses (apart from dodge, circumstance, or racial bonuses) can stack to a given roll or statistic is if one is added to something, and then that is added to the total. Like a morale bonus to strength and a morale bonus to attack rolls, both would apply to melee attacks.


Thank you, Axl and Derklord


Axl is correct. This is not difference than the first example you gave. In that both bonuses were armor bonuses, so they don’t stack. In the second example they are both trait bonuses, so again they do not stack. As long as the bonus type and what they are modifying are the same they usually do not stack. For example, let’s say you have a trait that gives a trait bonus to touch AC, and another trait that gives you a bonus to fortitude saves and you are attacked by a Ray of Enfeeblement. You would gain both the bonus to touch AC and the save because they are modifying different things. In the case of charm person both bonuses are being applied to the save.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Just remember with enhancement bonuses that they enhance something specific (usually a creature or an object) and are not "floating/general bonuses" when calculating totals. Some people still try to apply them incorrectly: an enhancement bonus to armor applies to the particular armor it is on (a +2 haramaki provides a +3 armor bonus, not a +1 armor bonus and a separate +2 "enhancement bonus to AC"); similarly, an enhancement bonus to a shield only adds to the shield bonus provided by that specific shield.

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