How high can a PC's initiative bonus get?

Question

Usually, most PCs rely solely on their Dexterity ability score modifier for their initiative; however, there are ways to get bonuses to initiative. How high can this bonus get?

For example, there's the Alert feat (PHB, pg. 165):

Always on the lookout for danger, you gain the following benefits:

• You gain a +5 bonus to initiative.

The Dread Ambusher class feature of the ranger Gloom Stalker archetype (XGtE, pg. 42):

At 3rd level, you master the art of the ambush. You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Wisdom modifier.

And the Tactical Wit class feature of the wizard War Mage archetype (XGtE, pg. 60):

Starting at 2nd level, your keen ability to assess tactical situations allows you to act quickly in battle. You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Intelligence modifier.

So, a level 6 character who was a Ranger 4/Wizard 2 who took the Alert feat at level 4 would have an initiative bonus of 5 + DEX + WIS + INT.

So, if my Ranger 4/Wizard 2 example above made it all the way up to level 20 (Ranger 18/Wizard 2) and used all their ASIs to max out DEX, INT and WIS, they would then have an initiative bonus of 20.

What character build (up to level 20 if necessary) gives the maximum initiative bonus?

Or, is the one I have outlined here the highest you can get?

For the purposes of this, let's assume the PC is a human (+1 to all ability scores) whose player was lucky enough to roll all 17s during character creation; hence the character has +4 in every stat (for convenience). Anything RAW is allowed; multiclassing, feats, magic items, etc, but nothing from Unearthed Arcana. No temporary effects. Things that grant advantage or half-proficiency count, but nothing temporary.

Answer 1

I'm going to disregard any DM sanity here, and assume anything and everything published is on the table and can be mashed together...

Attributes - +10

• +10 from any attribute, because there are shenanigans that will allow you to get them to 30 involving combinations of attribute-increasing tome/manuals, Deck of Many Things Star cards, etc.
• Base bonus is therefore +10 from Dexterity.

Class - +33, +43 total

The starting 18s across the board allow for unlimited multi-classing, so we won't have any problems getting the build off the ground before we go hunting for shenanigans. You'll probably want to start with Fighter for the Heavy Armor Proficiency, because there's a solid bonus available only on a suit of Plate.

• +10 from War Wizard 2 via Tactical Wit or Chronurgy Wizard 2¹ (from Explorer's Guide to Wildemount) via Temporal Awareness applying Intelligence.
• +10 from Gloom Stalker Ranger 3 via Dread Ambusher applying Wisdom.
• +10 from Swashbuckler Rogue 3 via Rakish Audacity applying Charisma.
• +3 (at L20) Champion Fighter² 7 from Remarkable Athlete, because Initiative is a Dexterity check. We could use (Any) Bard 2 for Jack of All Trades³, depending on what magic item we pick below, but we want that Heavy Armor proficiency, so Fighter is the best choice.

Feats - +5, +48 total

At some point, one of the classes needs to be taken to L4 to earn an ASI for:

• +5 from Alert.

Equipment - +8 minimum, possibly infinite.

Right off the bat we can get +5 from Scorpion Armor². It would be beneficial to be a Yuan-Ti Pureblood, because Scorpion Armor tries to kill the wearer via poison damage each time they take it off or put it on.

A Stone of Good Luck gives another +1 to all ability checks, while the Ioun Stone of Mastery increases the character's proficiency bonus by 1, which benefits Remarkable Athlete. We can use one or the other, because we've got an attunement slot limit.

While we're talking items, you'll want something like a Sentinel Shield to grant advantage on initiative - the Weapon of Warning or Rod of Alertness are out because we are using our last attunement slot to embrace absurdity: add another +1d10 from the Sword of Kas, a sentient evil artifact sword.

Now, here's where it gets tricky... The DMG has minor magical properties that can grant an initiative bonus:

Guardian. The item whispers warnings to its bearer, granting a +2 bonus to initiative if the bearer isn’t incapacitated.

Let's say our particular Ioun Stone or Stone of Good Luck has it. Beyond that, it is ultimately up to the DM if other items with these properties show up.

The existence of this property means there is no theoretical ceiling - it doesn't have to be on attunement-required items. I know of at least two that exist in Adventures League play - a hand crossbow and a shield - and there may be more. There is the question of stacking effects, too. Is the Guardian property on two items the "same source"? That's up to the DM to decide.

Grand Total - +56+1d10... or more.

If we restrict the stats to more "normal" ranges, say 20s (for +5), it only drops to +36. No matter how you slice it, if you deliberately build a character with the express intent to "go first every time", you can overwhelm the variable d20 with static bonuses. Of course, the character may not have anything worth doing when they go first, and after the first round it doesn't really matter all that much.

¹_{Being a Chronurgist also gives you access to Gift of Alacrity, a first level non-concentration spell that provides 1d8 to initiative for 8 hours. But that's temporary, so it doesn't count in the total.}

²_{Both abilities here specify "that doesn’t already use your proficiency bonus". If you interpret using half the bonus doesn't count as "already us[ing] your proficiency bonus", then you could have both for another +3.}

³_{If half-proficiency is acquired via Bard, there's room for Barbarian 7 for built-in advantage on Initiative from Feral Instinct, but you either wouldn't have Heavy Armor Proficiency to wear the Scorpion Plate, or you'd have to burn a feat for it.}

Answer 2

The maximum permanent initiative bonus is +66 +1d10

The Cast

Cindy is a level 17 Human {ASs: 18,18,18,18,18,18} with these classes:

• Artificer 7 ------- [for Alert feat and Flash of Genius]
• Ranger 3 ------- [for Dread Ambusher]
• Rogue 3 -------- [for Rakish Audacity]
• Bard 2 ----------- [for Jack of All Trades]
• Wizard 2 ------- [for the wizard spell list and Tactical Wit]

Sven is a friendly Gynosphinx.

The Gear

• A Tome of Understanding
• A Tome of Clear Thought
• A Tome of Leadership and Influence
• A Manual of Quickness of Action
• A suit of Scorpion Armor
• The Sword of Kas
• A Luckstone (with the Guardian minor property)

The Reading

Each of the Tomes and Manuals are used to increase your Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma to godlike levels. However, they only increase your ability scores in increments of +2 and then...

The manual ... loses its magic, but regains it in a century.

The best way to wait out a century is with the help of Sphinx lair actions, so Cindy simply asks Sven for help. Then Sven, after you spend a month reading each of the books, alters...

the flow of time within the lair ... such that everything within moves up to 10 years forward or backward (sphinx’s choice).

After doing this ten times, the books regain their magic and you can go back 100 years to read again. Do this until the relevant ability scores are at 30 (for a +10 ability modifier). Then just protect the lair for a century with Sven to make sure the books don't get stolen during their "incubation".

The Calculation

Below is the final calculation for the Initiative bonus:

• Base: +10 [Total so far]

When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order.

• Flash of Genius: +10 [+20]

When you or another creature you can see within 30 feet of you makes an ability check or a saving throw, you can use your reaction to add your Intelligence modifier to the roll.

• Dread Ambusher: +10 [+30]

You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Wisdom modifier.

• Rakish Audacity: +10 [+40]

You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Charisma modifier.

• Tactical Wit: +10 [+50]

You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Intelligence modifier.

• Jack of All Trades: +3 [+53]

you can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that doesn’t already include your proficiency bonus.

• Alert: +5 [+58]

You gain a +5 bonus to initiative

• Scorpion Armor: +5 [+63]

+5 bonus to initiative as long as you aren't incapacitated

• The Sword of Kas: +1d10 [+63 +1d10]

you add a d10 to your initiative at the start of every combat

• Luckstone: +1 [+64 + 1d10]

you gain a +1 bonus to ability checks

The Ioun Stone works by improving the bonus granted by Remarkable Athlete to +4

• Guardian: +2 [+66 + 1d10]

+2 bonus to initiative if the bearer isn’t incapacitated.

And there we have it. Cindy is the fastest gun in the west.

Advantage?

If you get a sentinel shield, you could also get advantage on Initiative rolls:

While holding this shield, you have advantage on initiative rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Answer 3

Levels:

• Rogue 4 (Swashbuckler +CHA)
• Bard 4 (Jack of All Trades +1/2 proficiency)
• Ranger 4 (Gloom Stalker +WIS)
• Wizard 2 (War Mage +INT)
• Fighter 6 (ASIs)

5 ASIs (1 rogue, 1 bard, 1 ranger, 2 fighter) - +2 to 4 stats - Feat (Alert)

STR 18 DEX 20 CON 18 INT 20 WIS 20 CHA 20

• Base +5
• Alert +5
• Swashbuckler Rakish Audacity +5
• Gloom Stalker Dread Ambusher +5
• War Mage Tactical Wit +5
• Bard Jack of All Trades +3

Total Initiative Modifier +28

Answer 4

+28 to initiative roll without items, 32-35 with.

What character build (up to level 20 if necessary) gives the maximum initiative bonus? Or, is the one I have outlined here the highest you can get? For the purposes of this, let's assume the PC is a human (+1 to all ability scores) whose player was lucky enough to roll all 17s during character creation; hence the character has +4 in every stat (for convenience).

Starting from all 18's (human, 17's +1) the initiative bonuses from all but Strength and Constitution accrue this way:

Fighter 6 (for the feat/ASI)
Wizard 2 (War Wizard; Tactical Wit; Intelligence +5)
Rogue 4 (Swashbuckler; Charisma +5)
Bard 4 (Jack of All Trades; + 3 from 1/2 proficiency)
Ranger 4 (Gloom Stalker; + 5 Widsom)
Alert Feat: +5
Dexterity: +5

4 total ASIs, 1 feat: ASI (1 Rogue, 1 Bard, 1 Ranger, 1 Fighter); 1 Feat (Alert)

Final Stat Breakdown: STR 18 DEX 20 CON 18 INT 20 WIS 20 CHA 20
Add 28 to all initiative rolls. Never surprised. (Alert feat)

With items:

Any +2 boost to Int, Cha, Wis, Dex: +1 per item, or per suitable tome / book read.

1. Books, very rare. But if you get one each of Wisdom, Dex, Cha, Int, your initiative boost is 32. Manual of Quickness of Action (Dex +2), Tome of Clear (Int +2) Tome of Understanding (Wis +2) Tome of leadership and influence (Cha +2)

   With no attuned item needed, initiative boost is +32. So let's attune 3 items.

2. Ioun stones: attune three Ioun Stones, if you can find them. Choose from the Ioun stones of Agility (+2 Dex), Insight(+2 Wis), Intellect(+2 Int), or Leadership(+2 Cha). (p. 227, SRD).

   Initiative boost is now 35.

If you took Fighter at level 1, you have + 7 to all saving throws, but + 10 to Strength and Constitution saving throws. Nice side effect.

Epic Boons

A boost of +2 to any of those stats (Dex, Int, Wis, Cha) via an epic boon (DMG) is another +1 per such boon.
It is possible that a raw boost to initiative of + {something} is offered as an epic boon, though were it my PC, I'd rather get anything else as an epic boon.

Answer 5

Well at that point your initiative is +20, so you have a 50% chance of rolling a 30 or higher. No monster or other player is going be be able to beat that.

Disclaimer I'm going to assume this guy has a 20 in Wis Dex Cha and Int.

A minimum initiative of 22 (not considering a natural 1 but I'll get to that) is going to be hard to beat. But there are ways to make it even better.

Fist Take at least three levels of rogue and get swashbuckler. Now you can add Charisma to your initiative. Then take a couple levels in bard and pick up jack of all trades.

Then you need 5 magic items

No.1 Manual of Quickness of Action Now your Dex bonus is +6.

No.2 Tome of Clear Thought now your Intelligence is +6.

No.3 Tome of understanding, now your Wisdom is +6.

No.4 Tome of leadership and influence, now your Charisma Is +6

No.5 The rod of alertness which gives you advantage on initiative rolls

Which brings to the lovely bonus of +31 6+6+6+6+5+2. And you roll with advantage.

Now with that roll your minimum becomes 33, With a maximum of 51. But what if you roll a natural 1, Well play a halfling, I pretty sure you can reroll initiative with lucky which means no natural 1s for you. Then you get the luck feat, so now you can reroll 3 d20s. So if you roll a 2 (Very difficult with advantage) and get a measly 33 you can reroll. So you basically have triple advantage and and can reroll 1s.

And even if you have the minimum stats for every class. 13 Dex 13 Int and 13 Wis and with a 13 in Cha. Your bonuses are a +5 to base, + 2 with Dex, Cha, Wis, and Int. At this point your level 10 so + 2 with jack of all trades.

Which will be +15 bring your minimum Initiative to 15 and your max to 25. Which is still ridiculously good!

That's everything I can think of, granted I only have the core books and the SCAG so my information is rather limited. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Limited to Point Buy, no magic items except artificer infusions:

Option 1: +20 (+25 up to 5x/day) with advantage.

• Point Buy: 8/15/8/15/8/15

• w/ Racial Increase*: 8/16/8/16/8/15

• w/ Class ASIs: 8/18/8/20/8/16

Classes

• Armorer** 10 (Helm of Awareness, +INT on Flash of Genius)
• Bard 2 (+1/2 PB)
• War Wizard 2 (+INT)
• (Take 2 more levels in your choice of the above for ASI)
• Swashbuckler 4 (+CHA)
• Alert Feat (+5)

Also, take guidance as a cantrip and if you aren't caught off guard you can toss a d4 on top of your massive bonus.

*I'm using Vuman, but the result can be achieved for standard human (albeit worse than human), Custom Lineage, High/Dark Elf, or Half elf

**The reason I say armorer is because your CON is terrible and you need astronomical AC to survive. Suggested Infusions:

• Helm of Awareness
• Enhanced Defense
• Resistant Armor (if you can anticipate damage type)
• Repulsion Shield (for when you can't anticipate damage type)
• Cloak of Protection
• Periapt of Wound Closure
• Player's Choice

Option 2: If you can convince your DM that Headband of Intellect and Helm of Awareness can be worn together, you can get +22 (+26 up to 4x/day).

• Point Buy: 8/15/12/13/8/15

• w/ Racial Increase: 8/16/12/13/8/16

• w/ Class ASIs: 8/20/12/13/8/20

• w/ Headband of Intellect: 8/20/12/19/8/20

• Take the same classes as the above case, but different ASIs.

Option 3: If you don't care about advantage, you can get +22 (+26 up to 4x/day).

• Same as option 2, but you don't need to argue with your DM.

Option 4: If you don't care about advantage, you can get +21 (+26 up to 5x/day).

• Same ability scores as option 1, but with one extra ASI
• Artificer 8 / Bard 4 / Wizard 4 / Rogue 4