Decipher Writing Rules
You attempt to decipher complicated writing or literature on an obscure topic. This usually takes 1 minute per page of text, but might take longer (typically an hour per page for decrypting ciphers or the like). The text must be in a language you can read, though the GM might allow you to attempt to decipher text written in an unfamiliar language using {Society} instead.
The DC is determined by the GM based on the state or complexity of the document. The GM might have you roll one check for a short text or a check for each section of a larger text.
| Skill
| Typically used for
| {Arcana}
| Writing about magic or science
| {Occultism}
| Esoteric texts about mysteries and philosophy
| {Religion}
| Scripture
| {Society}
| Coded messages or archaic documents
Critical Success You understand the true meaning of the text.
Success You understand the true meaning of the text. If it was a coded document, you know the general meaning but might not have a word-for-word translation.
Failure You can't understand the text and take a -2 circumstance penalty to further checks to decipher it.
Critical Failure You believe you understand the text on that page, but you have in fact misconstrued its message.
Sample Decipher Tasks
Trained entry-level philosophy treatise
Expert complex code, such as a cipher
Master spymaster's code or advanced research notes
Legendary esoteric planar text written in metaphor by an ancient celestial
Source, license, and attribution
Source: Pathfinder Player Core (remaster-core-2026-08-10)
This product is licensed under the ORC License located at the Library of Congress at TX 9-307-067 and available online at various locations. All warranties are disclaimed as set forth therein. Attribution: Pathfinder Player Core (c) 2023, Paizo Inc.; Designers: Logan Bonner, Jason Bulmahn, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, and Mark Seifter. Authors: Alexander Augunas, Kate Baker, Logan Bonner, Jason Bulmahn, Carlos Cabrera, Calder CaDavid, James Case, Eleanor Ferron, Steven Hammond, Joan Hong, Vanessa Hoskins, James Jacobs, Jenny Jarzabski, Erik Keith, Dustin Knight, Lyz Liddell, Luis Loza, Patchen Mortimer, Dennis Muldoon, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Mikhail Rekun, David N. Ross, Michael Sayre, Mark Seifter, Kendra Leigh Speedling, Mark Thompson, Clark Valentine, Andrew White, Landon Winkler, and Linda Zayas-Palmer. Adaptation: Myth Meister PF2e Remaster Compendium, 2026. If you use this Adapted Licensed Material, please credit Myth Meister. The normalized rules records and rules-reference text in the Myth Meister PF2e Remaster Compendium are Adapted Licensed Material offered under the ORC License. Reserved Material in this product includes the Myth Meister name and logos, application source code, visual design and trade dress, and original campaign content. Pathfinder, Paizo, product logos, artwork, maps, trade dress, setting lore, characters, deities, locations, organizations, events, plots, and other Paizo Reserved Material are not included. Myth Meister is not affiliated with or endorsed by Paizo Inc. Expressly Designated Licensed Material: None.