# Maximum skill level?

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/maximum-skill-level/26150>\
**Category:** The Bunker\
**Created:** [March 27, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/maximum-skill-level/26150 "2021-03-27T02:53:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hydroplatypus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/hydroplatypus/32/4070_2.png) [@hydroplatypus](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/hydroplatypus)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/maximum-skill-level/26150/1 "2021-03-27T02:53:48Z")

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I have just recently noticed that there is a MAX\_SKILL field in the game ([here](https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/blob/eedb52d5e38a4a38c5e493e649615955412c1727/src/game_constants.h#L109)). The nearby comment seems to imply that skills \> 10 will perform identically to skills = 10.

Does this constant actually do anything? Should I turn off skill gains for level 10 skills to preserve focus? Or is this just a constant that does nothing in practice, letting skills (and benefits from those skills) increase arbitrarily high?

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**Author:** ![Valase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/valase/32/6972_2.png) [@Valase](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Valase)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 3:07am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/maximum-skill-level/26150/2 "2021-03-27T03:07:11Z")

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> [@hydroplatypus](#):
>
> Does this constant actually do anything?

Yes. There are uses of it; it [limits the max speed at which you can (un)install vehicle parts](https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/blob/359ed612e79cf17019ddd91759e40022d31d389b/src/veh_type.cpp#L915-L932) for example.  
However, it’s not a hard cap if I understand that right. You might still profit from higher skill levels (with diminishing returns, of course) in different fields, like (currently) disarming traps and melee.

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**Author:** ![robotic\_gamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@robotic\_gamer](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/robotic_gamer)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 3:22am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/maximum-skill-level/26150/3 "2021-03-27T03:22:31Z")

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also the stat through skills mod keeps adding stats even past the 10 skill level