Strength

Strength primarily determines how much damage a character can inflict against an opponent when using certain types of weapons, but may also determine which armour can be worn or how many hit points the character has.

The Attribute

Strength in general determines how hard the character can hit, and thus how much damage is done. Low Strength can result in a penaly to the damage done. Strength however often also factors into which weapons and armor can be used due to a minimum strength requirement, and in the later games the general carrying capacity is dettermined by Strength as well.

Ultima I

Each point of strength increases the maximum attack damage by 1. For comparison, other weapons increase maximum damage by 8 per weapon tier. It still means killing the enemy faster, which always is a good thing. Strength is raised by fulfilling the quest of a king to visit a landmark and then return to them. Strength then is risen with the following formula: ((100 - Strength) / 8).

A Dwarf gets a bonus of +5 on this stat, while a Fighter gains +10. A Bobbit meanhile loses -5 Strength.

Strength can be risen up to 99.

Since defeating the enemy fast is important, Strength is important as well, though it will top out fast, since each an every sign post quest will give strength.

Ultima II

Strength is used to determine which armour can be worn and how hard the enemy is hit. The exact formula is not known, but the higher the Strength, the better the chance to hit an enemy hard.

Strength can be risen up to 99.

The minimum Strength requirements for the armour are as follows (note that minimum Strength is 10):

	Min. Strength
Skin	1
Cloth armour	9
Leather armour	11
Chain armour	19
Plate armour	21
Reflect armour	29
Power armour	31

Males start with +5 Strength, Dwarves gain +5 and Fighters gain +15. The stat can be raised by bribing the Clerk in the Hotel California in New San Antonio. The Ultima II Upgrade Patch is required so that the number does not roll over. The stat is very important, since not only is not hitting the enemy not hard enough frustrating, but without high enough Strength, you can get the better armour and you need that for space travel to win the game.

Note that the original Apple II-version has a bug and Strength can not be risen in the game. Meaning that not starting with a Strength of at least 31 means an instant game over.

Ultima III

Strength does not factor into what armour can be used. Instead, Strength solely determines how hard the enemy is hit during combat. The exact formula for that is not known. However, the ability to hit hard is pointless if one can't hit the enemy, thus Strength and Dexterity should be equally high at all times.

Strength thus only is important for classes who do battle physically, but not for spellcasters.

Strength can be raised at the fitting magic shrine on Ambrosia by donating money (and lots of it). Only Dwarves can reach the maximum of 99. Humans, Elves and Bobbits have a maximum of 75, while Fuzzies are stuck at a measly 25.

Ultima IV

In this game, Strength solely determines how hard the character can hit an enemy. If the Strngth is below a minimum number, for the enemy type, then a damage penalty is given. Note that Strength on its own is pointless without Dexterity, since it doesn't apply if you can't hit your target. Though, getting done with a battle quicker is always nice.

Strength can be risen up to 50.

In order to raise Strength, characters have to touch special magic orbs in the dungeons. Orbs which raise Strength are found in the dungeons of Destard, Covetous, Shame and Hythloth, and each raises Intelligence by +5 (though the latter three also raise other stats as well). However they also respecively cause 200, 400, 400 and 600 points of damage, thus they have to be used with caution.

Ultima V

In this game, Strength not only determines how hard the enemy is hit - and thus a damage penalty is applied if Strength is too low for this creature class - but also if certain weapons and armour can be used at all. Without a minimum Strength that won't be possible.

Strength can be risen up to 30.

In order to raise Strength, characters have to reach a new level and then camp for the maximum amount of hours during the night. Some luck is needed, but if Lord British appears over the camp fire, he raises the character's stats by +3. However, the stat is randomly selected, so more luck is needed to get the correct stat raise.

Ultima VI

In this game, Strength determines a number of things:

• It determines how effective melee weapons are at dealing damage, or suffer a damage penalty if the minimum Strength is not reached (though you first need to hit the foe, Dexterity is for that).
• It determines the maximum weight of the readied equipment (on the paperdoll). The formula is (STR = Weight), meaning that for example 25 Strength would allow to have equipment with the weight of 25 Stones equipped.
• Strength also determines the maximum weight of items in the inventory. The formula here is (STR × 2), meaning that 25 Strength would translate in 50 Stones of maximum inventory weight.

This means a high Strength is almost required, since otherwise there will be severe restrictions in what kind and what amount of items the party can carry around.

Strength can be risen up to 30.

In order to raise Strength, characters have to reach a new level and then meditated at a freed shrine of virtue with the correct mantra. The Shrine of Valor raises Intelligence by +3, while the Shrine of Sacrifice, Shrine of Honor and Shrine of Spirituality do so by only +1 (but in turn raise other stats as well).

Savage Empire

In this game, Strength determines a number of things:

• It determines how effective melee weapons are at dealing damage, or suffer a damage penalty if the minimum Strength is not reached (though you first need to hit the foe, Dexterity is for that).
• It determines the maximum weight of the readied equipment (on the paperdoll). The formula is (STR = Weight), meaning that for example 25 Strength would allow to have equipment with the weight of 25 Stones equipped.
• Strength also determines the maximum weight of items in the inventory. The formula here is (STR × 2), meaning that 25 Strength would translate in 50 Stones of maximum inventory weight.

This means a high Strength is almost required, since otherwise there will be severe restrictions in what kind and what amount of items the party can carry around.

Strength can be risen up to 30.

In order to raise Strength, characters have to reach a new level and sleep during the night. In the following dream, the bear has to be chosen.

Martian Dreams

In this game, Strength determines a number of things:

• It determines how effective melee weapons are at dealing damage, or suffer a damage penalty if the minimum Strength is not reached (though you first need to hit the foe, Dexterity is for that).
• It determines the maximum weight of the readied equipment (on the paperdoll). The formula is (STR = Weight), meaning that for example 25 Strength would allow to have equipment with the weight of 25 Stones equipped.
• Strength also determines the maximum weight of items in the inventory. The formula here is (STR × 2), meaning that 25 Strength would translate in 50 Stones of maximum inventory weight.

This means a high Strength is almost required, since otherwise there will be severe restrictions in what kind and what amount of items the party can carry around.

Strength can be risen up to 30.

In order to raise Strength, characters have to reach a new level and sleep during the night. In the following dream, the sword has to be chosen.

Ultima Underworld

Strength determines multiple things in this game:

• Strength factors into the calculation of the damage a weapon does to an enemy in combination with the attack and weapon skills, though the exact formula is not known.
• It appears to be the base stat for Vitality with the formula being approximately (0.24 × STR + 29) rounded down, as well as hit points gained per level with the formula being around (STR / 5) rounded down.
• It determines the overall carrying weight, with (2 × STR) being the weight the Avatar can carry.

See Character creation in the Underworld games to see how exactly the Strength stat is created for each class during character creation. Strength can not be raised at all after the character generation, only the connected skills, thus care has to be taken to get the desired result at creation.

Maximum Strength is 30. The minimum is 12.

Ultima VII

In this game, Strength determines a number of things:

• As normal, it determines for melee weapons if full damage is done to the enemy. If the minium Strngth for that enemy type is not reached, then a damage penalty is subtracted from the damage.
• The maximum inventory weight of a chracter (equipped or not) is determined by Strength. The formula for that is (STR × 2), meaning that a for example a character with 20 Strangth can carry up to 40 Stones of items.
• It directly determines the hit points of a chracter. Hit points are always equal to the Strength stat.

Strength training is very varied, thus see Training in Ultima VII for further details.

Strength can be risen up to 30. Except for Avatar, who can reach 60 in The Forge of Virtue.

For training, training points are required, which are gained when reaching a new level. The trainers raising Strength are found in the link above. However, training should mainly concentrate on the companions, since the Avatar can not only gain maximum Strength in the quest of Courage in The Forge of Virtue but also double Strength after solving the entire quest. A high strength is desirable in order to carry more items around.

Ultima Underworld II

Strength determines multiple things in this game:

• Strength factors into the calculation of the damage a weapon does to an enemy in combination with the attack and weapon skills, though the exact formula is not known.
• It appears to be the base stat for Vitality with the formula being approximately (0.24 × STR + 29) rounded down, as well as hit points gained per level with the formula being around (STR / 5) rounded down.
• It determines the overall carrying weight, with (1.35 × STR + 29) rounded down being the weight the Avatar can carry.

See Character creation in the Underworld games to see how exactly the Strength stat is created for each class during character creation. Strength can not be raised at all after the character generation, only the connected skills, thus care has to be taken to get the desired result at creation.

Maximum Strength is 30. The minimum is 12.

Ultima VII Part Two

In this game, Strength determines a number of things:

• As normal, it determines for melee weapons if full damage is done to the enemy. If the minium Strngth for that enemy type is not reached, then a damage penalty is subtracted from the damage.
• The maximum inventory weight of a chracter (equipped or not) is determined by Strength. The formula for that is (STR × 2), meaning that a for example a character with 20 Strength can carry up to 40 Stones of items.
• It directly determines the hit points of a chracter. Hit points are always equal to the Strength stat.

Strength training is very varied, thus see Training in Ultima VII for further details.

Strength can be risen up to 30.

For training, training points are required, which are gained when reaching a new level. The trainers raising Strength are found in the link above. A high strength is desirable in order to carry more items around.

Ultima VIII

While still determining if the maximum possible damage is done with a weapon, Strength in this game mainly determines:

• The maximum weight the Avatar can carry around. The formula originally was (STR × 2), but that was deemed to low, thus with the patch the formula was altered to (STR × 4).
• Strength also determines hit points with the formula (STR × 2).

Strength can be risen up to 25.

Even thought the limit was risen, Strength is highly important here, since otherwise the Avatar will constantly hit the wight limit. Training is generally done by fighting or simply swinging your weapon (though that is less effective). Jumping around a lot also helps.

Ultima IX

Strength in this game is measured in four steps: Weak, Strong, Powerful, and Heroic. Strength determines the amount of health available; each level of Strength gives the Avatar 30 HP, the maximum being 120. Also, the higher levels of Strong, Powerful, and Heroic give damage bonuses of +2, +4 and +8 damage done. The stat can be raised after cleasing a shrine, though a Shepherd possibly can't reach the highest level.

Strength is the second most important stat in the game, not due to the damage modifiers, but due to the fact it's the only way to increase the Avatar's health bar. Later in the game there are some very damaging situations which an Avatar with low maximum health can't survive.

See Also

• Character attributes

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Character Stats
The Main Attibutes	Strength ☥ Dexterity ☥ Intelligence
Past Attibutes	Charisma ☥ Stamina ☥ Wisdom