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In D&D’s 2014 rules, a flaw is a character’s vice, fear, compulsion, or weakness—something that can cause trouble, lead them to act against their own interests, or give another person leverage over them. It is a roleplaying prompt, not an automatic penalty to checks or attacks.
What a flaw means in the 2014 rules
The D&D Basic Rules (2014) define a flaw as “some vice, compulsion, fear, or weakness—in particular, anything that someone else could exploit to bring you to ruin or cause you to act against your best interests.” The rules place flaws among a character’s personal characteristics, alongside personality traits, ideals, and bonds. Read the official 2014 rules on personality and background.
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In play, a flaw is a pressure point that can shape a choice or create a difficult scene. The rules offer examples such as naivety, emotional vulnerability, and emotional isolation. It need not be a dramatic secret or a crippling limitation; it should be a weakness that matters to how this character behaves.
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How a flaw differs from traits, ideals, and bonds
- Personality trait: A specific way the character behaves or sees themself.
- Ideal: A principle or belief that guides the character.
- Bond: A meaningful connection to a person, place, or event.
- Flaw: A weakness that can cause trouble or be exploited.
These characteristics guide portrayal rather than impose a general mechanical penalty. The 2014 rules say a Dungeon Master can award Inspiration for roleplaying in keeping with a character’s traits, ideal, bond, and flaw; having a flaw does not itself subtract from a roll.
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How to choose a useful flaw
Pick something concrete enough to influence decisions and open up roleplaying, rather than a vague label like “bad” or “stupid.” The 2014 rules suggest asking what enrages the character, what they fear, or what vice or compulsion someone could exploit. Connecting the answer to the character’s history or relationships can make it easier to portray.
- Too generic: “I make bad choices.”
- More playable: “I cannot ignore a plea for help from a child, even when it puts the party at risk.”
- Another example: “I will take a reckless chance to prove I am not afraid.”
The rules’ character-creation example, Bruenor, has a soft spot for orphans and wayward souls, which can lead him to show mercy when it may be unwise. Backgrounds also suggest characteristics, but those suggestions are starting points—not requirements. Players can create a characteristic that fits their character. See the official 2014 character-creation steps.
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Does a flaw impose a game penalty?
No—not by default. A flaw is a roleplaying cue, not a rule that automatically worsens an attack, ability check, or saving throw. It may affect what a character chooses to do, and a DM can use it to shape situations or reward portrayal with Inspiration under the 2014 rules, but it does not prescribe a numeric penalty.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhich edition is this definition for?
This definition and the four-part framework of traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws come from the 2014 rules. D&D Beyond distinguishes the 2014 rules as 5e and the 2024 rules as 5.5e. The 2024 character-creation material reviewed focuses on choices such as background, species, languages, feats, proficiencies, and character history; it does not establish a universal rule about flaws across every 2024 book or table. Check the rules and character options for the edition your group is using. See the 2024 character-creation rules and D&D Beyond’s guide to identifying 5e and 5.5e content.
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D&D Beyond’s marketplace labels the 2014 Player’s Handbook as Legacy content and points readers seeking the latest rules to the 5.5e Player’s Handbook. View the Player’s Handbook listing.
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