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What is the highest possible bonus to a saving throw?

Assume normal attunement limits, both for the character making the save and anybody helping them. I'm interested both in attribute-based saves and those not.

My question is generally for mainline, officially published content. Side content such as Ravnica backgrounds, Eberron races, Theros piety, planeshift content, epic boons etc., are also allowed but ought to be listed. You have as much time as you want to prepare, and the saving throw does not need to be repeated ever again. Wish only has listed results, but the immunity obviously does not count as it goes against the spirit of the question. Artificers can obviously go above the normal attunement limit.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Related: What is the lowest possible Constitution saving throw modifier for a player character? \$\endgroup\$
    – Thomas Markov
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 11:59
  • \$\begingroup\$ Does it matter which saving throw? Are you looking for the highest bonus that can be applied to all saving throws? Does it count if it only applies to one type of saving throw? \$\endgroup\$
    – Thomas Markov
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 12:05
  • \$\begingroup\$ @ThomasMarkov attribute based saves are obviously higher, but there might be some obscure bonuses that name one in particular that I do not know. I'm interseted in answers to both. \$\endgroup\$
    – vonBoomslang
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 12:11
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    \$\begingroup\$ Do we know what type of saving throw we are about to make? Can we use Epic Boons? Unearthed Arcana? Planeshift materials? Optional Rules? Do we have any amount of preparation time? Can we use Artificers to have more than 3 attuned items? Do we have any amount of time during which we can prepare (setup rounds and those kind of things)? Can we use wish? Should the method we use be repeatable throughout a day or does a method that only works once (maybe even once ever) work? \$\endgroup\$
    – Exempt-Medic
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 12:11
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Sarge Attributes are hard capped at 30, so it's not a problem, actually. \$\endgroup\$
    – vonBoomslang
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 14:24

1 Answer 1

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+52+1d12+5d4

(Mainline content only, possibly incomplete)

Manuals (of Bodily Health, et cetera) let us raise ability scores up to a cap of 30, so we'll be assuming a +10 any time we reference an ability score.

Saver is a Artificer 17/Bladesinger Wizard 2/Divine Soul Sorcerer 1 - taking Artificer or Sorcerer at level 1 gives proficiency in Con saves. Assistants are a 15th-level Bard, a 1st-level Peace Cleric and a 6th-level Paladin.

Magic items - Artificer levels give us five attunement slots, we'll take a Robe of Stars, a Luck Blade, a Ring of Protection, a Stone of Good Luck and a Staff of Power. The first four all give a +1 bonus to saving throws, while the latter gives a +2.

The save is a concentration saving throw. Saver has:

  • +10 Con
  • +6 from proficiency
  • +10 from Bladesong (add Int bonus)
  • +10 from Flash of Genius (Int bonus again)
  • +6 from magic items
  • +10 from Aura of Protection (Paladin's Cha bonus)
  • +1d12 Bardic Inspiration
  • +1d4 from Cleric's Emboldening Bond
  • +1d4 from Bless (cast by Paladin)
  • +1d4 from Resistance (cast by Cleric)
  • If you fail, Favored by the Gods allows you to add 2d4. Failing with this bonus is hard, but if we take enough damage we can manage it!

This gives us a total of +52+1d12+5d4 - min 58, average 71, max 84.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Artificer was published in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, which would assume is under 'mainline'. I can add sourcing if required, but everything I used comes from the PHB, DMG, Xanathar's or Tasha's. \$\endgroup\$
    – BlueHairedMeerkat
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 15:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ nope, no worries! Totally forgot they moved it...although Tasha's in entirety is optional. It isn't technically 'always-on core' \$\endgroup\$
    – NotArch
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 15:13
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Michael Pretty sure bounded accuracy goes out the window if your DM gives the whole party manuals to get every stat to 30. \$\endgroup\$
    – smbailey
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 15:32
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    \$\begingroup\$ @NautArch The only “always-on core” in 5e is the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. And honestly even those last two are kinda optional, too; for a long time, the PHB was the only book to have, and the game is still playable that way (lot more work for the DM, having to make up every monster, though). \$\endgroup\$
    – KRyan
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 17:06
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    \$\begingroup\$ @KRyan Kinda/sorta. Some books specifically call out their entirety as optional. Others do not. \$\endgroup\$
    – NotArch
    Commented Apr 4, 2022 at 17:11

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