Investigation
Intelligence-based skill for active searching, deduction, and examining clues.
Investigation covers deductive reasoning, searching for clues, and piecing together information. It is governed by Intelligence.
When to roll: The DM calls for an Investigation check when a character actively searches for something hidden or tries to draw conclusions from available evidence.
Common uses:
- Searching a room for hidden doors, traps, or concealed objects
- Examining a body or crime scene for clues
- Deducing the purpose or mechanism of a device
- Researching information in a library or archive
- Identifying inconsistencies in a story or statement
Versus Perception: Perception notices things passively or with a quick look. Investigation is active, deliberate searching — it takes time and yields deeper insight.
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 ("SRD 5.2.1") by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.