D&D: How Passive Perception Works (& How To Increase It)

screenrant.com:

Passive Perception is one of the most important stats for a player to know in Dungeons & Dragons, yet the Player's Handbook doesn't do a great job of compiling the information regarding the skill, or how passives work in general. D&D 5e's skill system is a lot simpler than in previous editions, as it's easy to calculate each skill at level one, and the numbers improve at a slow pace. The passive skill rules use their own system and they involve the DM more than the player.

The skills that are tied to awareness of one's surroundings are some of the most vital in D&D, as Perception and Insight can be used to uncover falsehoods, while Investigation can spot traps before the players fall into them. It's for this reason that rogues are prized among D&D parties, as they specialize in many of the situations that don't involve stabbing enemies or blasting them with spells. The ranger is also useful for similar situations in the wilderness, as their expertise can ensure that the city slicker party members aren't devoured by nature.

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One of the reasons why a D&D DM has a screen is so that they can prepare things without the player seeing them. The DM will often keep their own notes behind the screen and this will involve the Passive Perception stat of each player. A new player or DM can often be tripped up by Passive Perception in D&D, which is a shame, as it's important for both sides of the DM screen to understand how it works, and how it can be used in their favor.

In D&D, most skill checks require the player to make a roll, such as using the Investigation skill to search a room for an item. If the character is trying to oppose an NPC or another character, then