5e Monster Builder

The Lazy GM's 5e Monster Builder Resource
Document
Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Teos Abadía, Michael E. Shea.
Updated 9 October 2023
This document includes tools and material for building, modifying, and running monsters for your 5th edition
fantasy roleplaying games.
The material in this document is copyright 2023 Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Teos Abadía, and Michael E. Shea and is
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You are free to use this content in any
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This work includes material taken from the Lazy GM's 5e Monster Builder Resource Document
written by Teos Abadía of Alphastream.org, Scott Fitzgerald Gray of Insaneangel.com, and Michael
E. Shea of SlyFlourish.com, available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
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Table of Contents
Building a Quick Monster

General-Use Combat Stat Blocks
Lazy Tricks for Running Monsters
Lightning Rods
Monster Roles
Bosses and Minions
The Combat Encounter Checklist
Monster Combinations for a Hard Challenge
Monsters by Adventure Location
Monsters and the Tiers of Play
Page 1 of 51
Building a Quick Monster
Sometimes you need a monster right now but you don't have the right one handy. Maybe the creature you're
imagining doesn't exist in any given book of published monsters, or you simply don't have the time to look it up.
Maybe you're in the middle of your game and want some quick statistics for a creature you didn't think you'd
need. For all these problems, this section offers solutions.
The core tool for building a quick monster for a 5e game is the Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table,
which offers you a set of statistics that can be used to build and run a quick monster of any challenge rating (CR).
You then have two paths for customizing a monster built from these baseline statistics—with flavor and
description during the game, or with a refinement of the creature's mechanics.
It's worth your time to review and understand how this table works before you start using it in your game. Read
the column descriptions. Understand the relationship between a monster's challenge rating and equivalent
character level. Once you've internalized how this table works, you can use it in seconds to build a monster and
throw that foe into your game.
Column Descriptions
The table includes the following columns, which will become more familiar to you as you build your monsters.
Monster CR. The challenge ratings presented in the CR column are the baseline measure to determine the
relative difficulty of a monster in combat. You'll almost always reference this column first when building a quick
monster.
Equivalent Character Level. This column describes the roughly equivalent level of a single character facing a
single monster of this challenge rating in a hard encounter. This gives you a quick way to determine how difficult
this monster will be when facing characters of a particular level.
As you can see from the table, matching character level to challenge rating isn't a simple mathematical process.
There are a number of character levels missing from the table where certain challenge ratings represent a large
jump in how tough a monster is.
AC/DC. This column indicates the typical Armor Class of a monster of the indicated challenge rating. It also
describes the typical Difficulty Class if this monster uses a DC for any of their attacks or other features.
Hit Points. This column offers the baseline hit points of a monster of a given challenge rating. Feel free to add or
subtract hit points within the suggested range based on the monster's in-world features or physiology, or the
pacing you want to maintain during a battle.
Proficient Ability Bonus. This column gives the expected bonus for abilities with which the monster is
proficient, adding the monster's ability score modifier and proficiency bonus together. This number can be used
as an attack bonus, or as a bonus for proficient saving throws and ability checks. (Ability-based modifiers without
proficiency are fixed values between −2 and +4, based on the monster's story.)
Damage per Round. This column contains the total expected damage that a monster can deal in a round.
Higher-CR monsters typically split this total damage among a number of attacks, instead of doing one big attack
that either deals a tremendous amount of damage or misses completely. If a single effect targets two or more
characters, such as a fiery breath weapon, the damage for that effect should be half the indicated number.
Number of Attacks. This column notes the number of attacks a monster of a particular challenge rating
typically makes per round. The damage per round from the previous column is divided among these multiple
attacks in the following column.
Damage per Attack. This column shows the baseline amount of damage a monster deals per attack when using
the default number of attacks in the previous column. It includes both average damage and a dice equation.
Page 2 of 51
Example Monsters. This column offers example monsters for each challenge rating. This can help you gauge
where your monster fits among a sampling of existing 5e monsters.
Building a Monster
With the Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table at hand, you can use the following quick steps to build a
custom monster from scratch. The first four steps alone let you easily create a monster ready to run in your
game. The optional steps that follow then let you fill out the monster's details and custom mechanics as desired.
Step 1: Determine Challenge Rating
Begin by determining the challenge rating for your quick monster based on that creature's fiction in the world.
When considering the challenge rating of a custom monster, you might compare them to existing creatures on
the table. If the in-world power of your monster compares well to a skeleton, the monster might have a challenge
rating of 1/4. If they're more like a fire giant, they might have a challenge rating of 9. Look at the list of example
monsters and ask yourself which monster makes the best comparison to yours. Then assign your creature that
monster's challenge rating.
Alternatively, What Challenge Rating Do You Need?
You might also want to choose a challenge rating based on the level of the characters, using the Equivalent
Character Level column of the table. If you want an encounter with four monsters who are roughly equal in
power to four characters, this column lets you figure out those monsters' statistics. It also helps you build NPCs—
knights, mages, thieves, and so forth—intended to be a match for characters of a particular level.
Step 2: Write Down the Baseline Statistics
Once you've determined a challenge rating for your monster, write down their statistics. You might jot them on an
index card, in a text editor on your computer, or wherever you keep notes for your adventures and campaigns.
You might end up customizing those statistics, though, so be ready to change them.
Step 3: Determine Proficient Abilities
Next, determine which abilities—Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma—a monster
is proficient in, using the Proficient Ability Bonus column on the table. This sets up the bonus a monster has
when using any ability with which they're proficient, and is largely based on the monster's story. A big, beefy
monster might be proficient in skills or saving throws involving Strength and Constitution. A mastermind monster
might be proficient in Wisdom- and Intelligence-based skills and saving throws. A fast monster might be
proficient in Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks and Dexterity saving throws, while an otherworldly monster might be
proficient in Charisma-based skills and saves.
The bonus indicated in the table is what the monster uses to make saving throws and ability checks with those
proficient abilities. Just remember that the number on the table already includes a monster's proficiency bonus,
in addition to their ability score modifier.
Step 4: Determine Remaining Abilities
Next, you can determine the modifier (either a penalty or a bonus) that a monster uses for their nonproficient
abilities. This is for all the ability checks and saving throws a monster isn't great at, and can be determined by
asking yourself how strong a monster feels in those abilities. The bonus can range anywhere from −2 to +4, and
is independent of a monster's challenge rating. Even a high-challenge monster might have a lousy Dexterity
saving throw. When in doubt, or to speed things up, use a modifier of +0 for these nonproficient abilities. You can
always change this during the game if a higher or lower number makes sense.
Page 3 of 51
A creature's Dexterity modifier is also used to determine their initiative modifier. Or you can skip your improvised
creature's initiative roll and use a static initiative of 12.
You're Ready to Go
At this point, you have enough information on hand to run your monster in a game, with little else needed.
However, you can also continue with a few more quick steps to further customize your monster, making them
more distinct.
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Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating
Page 5 of 51
Eqv Damage
Prof # Example
CR Char AC/DC HP per Damage
Bonus Attacks Monster
Lvl Round
Commoner,
0 <1 10 3 (2-4) +2 2 1 2 (1d4)
rat, spider
Bandit,
1/8 <1 11 9 (7-11) +3 3 1 4 (1d6 + 1) cultist, giant
rat
Acolyte,
1/4 1 11 13 (10-16) +3 5 1 5 (1d6 + 2) skeleton,
wolf
Black bear,
1/2 2 12 22 (17-28) +4 8 2 4 (1d4 + 2) scout,
shadow
Dire wolf,
1 3 12 33 (25-41) +5 12 2 6 (1d8 + 2)
specter, spy
Ghast, ogre,
2 5 13 45 (34-56) +5 17 2 9 (2d6 + 2)
priest
Knight,
3 7 13 65 (49-81) +5 23 2 12 (2d8 + 3) mummy,
werewolf
4 9 14 84 (64-106) +6 28 2 14 (3d8 + 1) Ettin, ghost
Elemental,
gladiator,
5 10 15 95 (71-119) +7 35 3 12 (3d6 + 2)
vampire
spawn
Mage,
6 11 15 112 (84-140) +7 41 3 14 (3d6 + 4) medusa,
wyvern
Stone giant,
7 12 15 130 (98-162) +7 47 3 16 (3d8 + 3) young black
dragon
Assassin,
8 13 15 136 (102-170) +7 53 3 18 (3d10 + 2)
frost giant
Bone devil,
fire giant,
9 15 16 145 (109-181) +8 59 3 22 (3d12 + 3)
young blue
dragon
Stone
golem,
10 16 17 155 (116-194) +9 65 4 16 (3d8 + 3)
young red
dragon
Page 6 of 51
Djinni,
11 17 17 165 (124-206) +9 71 4 18 (3d10 + 2) efreeti,
horned devil
Archmage,
12 18 17 175 (131-219) +9 77 4 19 (3d10 + 3)
erinyes
Adult white
dragon,
13 19 18 184 (138-230) +10 83 4 21 (4d8 + 3)
storm giant,
vampire
Adult black
14 20 19 196 (147-245) +11 89 4 22 (4d10) dragon, ice
devil
Adult green
dragon,
15 > 20 19 210 (158-263) +11 95 5 19 (3d10 + 3) mummy
lord, purple
worm
Adult blue
dragon, iron
16 > 20 19 229 (172-286) +11 101 5 21 (4d8 + 3)
golem,
marilith
Adult red
17 > 20 20 246 (185-308) +12 107 5 22 (3d12 + 3)
dragon
18 > 20 21 266 (200-333) +13 113 5 23 (4d10 + 1) Demilich
19 > 20 21 285 (214-356) +13 119 5 24 (4d10 + 2) Balor
Ancient
white
20 > 20 21 300 (225-375) +13 132 5 26 (4d12)
dragon, pit
fiend
Ancient
black
21 > 20 22 325 (244-406) +14 150 5 30 (4d12 + 4)
dragon, lich,
solar
Ancient
22 > 20 23 350 (263-438) +15 168 5 34 (4d12 + 8) green
dragon
Ancient blue
23 > 20 23 375 (281-469) +15 186 5 37 (6d10 + 4) dragon,
kraken
Ancient red
24 > 20 23 400 (300-500) +15 204 5 41 (6d10 + 8)
dragon
25 > 20 24 430 (323-538) +16 222 5 44 (6d10 + 11)
26 > 20 25 460 (345-575) +17 240 5 48 (6d10 + 15)
Page 7 of 51
27 > 20 25 490 (368-613) +17 258 5 52 (6d10 + 19)
28 > 20 25 540 (405-675) +17 276 5 55 (6d10 + 22)
29 > 20 26 600 (450-750) +18 294 5 59 (6d10 + 26)
30 > 20 27 666 (500-833) +19 312 5 62 (6d10 + 29) Tarrasque
Optional Step: Consider Armor Class
Though the Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table offers a value for Armor Class that increases with
challenge rating, you can modify a monster's Armor Class further based on their story. A big beefy titan set up as
a CR 16 monster might still be easy to hit—maybe with an Armor Class of 14.
It's easiest to think of Armor Class on a scale of 10 to 20, with 10 being the equivalent of an unarmored opponent
with no Dexterity bonus, and 20 being an opponent wearing plate armor with a shield. (Armor Class can go above
20 or below 10, though.)
Keep in mind that missing an opponent isn't much fun for a player. Lower-AC opponents, even those with more
hit points, are often more fun to fight than high-AC opponents with fewer hit points.
Optional Step: Customize Attacks
The table includes a recommended number of attacks for a monster, an attack bonus, and the amount of damage
those attacks should deal. If desired, tailor this damage to fit the monster's story. Choose a creature's damage
type, such as fire for a flaming Greatsword attack, or necrotic for a Death Blast attack. You can also mix up
multiple damage types, so that a CR 10 hell knight might have a Longsword attack dealing both slashing and fire
damage.
Consider the ranged attacks a monster might have as well. You can use the same attack bonus, number of
attacks, and damage. Or you could give a creature weaker ranged attacks (attacking once instead of twice, for
example). Depending on the creature's story, the flavor of those attacks might be physical (hurling javelins or
rocks) or arcane (firing energy blasts).
To further customize a monster, you can divide up their total damage per round into a different number of attacks
than indicated on the table, if that makes sense for the monster's story. (As noted above, for attacks that target
two or more opponents, use half the indicated damage.)
Optional Step: Further Modify Statistics
Depending on the story of your monster, you can make general adjustments to their baseline statistics however
you see fit. For example, you might lower a monster's hit points and increase the damage they deal to create a
dangerous foe who drops out of the fight quickly. However, always consider whether such changes make a
combat encounter more fun to play. It might make sense to create a monster with high hit points and a higher
Armor Class who deals less damage, thinking that those two things balance out. But fighting such a monster can
easily become a slog. Likewise, a monster with significantly fewer hit points that deals high damage might end up
being inadvertently deadly if too many characters roll low on attacks, or could feel pointless if the monster is
killed too quickly.
Optional Step: Add Monster Types and Features
To further flesh out your monster, add monster types and features found for monsters similar to the one you're
building such as extra weapon damage types, breath weapons, auras, damage shields, and other traits and
features that better define your monster in the story and situation.
Page 8 of 51
Using the Table with Published Monsters
While the Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table is intended to let you build monsters from scratch, it can
easily be used as a reference to better understand how a published monster might act in combat. If a published
CR 4 monster has 30 hit points but deals 35 damage per round, you can see from the table that their hit points
are low but their damage is high compared to the creature's baseline challenge rating. Such a monster hits hard
for their challenge rating, but when they're hit in turn, they go down fast.
Page 9 of 51
General-Use Combat Stat Blocks
This section contains several general-use stat blocks specifically built for reskinning into whatever monsters you
need for your combat encounters.
Each stat block uses d8 Hit Dice, but can be used for creatures in a range of sizes. Each focuses on a primary
ability score, but you can shift abilities as needed to better fit the story of the creature the stat block represents.
Swap Strength and Intelligence to run a spellcaster instead of a melee combatant, or switch Dexterity and
Strength to turn a shifty rogue into a powerful fighter.
A stat block's attack lets you choose the most appropriate type of damage for a creature, and you can easily
increase an attack's reach or range. Ranges for attacks are given as a single number indicating maximum range,
but you can modify that range or replace it with the normal and long range of a specific weapon as you wish.
The spread of challenge ratings of these stat blocks provides options for weak, moderate, and strong foes at any
character level. Each stat block description includes comparisons between the stat block and characters of
different levels, providing guidelines for when a stat block can serve as a boss, an elite foe (suitable for two
characters against one creature), or a one-on-one combatant, or in larger groups of two to four monsters per
character. All these setups are geared toward a hard encounter, but one that the characters should definitely be
able to win.
Minion (CR 1/8)
The low-CR minions represented by this stat block might include ravenous rats, weak skeletons, shifty bandits, or
low-ranking cultists. A minion can serve as a one-on-one combatant against 1st-level characters, or can be
deployed in large groups at 4th level or above. This stat block focuses on Dexterity as its primary ability.
MINION
Small or Medium Creature
Armor Class 11
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)
Senses passive Perception 11
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
ACTIONS
Attack. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1)
damage.
Soldier (CR 1/2)
Representing seasoned guards, trained soldiers, powerful bandits, murderous humanoids, or armed undead, the
soldier stat block works well as a boss at 1st level, an elite foe for two 2nd-level characters, or one-on-one
combatants at 4th level, or in large groups at 6th level and above. Strength is this stat block's primary ability.
Page 10 of 51
SOLDIER
Medium Creature
Armor Class 12 (leather armor or natural armor)
Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft.

14 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
ACTIONS
damage.
Brute (CR 2)
Heavy-hitting veterans, capable bodyguards, low-ranking demons or devils, dangerous monsters in the wild, and
powerful humanoids can all be represented by this stat block. A brute can serve as a boss against 2nd-level
characters, an elite foe against two 4th-level characters, or a one-on-one opponent at 5th level, or in large groups
at 10th level. This stat block relies on Strength.
BRUTE
Medium or Large Creature
Armor Class 13 (studded leather or natural armor)
Speed 30 ft.

16 (+3) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 8 (−1)
Saving Throws Con +4
Skills Athletics +5
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The brute makes two attacks.
damage.
Page 11 of 51
Specialist (CR 4)
This stat block can represent spies, assassins, hunters, and trained elite forces. The specialist serves as a boss for
4th-level characters, an elite opponent versus two 5th-level characters, or a one-on-one combatant for 10th-level
characters, or in large groups against 16th-level characters. Dexterity is this stat block's primary ability.
SPECIALIST
Medium Creature
Armor Class 14
Speed 30 ft.

12 (+1) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1)
Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +4
Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception +4, Stealth +6
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The specialist makes two attacks.
damage.
Myrmidon (CR 7)
Powerful elite bodyguards, high priests, wizards, warlocks, sorcerers, demons, and devils can all be represented
by this stat block. A myrmidon can serve as a boss monster for 5th-level characters, an elite combatant against
two characters of 7th level, or a one-on-one combatant against 14th-level characters, or in large groups against
20th-level characters. This stat block focuses on Intelligence.
MYRMIDON
Medium or Large creature
Armor Class 15 (chain shirt or natural armor)
Hit Points 130 (20d8 + 40)
Speed 30 ft.

10 (+0) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Dex +5, Wis +5
Page 12 of 51
Skills Perception +5
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The myrmidon makes three attacks.
damage.
Sentinel (CR 11)
This stat block is a good fit for strong, often-otherworldly creatures such as demons, devils, impressive beings of
the Outer Planes, guardian constructs, or powerful undead. The sentinel can serve as a boss for 7th-level
characters, an elite foe against two 12th-level characters, or can stand one-on-one against 16th-level characters.
This stat block focuses on Strength.
SENTINEL
Medium, Large, or Huge Creature
Armor Class 17 (natural armor or magical protection)
Hit Points 165 (22d8 + 66)
Speed 30 ft.

20 (+5) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Str +9, Dex +7
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The sentinel makes four attacks.
damage.
Champion (CR 15)
Representing greater demons, devils, vampires, liches, or powerful spellcasters, the champion serves as a boss
for 11th-level characters, an elite foe for two 15th-level characters, or a one-on-one challenge against 17th-level
characters. This stat block focuses on Charisma.
CHAMPION
Medium, Large, or Huge Creature
Page 13 of 51
Armor Class 19 (natural armor or magical protection)
Hit Points 212 (25d8 + 100)
Speed 30 ft.

10 (+0) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 22 (+6)
Saving Throws Wis +8, Cha +11
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The champion makes four attacks.
damage.
Page 14 of 51
Lightning Rods
When characters rise above 4th level, their ability to deal with powerful foes makes a huge jump. But challenging
characters of 5th level and higher isn't just about making things hard. It's easy for GMs to fall into the trap of
thwarting the coolest things the heroes can do, by giving monsters immunities to certain conditions, increasing
their hit points to offset the high damage a character can deal, or running monsters with tactics clearly built to
bypass the characters' best attacks. But thwarting the characters' best features can be frustrating to the players,
for obvious reasons.
So instead of shutting down the characters, build your encounters around monsters specifically designed to show
off—by eating up—the characters' cool new capabilities as they rise in level. You can think of these monsters as
"lightning rods"—intended victims ready to take the full effect of a character's most powerful attacks and
features.
Watch What the Characters Bring
When running encounters challenging enough for the characters to use their top-tier features and attacks, pay
attention to what they do. Does the wizard blast enemies with high-damage spells like fireball? Does the cleric
make liberal use of Turn Undead when faced with those monsters? Do spells like polymorph or banishment come
into play to get rid of bosses and elite threats?
Note which features the players enjoy having their characters use, and think about how to build for those
features in your next big battle. If you aren't sure what features the characters have, ask the players. Each time
the characters level, start the session by having the players talk about what new attacks, spells, and special
abilities they've picked up. Then build encounters to show off those features, not avoid them.
For example, at higher levels, a monk gains the ability to stun creatures with a single strike, effectively taking a
monster out of the fight for a round or more. So when you know a player's monk has this feature, add monsters
into big battles that you specifically want the monk to stun. A smack-talking spellcaster with a low Constitution
saving throw, and who only a monk can reach with their enhanced movement, is just begging to have a hero leap
up and punch them in the face.
Run Hordes for Area Effects
At 5th level and above, characters get access to spells and class features with large areas of effect, including
hypnotic pattern, fireball, and Destroy Undead. When you know the characters have such features at their
disposal, add hordes of low-CR creatures who can charge at them, all grouped up and ready to be blasted away.
Ignore the fact that it might be more tactically appropriate for such creatures to spread out, instead thinking of
yourself as the director of an action movie. What's the coolest outcome for the scene—a group of careful zombies
staying 20 feet away from one another, or a huge mob of undead in perfect position to be turned to ash or blown
to pieces with a well-placed fireball?
Expendable Lieutenants
Many legendary monsters can use Legendary Resistance to avoid being taken out with a single casting of
banishment or polymorph, but their lieutenants have no such advantage. When the characters have access to
such spells, add powerful monsters into your encounters specifically designed to be banished, polymorphed, or
otherwise controlled or incapacitated. Monsters with the bruiser or defender role are often perfect targets for
such spells (see "Monster Roles"), especially those with terrible Wisdom and Charisma saving throws.
Keep in mind, though, that if you add one or two hard-hitting foes to an encounter who don't get controlled,
things can go south for the characters quickly.
Page 15 of 51
Fragile Damage-Dealers
For stunning-strike monks, hard-hitting paladins, sharpshooter rangers, or great-weapon fighters, fragile foes
who deal a ton of damage make fantastic targets. These are creatures with a low Armor Class, low hit points, and
a low Constitution save, but who are deadly until taken out. (Creatures with the artillery or skirmisher role are
great choices; see "Monster Roles.") It's always rewarding for a character to reach such a foe and cut them down
with a single powerful attack.
Play to the Characters' Strengths
Players and their characters love to outsmart their foes. You can help with this by placing artillery in locations
that the foes assume will be hard to reach, but which you know present just a minor challenge to characters who
can climb, fly, or short-range teleport. Likewise, add hidden ambushers when you know that some of the
characters will be able to easily perceive them. These sorts of setups let the characters show off, and reward the
players for choosing those specific tactical capabilities.
Telegraphing Lightning Rods
Less tactically minded players might need help, or even direct advice, to recognize the danger of not dealing with
lightning rods. If you intend for a fire giant bodyguard of the hobgoblin king to be banished and the characters
don't pick up on that, they might be in trouble when the giant starts pounding them into the ground like tent
pegs. If the characters are focused on the boss while getting pelted by the fiery rays of flameskulls just begging
to be stunned, blasted, or turned, be prepared to project or reveal outright to the players the dangers their
characters face, and how they might deal with them.
Page 16 of 51
Lazy Tricks for Running Monsters
This section presents a number of tricks and tips that can help you more easily prepare and run monsters during
your games. We call them "lazy tricks" not because they're about cheating or doing less work overall, but because
they're meant to let you quickly accomplish things when your game is in progress and you don't have a lot of
extra time.
Quick Monster Statistics
"Building a Quick Monster" provides great guidelines for creating a foe for your game in just a few minutes. But
you can come up with an even quicker set of monster statistics using the following steps.
First, choose a challenge rating for your monster, based on their perceived power in the encounter. When
needed, compare your monster to existing monsters to find a suitable challenge rating. Then use the following
guidelines to craft their baseline statistics:
Armor Class = 12 + 1/2 CR

Hit points = (15 × CR) + 15
Proficient saving throws and skills = 4 + 1/2 CR
Nonproficient saving throws and abilities = −2 to +2, based on the monster's story
Attack bonus = 4 + 1/2 CR
DC for saving throws = 12 + 1/2 CR
Total damage per round = (7 × CR) + 5
Start your monster out with one attack, then add one additional attack at CR 2, CR 7, CR 11, and CR 15. Split the
total damage noted above across all attacks.
With a solid set of combat statistics at hand, you can then use narrative descriptions to make your monster
unique, interesting, and evocative.
Ten Useful Monster Features
Give any custom monster impactful features and attacks that make sense for their place in the game. When a
monster feature deals damage, choose a damage type appropriate to the creature's physiology, theme, or story. A
creature channeling magical power might deal acid, cold, fire, lightning, force, poison, psychic, necrotic, radiant,
or thunder damage. A creature making use of spines, spikes, or projectiles might deal bludgeoning, piercing, or
slashing damage.
Damaging Blast. This creature has one or more single-target ranged attacks using the attack bonus and
damage calculated above, and which deal damage of an appropriate type.
Damage Reflection. Whenever a creature within 5 feet of this creature hits them with a melee attack, the
attacker takes damage in return of a type appropriate to the creature. The damage dealt is equal to half the
damage of one of this creature's attacks. If you give a creature this feature, give them one less attack than
normal.
Misty Step. As a bonus action, this creature can teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space they can see.
Knockdown. When this creature hits a target with a melee attack, the target must succeed on a Strength saving
throw or be knocked prone.
Restraining Grab. When this creature hits a target with a melee attack, the target is grappled (escape DC
based on this creature's Strength or Dexterity modifier). While grappled, the target is restrained.
Damaging Burst. As an action, this creature can create a burst of energy, magic, spines, or some other effect in
a 10-foot-radius sphere, either around themself or at a point within 120 feet. Each creature in that area must
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make a Dexterity, Constitution, or Wisdom saving throw (your choice, based on the type of burst). On a failure, a
target takes damage of an appropriate type equal to half this creature's total damage per round. On a success, a
target takes half as much damage.
Cunning Action. On each of their turns, this creature can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or
Hide action.
Damaging Aura. Each creature who starts their turn within 10 feet of this creature takes damage of a type
appropriate to the creature. The damage dealt is equal to half the damage of one of this creature's attacks. If you
give a creature this feature, give them one less attack than normal.
Energy Weapons. The creature's weapon attacks deal extra damage of an appropriate type. You can add this
damage on top of the creature's regular damage output to give them a combat boost, or you can replace some of
the creature's normal weapon damage with this energy damage.
Damage Transference. When this creature takes damage, they can transfer half or all of that damage (your
choice) to a willing creature within 30 or 60 feet of them. This feature is particularly good for boss monsters.
Using Averages
By default, 5e monster stat blocks calculate the average damage for any attack's dice expression, as with "13
(2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage" for an ogre's Greatclub attack. Using average damage for a monster's attacks is
one of the best ways to speed up combat.
Sometimes, though, you need to roll damage for effects that aren't in a stat block. When you do, you can use the
following table to quickly look up the average value of various dice equations. Simply find the number of dice in
the leftmost column, then go across to the appropriate die type. As can be seen in the table, you can add up
averages to get an average value for higher numbers of dice—for example, adding the average of 2d10 and 6d10
to get the average of 8d10. You can use this approach to find the average for rolling more than twelve dice, so
that if you need an average for 24d10, you can simply look at the 12d10 average and double it.
# of dice d4 d6 d8 d10 d12

1 2 3 4 5 6
2 5 7 9 11 13
3 7 10 13 16 19
4 10 14 18 22 26
5 12 17 22 27 32
6 15 21 27 33 39
7 17 24 31 38 45
8 20 28 36 44 52
9 22 31 40 49 58
10 25 35 45 55 65
11 27 38 49 60 71
12 30 42 54 66 78
You can also compute averages for dice expressions with simple equations you can keep in your head. The
average of two dice is the maximum value of one of those dice + 1, so that the average of 2d12 is 13. Then
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double that number for multiples of two, so that the average of 2d8 is 9, the average of 4d8 is 18, and so forth.
Likewise, the average of a single die is half the size of the die, so add that number to a two-dice average to get
odd numbers. For example, the average of 4d6 is 14, so the average of 5d6 is 17. (The average of one die is
actually half the size of the die plus 0.5, which is why the average of two dice is the maximum value of the die
+1.)
Other Lazy Monster Tricks
Once you're in the middle of an encounter, you can make use of a number of other quick tricks to make running
monsters easier, with more flexibility and greater speed. Try any of the following options at your table, and make
use of any trick that helps your game:
Use fixed initiative for monsters equal to 10 + each monster's Dexterity bonus. Even faster? Just have all
monsters act on initiative count 12.
Reduce hit points on the fly to allow monsters to drop or surrender more quickly, or increase a monster's
number of attacks or damage if the characters are having too easy a time.
Have foes flee or surrender when it makes sense to move the game forward.
Have constructs and undead be destroyed when the creature controlling them dies.
Run multiple waves of monsters for big battles.
Include creatures designed to eat "save or suck" attacks such as banishment or polymorph.
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Monster Roles
Thinking about the roles that creatures play in combat helps to create better encounters. A monster who has tons
of hit points can stand up front, soaking up damage while the more vulnerable evil wizard launches devastating
spells from behind cover. Skirmisher monsters can dart in from the sides and back away, forcing the characters
to spread out and leaving them open to an ambusher. Foes of different roles complement each other, creating an
effective team.
Monsters in 5e don't have defined roles with connections to specific mechanics and tactics, as the creatures in
some fantasy RPGs do. However, many 5e foes either already fit a specific role or are flexible enough to allow us
to assign roles to them. For example, a harpy is a highly effective controller, and a spy is an excellent skirmisher
or ambusher. We can also modify monsters to enable them to play a role. By assigning a role to a foe, you enable
a specific set of tactics that allow you to challenge the characters more effectively.
Defining Roles
The following roles capture the most important tactical concepts in 5e combat, and cover virtually all the foes
you might make use of in a 5e game.
Ambusher
Ambushers have special features that allow them to hide, dart out of danger, render targets senseless, or
otherwise prevent characters from attacking them easily. An ambusher often deals more damage when hidden,
and might engage in a pattern of hiding, attacking, and hiding again. Ambusher foes are often less effective when
they can't hide, which incentivizes characters to force them into the open. Many ambushers have low hit points.
When to Use Them. Because ambushers can result in longer, drawn-out fights, you want to use them sparingly.
However, they can be a good choice for a villain who needs to get away. Ambushers are likewise an excellent
choice if a combat encounter is preceded by a free-form roleplaying or social encounter, with foes hiding in plain
sight before the fight breaks out.
Placement and Tactics. An ambusher is usually most effective when they start out hidden, revealing themself
only when they attack. Some ambushers start out in the open, then disappear and reposition once characters
have moved toward them.
Example Ambushers. Dust mephit, ghost, mimic, phase spider, spy.
Artillery
Artillery typically have a high attack bonus and deal good damage at range, but have lower hit points or AC than
other foes. Sacrificing survivability can be fun, allowing these monsters to hit hard and die quickly. This creates
tension and pressure early in an encounter, followed by increasing confidence as the heroes reach the artillery
and quickly defeat them.
Artillery creatures might strike at single targets or an area, and their high accuracy lets them deal consistent
damage. Because they operate at range, you might focus the attacks of artillery foes on characters who usually
stay out of trouble, using the flexibility of range to put them in peril. Alternatively, you can put their accuracy to
use against the characters with the highest defenses.
When to Use Them. Artillery creatures work well in most encounters. Because of their placement at range, they
draw attention away from other important targets such as controllers, leaders, or bosses. Artillery foes
encourage characters to use resources to reach them, finish them off, and heal from their long-range damage.
Placement and Tactics. Artillery creatures seek cover and elevation from which to rain down destruction. They
stand behind other monsters and blocking terrain so that characters can't easily get to them. They might also be
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placed without cover and to the sides of the battle, forcing characters who want to attack them to spread out—so
that ambushers or skirmishers can pick those characters off. Place artillery closer to the action when you want
them to be easy to reach and to draw attention deliberately away from other foes.
Artillery creatures like to focus fire and group up on one target when possible. However, you want to change up
that tactic if you start rolling too well, which can make artillery creatures extremely dangerous even in relatively
easy encounters. Make sure getting to artillery foes is fun and not frustrating. A good rule of thumb is that
characters shouldn't need to spend more than 1 round of movement to engage an artillery creature.
Example Artillery. Hill giant, mage, manticore, scout, solar. Of all the roles, artillery creatures are generally the
least represented in typical 5e monster books.
Bruiser
A bruiser foe deals higher-than-average melee damage, bringing the pain up close. But that focus on damage
often comes with lower AC, lower attack accuracy, or lower hit points. Bruisers draw attention with their damage,
and make fun opponents because they're often easy to hit, or die quickly.
When a bruiser has low accuracy, a battle often feels swingy, with a sense of impending doom as each attack roll
creates tension. Even when an attack misses, the players are usually watching that roll and wincing as they think
about what would have happened if it hit.
When to Use Them. Bruisers should be used in most encounters, surprising players with their impressive
damage. However, they should be used with care in encounters against 1st-level characters, who are particularly
susceptible to being dropped with a single lucky blow.
Like artillery, bruisers can be used to draw attention away from other important targets such as controllers,
leaders, and bosses. Bruisers encourage characters to use resources, first to finish off the bruiser more quickly,
then to heal up in the aftermath.
Placement and Tactics. Melee bruisers should be in the front lines, where they can deal damage as soon as
possible. They might come out of side passages or otherwise surprise characters in the rear ranks, but bruisers
seldom switch targets unless a different target is obviously easier to kill. Bruisers like to focus fire and group up
on one target when possible, so keep an eye on their damage output to ensure that a few lucky attack rolls don't
push the challenge level of an encounter too high.
Example Bruisers. Ettin, flesh golem, owlbear, shambling mound, wolf.
Controller
Controller creatures use their attacks and features to impose conditions or otherwise impede characters from
being their most effective. This role covers many different types of foes, and the extent of their control can vary.
Some controller creatures grapple, swallow, or otherwise lock down targets, preventing movement. They might
impose disadvantage on attacks through conditions such as poisoned or restrained, or use magic such as the
confusion or hold person spells to limit actions.
When to Use Them. Controllers create dilemmas for a party to contend with. How do the characters change
tactics when the fighter is poisoned and the cleric is inside a creature's gullet? These situations can be exciting
and challenging, forcing characters to expend resources and think of clever solutions. However, used too often,
too extensively, or too effectively, controller foes can feel like punishment. Be wary of a character rendered
ineffective for several rounds, or of more than a couple of characters being ineffective for longer than 1 round.
When a control effect feels clearly frustrating, try to change targets over the course of combat so that the same
character isn't being controlled round after round.
Placement and Tactics. Controllers should be placed where they can't be easily reached, but close to
prospective targets based on the range of their powers. Spellcaster controllers might be careful to always start
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farther than 60 feet from the characters—beyond the range of counterspell. A controller pairs well with a
defender whose job is to keep the controller safe, or with skirmishers who can easily move around controlled
characters. Controllers usually have trouble defeating characters one-on-one, due to their lower damage, but
they work well with bruisers and artillery who can deal high damage to controlled characters.
Example Controllers. Black pudding, cockatrice, ettercap, harpy.
Defender
Defender foes soak up hits and damage. They might deal lower-than-average damage or be less accurate with
attacks, but have higher AC, saving throws, and hit points. They often look big and imposing, drawing attention
to themselves by issuing challenges and making threats.
Some defenders have attacks or features that pin characters in place—often referred to as "sticky" features that
make the defender hard to get away from once engaged. Stickiness can also take the form of imposing penalties
to attack any creatures other than the defender, or similar features that help the defender soak up the heroes'
attacks.
When to Use Them. Defenders should be used sparingly, as too many defenders in an encounter or too many
encounters featuring defenders can make combats longer and less interesting. Use them in fights where other
vulnerable foes need assistance to prevent being taken down too quickly. Defenders work well with skirmishers
or ambushers, who can surprise characters focused on the defender. They excel at protecting key villains,
especially artillery or controller spellcasters.
Placement and Tactics. Defenders are often placed in the front lines to tie down characters. However, you can
also place them farther back, closer to another creature they defend. Make sure defenders won't lock down all
the characters at once, though. Combat works best when most characters can move around the encounter area
and discover all it has to offer. You don't want to design an amazing encounter and then have the characters
spend all their time locked down in specific locations.
Example Defenders. Animated armor, chuul, gelatinous cube, knight, shambling mound.
Leader
A leader has features that help other creatures. They might heal, boost statistics such as attack modifiers or
saving throws, or move other creatures, and they often have lower-than-average hit points, damage output, or
accuracy.
When to Use Them. Leaders are most interesting when used sparingly, though they can be used more often
when they are of different types. For example, a hobgoblin priest NPC focused on healing feels different from a
duergar war priest who boosts their allies' attacks.
Placement and Tactics. Leaders can be placed according to the focus of their useful features, letting them help
as many of their allies as possible. Because the characters often want to target them, leaders operate best in the
center or slightly back from the center of the encounter area.
Leaders make good bosses, or can act as lieutenants for bosses. Be careful when using them with skirmishers
and ambushers, though, since characters moving to pursue those foes might go after the leader instead. A good
default setup is to have one or two defenders protecting a leader.
Example Leaders. Couatl, knight, priest.
Skirmisher
Skirmishers dance around the battlefield, using high mobility to dart in for an attack and then get away. They
might have lower AC or hit points than other foes, but possess features that let them evade blows, retreat, or
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counterattack. Skirmishers are usually accurate, having a high attack bonus, and their damage might be
especially high when using their mobility features.
When to Use Them. Use skirmishers to liven up battles. They can draw characters farther into an area of
combat, making good use of areas that have dividing features such as interior walls, side chambers, or more than
one level.
Placement and Tactics. Skirmishers should usually start far enough from the characters to show off their
ability to move in and then move back out, forcing characters to reposition themselves. Skirmishers with high
speed or supernatural movement can avoid or surpass terrain that challenges pursuing characters, who might
trigger traps or spread out so other foes can surround them.
Example Skirmishers. Bulette, copper dragon, goblin, spy, wraith.
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Bosses and Minions
When creating a boss battle, thinking about which bosses pair well with which minions can be a great starting
point. You can use the table below to match up minions and bosses in a number of classic adventure
environments.
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Boss
Boss Environments Minions
CR
1 Goblin boss Caves, mountains Goblins, worgs
2 Bandit captain Cities, sewers, ruins Bandits, spies, thugs, berserkers, gladiators
2 Cult fanatic Cities, ruins Cultists, bandits, thugs, dretches
2 Ettercap Caves, ruins Giant spiders
2 Ghast Ruins, crypts, cities, sewers Ghouls, zombies
2 Gnoll pack lord Plains, caves, ruins Gnolls, hyenas
2 Ogre Ruins, caves Orcs, goblins
2 Sea hag Coves, swamps, grottos Giant constrictor snakes, crocodiles
Keeps, fortresses, ruins,

3 Bugbear chief Bugbears, goblins, worgs
caves
Bullywugs, giant toads, giant constrictor

3 Green hag Forests, swamps
snakes, imps, quasits
Frozen mountains, frozen

3 Winter wolf Dire wolves, ice mephits
ruins
4 Banshee Ruins, crypts Specters, skeletons
4 Bone naga Ruins, crypts Skeletons, specters, wights
4 Ettin Mountains, ruins, caves Ogres, orcs
4 Lamia Ruins, towers, caves Jackalweres
Lizard Lizardfolk shamans, lizardfolk, monitor

4 Swamps, sunken grottos
king/queen lizards
5 Hill giant Mountains, ruins, caves Ogres, orcs, bugbears, goblins, cave bears
Hell hounds, quasits, manes, shadow

5 Night hag Ruins, crypts, Lower Planes
demons
Coves, grottos, underwater Sahuagin priestesses, sahuagin, reef

5 Sahuagin baron
ruins sharks, giant octopuses, krakens
5 Wraith Ruins, crypts Flameskulls, specters, wights
Hobgoblin Hobgoblin captains, hobgoblins, bugbears,

6 Ruins, keeps, fortresses
warlord goblins, worgs
Animated armor, imps, acolytes, flesh

6 Mage Towers, cities
golems, veterans
Basilisks, giant constrictor snakes, death

6 Medusa Ruins, caves
dogs
7 Oni Ruins, caves, cities Hobgoblins, orcs
Frozen mountains, frozen Yetis, young white dragons, polar bears,

8 Frost giant
ruins winter wolves
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Hell hounds, young red dragons,
9 Fire giant Volcanoes, caverns
salamanders, azers, fire mephits
9 Glabrezu Lower Planes, ruins, towers Barlguras, chasmes
Chuuls, cult fanatics, hydras, NPCs

10 Aboleth Caverns, coves, lakes
(enthralled), sea hags
Ruins, volcanoes, cities,

11 Efreeti Fire elementals, salamanders, fire snakes
deserts
11 Horned devil Lower Planes, ruins, towers Barbed devils, bearded devils, spined devils
Animated armor, imps, cambions, demons

12 Archmage Towers, cities
(any), elementals, golems
Adult white Frozen mountains, frozen

13 Yetis
dragon ruins
Vampire spawn, giant bats, dire wolves,

13 Vampire Ruins, crypts
specters, wights
Adult black Giant crocodiles, trolls, bullywugs,

dragon lizardfolk, kuo-toa
Adult green
15 Forests, ruins, caverns Treants, elves
dragon
15 Mummy lord Ruins, crypts Mummies, skeletons, wights, cult fanatics
Adult blue
16 Deserts, ruins, towers Air elementals, mages
dragon
16 Marilith Lower Planes, ruins, towers Hezrous, vrocks
Adult red Mountains, volcanoes, ruins,

17 Fire elementals, kobolds
dragon caverns
Wights, wraiths, liches, flameskulls,

17 Death knight Crypts, ruins, Lower Planes
nightmares, revenants
Mariliths, glabrezus, goristros, cambions,

19 Balor Lower planes, ruins
cult fanatics
Ancient white Frozen mountains, frozen

20 Abominable yetis
dragon ruins
20 Pit fiend Lower planes, ruins, towers Horned devils, bone devils, erinyes
Ancient black Giant crocodiles, trolls, bullywugs,

dragon lizardfolk
21 Lich Ruins, towers, crypts, caves Death knights, iron golems, wraiths, mages
Ancient green
22 Forests, ruins, caverns Treants, elves
dragon
Ancient blue
23 Deserts, ruins, towers Air elementals, mages
dragon
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Ancient red Mountains, volcanoes, ruins,
24 Fire giants, fire elementals, kobolds
dragon caverns
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The Combat Encounter Checklist
Sometimes all a game needs is an interesting location and some cool monsters to fight, setting up a combat
encounter that a GM might build right at the table. The characters go somewhere, everyone decides it's time for
a fun fight, and you whip something up. Or you determine that, given the circumstances going on in the story, it's
time for the characters to run into some opposition, and you're off to the races.
Sometimes we need more, though, particularly for big set-piece battles or boss fights. When it's time to build an
interesting and dynamic encounter, the following checklist can help determine what options a big combat might
need:
Interesting monsters
A fantastic location
Zone-wide effects
Traps and hazards
Advantageous positions
Interactive objects
Cover
Difficult or fantastic terrain
A goal
No battle needs all these things, but it's worth running through the list to see which options fit the sort of combat
scenario you're putting together.
Interesting Monsters
For a big, self-contained combat encounter, a single monster usually won't do it. Even several monsters of the
same type might not prove interesting enough for a big fight. Complex, climactic battles often work best with two
or three creature types that work well together—big bruisers up front and powerful artillery in the back, for
example.However, having more than three types of creatures in any one battle is going to be hard to manage. As
such, designing a big set-piece battle is also a great time to think about waves of monsters.
A Fantastic Location
An empty, 50-foot-square room doesn't lend itself to an interesting set-piece battle. We want fantastic rooms with
interesting shapes, lots of room to move around, and a cool environment for the characters to spend time in.
Great self-contained fights are like theme parks where the characters can climb up big statues, swing from
chandeliers, and dance across elevated platforms. Whether you're playing online or in person, you can purchase
battle maps showing off interesting locations, or might find maps that cartographers have released for free. Build
a library of cool maps that inspire your players to enjoy the scenery while they're kicking ass.
However, you want to ensure that your fantastic location isn't too big. It's no fun to have a character spend
multiple rounds running to the far side of an arena—only to arrive just in time to watch the other characters drop
the big bad to the mat. Let all the characters get to the meaty part of a location in two moves at most.
Zone-Wide Effects
Sometimes a combat environment has a big ongoing effect—something that impacts all the creatures in the area,
no matter where they are. Such zone-wide effects can make a fight more interesting, as with any of the following
examples:
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Unholy energy in a crypt makes healing magic only half as effective as normal.
Supernatural fire negates any creature's resistance to fire, and turns immunity to fire into resistance.
Psychic wailing forces each character to succeed on a DC 10 Constitution check to successfully cast a
spell.
Periodic bolts of lightning strike, with each creature in combat having a 1-in-4 chance of being struck at
the start of their turn.
An arcane rift causes each damaging spell cast in a fight to deal an extra 2d6 force damage.
An aura of bloody rage fills the area, granting each combatant advantage on attack rolls.
A rift to a realm of chaos causes all spells to trigger a wild magic surge.
The god of blood infuses all melee attacks with an extra die of damage.
A rift in space-time lets a creature swap places with an enemy within 60 feet if that enemy fails a DC 12
Wisdom saving throw.
A thick fog makes it impossible to see creatures more than 30 feet away.
Avoid zone-wide effects that are just plain annoying. Having creatures fall down a lot because of icy floors sounds
fun—until all the characters are lying on their backs and the players are wishing they'd never entered the fight in
the first place.
Likewise, certain effects hurt some classes more than others. Disadvantage on attack rolls hurts martial
combatants more than spellcasters. Limiting movement hurts melee attackers, while limiting visibility hurts
ranged attackers. Be aware of when a zone-wide effect affects some characters more than others, so that you can
change it up if needed.
Traps and Hazards
Certain parts of a battlefield might contain traps or hazards. Some of these might be easily seen, such as bladed
pillars or spike-lined pits. Others might come as a surprise, such as a trap door over an acid pool.
Characters with high passive Wisdom (Perception) scores might notice hidden traps automatically, or you might
give each character a chance to make a Wisdom (Perception) check requiring no action—maybe even rolling on
their behalf—to detect a trap before stumbling into it.
Make sure these traps matter if you're going to put them in an encounter. Traps that are too far out of the way
might never come into play. Likewise, it can be fun for players to spring traps on their opponents, so don't use
them only as a threat against the characters.
Advantageous Positions
Getting the characters to enter an arena (literal or metaphorical) and move around can be hard. Advantageous
positions give them a reason to do so. Areas of high ground where they can gain cover against their foes—and
perhaps advantage on attacks—are highly sought after by ranged attackers. Arcane circles that infuse a
spellcaster's magic with greater power might draw wizards into a room. This approach can turn a whole
encounter into a fun game of "king of the hill" as the characters and their enemies fight for superior position.
Interactive Objects
Make sure that the battlefield features some interactive objects. This can include any physical features the
characters can manipulate and use to their advantage in a fight, including things like the following:
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Crumbling statues that can be easily toppled
Pillars that collapse part of the ceiling
Chandeliers upon which to swing
Ballistas the characters can use to fire upon their foes
Obelisks infusing the villain with power until they're destroyed
Levers that physically or magically transform parts of the battlefield
Catapults that can hurl allies to the far side of the fight
Cranes lifting heavy objects that can be dropped onto foes
Fiery cauldrons or braziers ready to tip over
Deep wells into which enemies can be dumped
Cover
Shattered pillars, crumbling statues, destroyed furniture, fallen trees, and other forms of cover can help break up
the otherwise open terrain of a big battleground. When you drop in these elements of cover, be sure that the
players understand the advantages of hiding behind them.
For bonus points, tie the history of the location and other secrets and clues to these elements of cover. It's not
just a statue—it's a statue of the forgotten god Gan, lost in history and now seeking just one follower to pull their
spark of divinity from the edges of infinite darkness.
Difficult or Fantastic Terrain
Different areas of a location might have some sort of terrain feature that can impact the fight. Difficult terrain is
the easiest option, making it challenging but not impossible to take certain routes across the battlefield. But
other areas of interesting terrain can also shake up a physical encounter. Icy floors where the characters might
slip don't work well as a zone-wide effect. But they can be great in specific areas, forcing the characters to avoid
those areas as they move.
Any of the following terrain features can make a big battle location more interesting:
A crumbling bridge over a deep crevasse

Spikes of sharp glass that cut creatures when they fall or are forced to move through them
Jets of flame that randomly erupt
Swampy land that belches forth poisonous gas when crossed
Oiled surfaces that cause creatures to slide across them uncontrollably.
Electrified floors that deal damage to creatures at the start of each turn
An area filled with antigravity magic that causes creatures to fall to the ceiling
An ethereal rift where creatures become invisible and insubstantial
Pockets of shadow where characters have their life energy drained away
An area of antilife magic where living creatures gain vulnerability to necrotic damage
A Goal
Finally, think about what objective an encounter might have beyond simply taking out all the enemies. What
might the characters do to "complete" the encounter? The following sorts of goals work well in a big set-piece
encounter:
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Stop a ritual before cultists summon a demon.
Recover an artifact and escape with it.
Kill the boss, but don't worry about their minions.
Activate a gateway and escape through it.
Recover a prisoner.
Steal secret plans.
Destroy a powerful monument.
Activate the four altars around a temple site.
Close a magical gateway and prevent the villain's escape.
Destroy a doomsday device before it blows up the multiverse.
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Monster Combinations for a Hard Challenge
When GMs design encounters, we often have a concept that includes the number of foes the characters will face.
An encounter might feature a squad of four monsters going against the characters one-to-one, or perhaps a
larger force of six or eight swarming the heroes. Or maybe we want a stronger creature, acting as a boss or
captain, with only a few other creatures to back them up. And, of course, it's always fun for characters to face a
single dangerous foe.
This section provides guidelines for combining creatures of different challenge ratings to enable these various
concepts. Simply pick your concept, consult the appropriate table for the number of characters in your game,
look up their average character level, and you have the monster challenge ratings you need to build different
types of encounters and boss scenarios. You can then use the other tips in this document to make encounters
unique.
Hard Challenge Level Monster Combinations
The challenge ratings in the tables are geared toward creating encounters that are a hard challenge. The
encounter concepts are set up along specific lines, reflecting some of the most common—and fun—combinations
of foes.
One Monster. The leftmost column notes the challenge rating expected for a solo creature whose statistics and
capabilities can build a hard challenge. Running an encounter for a single solo monster is always tricky, so make
sure an intended solo creature is up to the challenge.
Two, Four, Six, Eight, or Twelve Monsters. The other columns under Monsters of the Same CR allow you to
challenge the characters with a number of creatures of the same CR, and usually of the same type. For example,
a hard challenge for four 4th-level characters could constitute six scouts (CR 1/2) or two ogres (CR 2).
Using creatures of the same type allows you to quickly and simply tell a story as the characters find themselves
in an ogre market cavern, a caravan under attack, the room with mimics, and so forth. Using the same monsters
also lets you focus on a single stat block for ease of play.
One Boss + X Monsters. Encounter concepts often suggest a group of creatures led by a more formidable
leader. Each of the Boss Scenarios columns pairs up one boss and a number of subordinates of lower challenge
rating. For example, a group of four 3rd-level characters could face one boss of CR 2 and two subordinates of CR
1/2-perhaps an ogre explorer and the two rust monsters they've befriended.
The rightmost column under Boss Scenarios builds encounters with eight minions, two lieutenants of a higher
challenge rating, and one boss whose CR is higher again.
Using the Tables
To build encounters using the tables, follow these steps:
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Select the appropriate table, based on the number of characters in the party—four, five, or six.
In the leftmost column of the selected table, find the row containing the average character level for all the
characters. (To find the average, add up all the characters' levels, then divide by the number of characters
and round down.)
Follow that row to the column containing the encounter concept you wish to use. For example, to create an
encounter with one boss and three lesser monsters, you'd go to the 1 Boss + 3 Monsters column.
The entry you cross-referenced notes the challenge ratings of the creature or creatures in your encounter.
If a multiplier is indicated, that's the number of monsters for the preceding CR. For example, wanting to
challenge four 3rd-level characters with the encounter concept of one boss and three monsters yields an
entry of "2 + 1/4 (×3)." This indicates that you want one CR 2 creature acting as the boss, and three CR
1/4 creatures acting as subordinates.
Choose your monsters! If you're building a quick encounter, the recommendations in "Monsters by
Adventure Location" are a good starting point.
Scaling Encounters
Each of the tables is intended to build a hard encounter. However, you can easily build encounters with other
challenge levels in mind by adding or subtracting a modifier to the party's average character level:
For a deadly challenge: +1 or +2

For a medium challenge: −2
For an easy challenge: −4
For example, when building an encounter for four 10th-level characters, you could use the row for 8th-level
characters to create a medium challenge.
In all cases, be cautious with scaling. Encounters of certain types and at certain levels will be harder or easier
than the approximation would indicate. Always be prepared to adjust encounters on the fly.
Page 33 of 51
Four Characters (Hard Challenges)
Page 34 of 51
Monsters of the
Boss Scenarios
Same CR
1 Boss + 2
Character 1 2 4 6 8 12
1 Boss + 2 1 Boss + 3 1 Boss + 4
Lieutenants + 8
Level Monsters Monsters Underlings
Minions
1/2 + 1/8 1/2 + 1/8 1/4 + 1/8

1 1 1/2 1/8 1/8 0 - -
(x2) (x3) (x4)
1 + 1/4 1 + 1/4 1/2 + 1/4 (x2) +

2 3 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 0 1 + 1/8 (x4)
(x2) (x3) 0 (x8)
2 + 1/2 2 + 1/4 1 + 1/4 (x2) + 0

3 4 2 1/2 1/2 1/4 1/8 2 + 1/4 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
2 + 1/2 2 + 1/4 (x2) + 0

4 5 2 1 1/2 1/2 1/4 2 + 1 (x2) 3 + 1/4 (x4)
(x3) (x8)
3 + 1/2 (x2) +
5 8 4 2 1 1 1/2 4 + 2 (x2) 4 + 1 (x3) 4 + 1 (x4)
1/4 (x8)
4 + 1 (x2) + 1/4
6 9 5 3 2 1 1/2 5 + 2 (x2) 4 + 2 (x3) 5 + 1 (x4)
(x8)
4 + 1 (x2) + 1/2
7 10 6 3 2 1 1/2 5 + 3 (x2) 5 + 2 (x3) 6 + 1 (x4)
(x8)
4 + 2 (x2) + 1/2
8 12 7 3 3 2 1 7 + 3 (x2) 5 + 3 (x3) 6 + 2 (x4)
(x8)
5 + 2 (x2) + 1/2
9 12 8 4 3 2 1 7 + 4 (x2) 6 + 3 (x3) 6 + 3 (x4)
(x8)
5 + 2 (x2) + 1
10 14 8 4 3 2 2 7 + 5 (x2) 6 + 4 (x3) 7 + 3 (x4)
(x8)
6 + 3 (x2) + 1
11 16 9 5 4 3 2 8 + 5 (x2) 6 + 5 (x3) 9 + 3 (x4)
(x8)
7 + 4 (x2) + 1
12 18 11 6 5 4 2 9 + 7 (x2) 8 + 5 (x3) 8 + 5 (x4)
(x8)
8 + 4 (x2) + 2
13 19 12 7 5 4 3 11 + 7 (x2) 10 + 6 (x3) 10 + 5 (x4)
(x8)
8 + 5 (x2) + 2
14 20 13 8 6 4 3 11 + 8 (x2) 10 + 7 (x3) 10 + 6 (x4)
(x8)
9 + 5 (x2) + 2
15 21 14 8 7 5 4 12 + 9 (x2) 10 + 8 (x3) 10 + 7 (x4)
(x8)
12 + 10 10 + 6 (x2) + 3
16 22 15 9 7 5 4 11 + 8 (x3) 11 + 7 (x4)
(x2) (x8)
14 + 10 12 + 6 (x2) + 3
17 24 16 10 8 5 5 11 + 9 (x3) 11 + 8 (x4)
(x2) (x8)
18 26 17 11 8 6 5 14 + 12 12 + 10 12 + 9 (x4) 13 + 7 (x2) + 4
Page 35 of 51
(x2) (x3) (x8)
15 + 12 14 + 10 13 + 8 (x2) + 4
19 27 19 11 9 7 5 13 + 9 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
15 + 13 14 + 11 14 + 8 (x2) + 5
20 29 19 12 9 7 5 13 + 10 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
Page 36 of 51
Five Characters (Hard Challenges)
Page 37 of 51
Monsters of the
Boss Scenarios
Same CR
1 Boss + 2
Character 1 Boss + 2 1 Boss + 3 1 Boss + 4
1 2 4 6 8 12 Lieutenants + 8
Minions
1/2 + 1/4 1/2 + 1/8 1/4 + 1/8

1 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 0 0 -
(x2) (x3) (x4)
1 + 1/2 1 + 1/4 1/2 + 1/4 (x2) +

2 4 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 0 1 + 1/8 (x4)
(x2) (x3) 0 (x8)
2 + 1/2 2 + 1/4 1 + 1/4 (x2) +

3 5 2 1 1/2 1/2 1/4 2 + 1/4 (x4)
(x2) (x3) 1/8 (x8)
3 + 1/2 2 + 1/4 (x2) +

4 6 3 1 1 1/2 1/4 3 + 1 (x2) 3 + 1/2 (x4)
(x3) 1/8 (x8)
3 + 1 (x2) + 1/2
5 9 5 2 2 1 1/2 5 + 2 (x2) 4 + 2 (x3) 5 + 1 (x4)
(x8)
4 + 1 (x2) + 1/2
6 11 6 3 2 1 1/2 6 + 3 (x2) 5 + 2 (x3) 6 + 2 (x4)
(x8)
4 + 2 (x2) + 1
7 12 7 4 3 1 1 7 + 3 (x2) 5 + 3 (x3) 6 + 2 (x4)
(x8)
5 + 2 (x2) + 1
8 13 8 4 3 2 1 7 + 4 (x2) 7 + 3 (x3) 6 + 3 (x4)
(x8)
6 + 2 (x2) + 1
9 14 8 5 3 2 1 8 + 4 (x2) 7 + 4 (x3) 7 + 3 (x4)
(x8)
6 + 3 (x2) + 1
10 15 9 5 4 3 2 8 + 5 (x2) 8 + 4 (x3) 8 + 4 (x4)
(x8)
6 + 4 (x2) + 2
11 17 11 6 5 4 2 10 + 6 (x2) 9 + 5 (x3) 8 + 5 (x4)
(x8)
8 + 4 (x2) + 2
12 19 12 7 6 4 3 11 + 7 (x2) 10 + 6 (x3) 9 + 5 (x4)
(x8)
9 + 4 (x2) + 2
13 20 13 8 7 5 3 11 + 8 (x2) 11 + 7 (x3) 10 + 6 (x4)
(x8)
10 + 5 (x2) + 2
14 22 14 9 7 5 4 11 + 9 (x2) 12 + 7 (x3) 10 + 7 (x4)
(x8)
12 + 10 11 + 5 (x2) + 2
15 22 15 9 7 5 4 12 + 8 (x3) 12 + 7 (x4)
(x2) (x8)
12 + 11 11 + 7 (x2) + 2
16 24 16 10 8 6 4 11 + 9 (x3) 11 + 8 (x4)
(x2) (x8)
15 + 11 13 + 10 12 + 7 (x2) + 3
17 25 17 11 9 7 5 14 + 8 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
18 27 18 11 9 7 5 15 + 12 14 + 10 13 + 9 (x4) 12 + 8 (x2) + 4
Page 38 of 51
(x2) (x3) (x8)
15 + 13 14 + 11 13 + 9 (x2) + 4
19 28 20 12 10 8 6 13 + 10 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
16 + 14 15 + 12 14 + 9 (x2) + 5
20 29 20 13 10 8 6 14 + 11 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
Page 39 of 51
Six Characters (Hard Challenges)
Page 40 of 51
Monsters of the
Boss Scenarios
Same CR
1 Boss + 2
Character 1 2 4 6 8 12
1 Boss + 2 1 Boss + 3 1 Boss + 4
Lieutenants + 8
Minions
1 1 1 1/4 1/4 1/8 0 1 + 1/4 (x2) 1 + 1/4 (x3) 1 + 1/8 (x4) -
1/2 + 1/4 (x2) +

2 5 2 1/2 1/2 1/4 1/8 2 + 1/2 (x2) 2 + 1/4 (x3) 2 + 1/4 (x4)
1/8 (x8)
1 + 1/2 (x2) +
3 7 3 1 1 1/2 1/4 3 + 1 (x2) 3 + 1/2 (x3) 3 + 1/2 (x4)
1/4 (x8)
2 + 1/2 (x2) +
4 8 4 2 1 1/2 1/2 4 + 2 (x2) 4 + 1 (x3) 4 + 1/2 (x4)
1/4 (x8)
3 + 1 (x2) + 1/2
5 10 6 3 3 1 1 7 + 3 (x2) 7 + 2 (x3) 6 + 2 (x4)
(x8)
3 + 2 (x2) + 1
6 12 8 4 3 2 1 7 + 4 (x2) 6 + 4 (x3) 6 + 3 (x4)
(x8)
5 + 2 (x2) + 1
7 13 9 5 4 2 1 8 + 5 (x2) 7 + 5 (x3) 7 + 4 (x4)
(x8)
6 + 3 (x2) + 1
8 15 11 6 4 3 2 8 + 6 (x2) 8 + 5 (x3) 8 + 4 (x4)
(x8)
6 + 4 (x2) + 1
9 16 12 6 4 3 2 9 + 6 (x2) 8 + 6 (x3) 10 + 4 (x4)
(x8)
7 + 4 (x2) + 1
10 17 13 7 5 4 2 10 + 7 (x2) 9 + 6 (x3) 10 + 5 (x4)
(x8)
8 + 4 (x2) + 2
11 19 14 8 6 4 3 12 + 8 (x2) 11 + 7 (x3) 12 + 5 (x4)
(x8)
9 + 5 (x2) + 2
12 20 16 9 7 5 3 14 + 9 (x2) 13 + 8 (x3) 12 + 7 (x4)
(x8)
14 + 10 10 + 6 (x2) + 2
13 21 17 10 8 6 4 13 + 9 (x3) 12 + 8 (x4)
(x2) (x8)
15 + 10 9 + 7 (x2) + 2
14 23 17 10 8 6 4 15 + 8 (x3) 13 + 8 (x4)
(x2) (x8)
15 + 11 9 + 7 (x2) + 3
15 24 18 11 8 6 4 15 + 9 (x3) 12 + 9 (x4)
(x2) (x8)
15 + 12 15 + 10 11 + 7 (x2) + 3
16 25 19 11 9 7 4 13 + 9 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
16 + 13 16 + 11 11 + 7 (x2) + 4
17 27 20 12 10 7 5 15 + 10 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
18 + 14 17 + 12 12 + 8 (x2) + 4
18 28 21 13 11 8 5 15 + 11 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
Page 41 of 51
18 + 15 16 + 13 13 + 9 (x2) + 4
19 29 21 14 11 8 6 15 + 12 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
20 + 16 18 + 14 13 + 10 (x2) + 5
20 30 22 15 13 9 7 16 + 13 (x4)
(x2) (x3) (x8)
Page 42 of 51
Monsters by Adventure Location
This section offers quick starting points for building encounters, in the form of tables that cover a broad range of
foes in twelve types of common adventure location. The tables serve four purposes:
They show which creatures might inhabit a particular adventure location.

They highlight foes appropriate for a given level range in that location.
They show which foes might naturally pair up with other foes.
They offer example relationships between creatures and suggest what they might be doing in a location.
Though you can use the setups in the tables directly, you'll get even more value from them by customizing your
own list of foes for these common locations and scenarios—or by adding environments and scenarios that fit the
specifics of your campaign.
Each line in the "Example Encounters" column contains an example encounter with multiple monsters. You can
decide how many monsters are appropriate given the scenario, the number of characters, and their level.
Monsters who are in bold represent potential bosses for an encounter.
Ancient Ruins
Level Example Encounters
A thug leads bandits intending to rob a caravan.

1st
A vengeful shadow shifts in the darkness among a handful of arisen skeletons.
A pair of bugbear entrepreneurs use goblin actors as bait to seek adventurers as

prey.
A sorrowful banshee orders specters to recreate their former beautiful life.
2nd to 4th A gnoll pack lord bounty hunter leads gnolls and hyenas after an escaped
prisoner.
A death dog protected by wolves lairs in a ruined cave.
A lamia served by jackalweres dwells in an illusory paradise.
A wise bugbear chief leads bugbear and goblin soldiers from an obsidian throne.
A cyclops matriarch leads fanatically loyal ogres.
5th to 10th A solitary medusa dwells in a mausoleum, surrounded by petrified heroes and
protected by death dogs.
A noble oni in a posh den is guarded by loyal spirit naga storytellers.
11th to 16th An adult blue dragon is guarded by clay golems in a jeweled lair.
An ancient blue dragon protected by stone golems and air elementals dwells in
17th to 20th
the shattered remains of a tower.
Page 43 of 51
Crypts, Catacombs, Necropolises
1st A pair of skeletons rises from a pile of crawling claws.
A lost ghost wanders, surrounded by specters.

2nd to 4th
A bone naga rises from an obsidian sarcophagus to command a host of skeletons.
A mummy lord entombed in a cold-iron sarcophagus is guarded by mummies and

5th to 10th wights.
A pair of wraiths float above unholy urns surrounded by vengeful specters.
A vampire in a gilded tomb is guarded by howling dire wolves and served by

11th to 16th
vampire spawn.
A lich in an unhallowed laboratory is protected by loyal death knights and iron

17th to 20th
golems.
City Sewers
1st A wandering zombie is covered by a swarm of rats.
An erudite ghast weaves fantastic tales to their ravenous ghoul followers.

A spy is guarded by unscrupulous bandits while awaiting the arrival of a contact.
2nd to 4th An otyugh luxuriates in a watery pit, surrounded by concealed gray oozes.
Wererats try to be intimidating by threatening to feed prisoners to their giant rat
pets.
Page 44 of 51
Seedy City Streets
A giant rat and the swarm of rats that travels with them are feeding on a dead
1st body.
A thug and a pack of bandit toadies are waiting for someone to rob.
A spy assisted by thugs has been hired to steal something from the characters.
A bandit captain with berserker bodyguards and bandit followers is easily
2nd to 4th
insulted.
A cult fanatic leads cultists who have summoned ravenous dretches into the world.
A mage commanding veterans is seeking something the characters seek as well.

A bandit captain protected by hired gladiators and veterans seeks the characters
5th to 10th
with an offer they can't refuse.
A careful assassin backed up by spies and thugs hunts the characters.
Wizard's Tower
1st A loyal imp commands a squad of guardian flying swords.
2nd to 4th A summoned succubus or incubus directs animated armor serving as guards.
Apprentice mages command elementals and flesh golems.

5th to 10th An important chamber is guarded by two flameskulls and a number of helmed
horrors.
11th to 16th An impatient archmage is protected by two stone golems in an arcane laboratory.
17th to 20th A lich studies the multiverse while protected by bound balors and iron golems.
Page 45 of 51
Volcano Lair
A fire giant with pet hell hounds commands an azer to dig for them.
5th to 10th
A trapped efreeti uses fire elementals to fight for freedom.
11th to 16th An adult red dragon served by salamanders demands fealty from the characters.
17th to 20th An ancient red dragon worshiped by fire giants awakens from slumber.
Abyssal Keep
A night hag and their pet quasit schemes within a chamber guarded by hell
2nd to 4th hounds.
A summoning circle disgorges a barlgura and a gang of dretches.
5th to 10th A glabrezu commands from a throne flanked by chasmes.
A marilith, their cambion advisor, and a number of hezrou servants guard a

11th to 16th
planar gateway.
17th to 20th A balor, a servile archmage, and a squad of glabrezu soldiers guard an artifact.
Page 46 of 51
Dark Forests and Fetid Swamps
1st An elf cultist hunts prey with bloodthirsty wolves.
Two ettercaps and their giant spiders stalk adventurers.

An ettin warlord commands a host of orc mercenaries.
2nd to 4th A green hag lurks in an old hut with a pet giant toad, and is guarded by loyal
bullywugs.
A werewolf prowls the shadows with their dire wolf companions.
An orc war chief commands a force of ettin and orc scouts based in a ruined
5th to 10th
keep.
An adult black dragon commands a host of trolls made loyal through fear.
11th to 16th
An adult green dragon lurks in a dead forest, protected by shambling mounds.
An ancient black dragon dwells in a sunken bog filled with giant crocodiles.
17th to 20th An ancient green dragon rules from an ancient wooden throne guarded by loyal
treants.
Hellish Citadel
A bearded devil draws lemures through a portal connected to the river Styx.
2nd to 4th
A barbed devil and a host of imps keep watch on enemy forces.
An armored erinyes commanding a host of spined devils prepares for war.

5th to 10th
A horned devil leading bearded devil soldiers guards an oracular sphere.
11th to 16th Ice devil wardens and bone devil guards protect a valuable prisoner.
Pit fiend commanders and horned devil lieutenants use scrying crystals to get the
17th to 20th
drop on the characters.
Page 47 of 51
Frozen Fortress
Frost giant hunters enjoy the sport of their remorhaz pet stalking commoners.
5th to 10th
The bone-cluttered cave of an abominable yeti is guarded by winter wolves.
11th to 16th An adult white dragon is served by loyal frost giants.
An ancient white dragon lairing atop an inaccessible peak is worshiped by

17th to 20th
generations of abominable yetis.
Deep Caverns
A cockatrice pecks at a crumbling statue, while stirges linger above.

1st
A giant bat surrounded by swarms of bats skulks in the shadows.
Darkmantles and piercers lurk in pools of shadow.

2nd to 4th
A worg-riding goblin boss commands a squad of goblin hunters.
Basilisks and cockatrices lair in a hall full of petrified adventurers.

5th to 10th A cloaker lurks above a pack of hook horrors disemboweling a dead bulette.
Ropers and darkmantles hang above a waterfall, competing for prey.
Page 48 of 51
Sunken Grotto
1st A lizardfolk hunter is teaching their trained giant crabs how to hunt.
A sea hag commands loyal kuo-toa to set up an effigy to a fictitious god.

2nd to 4th A lizard king with a lizardfolk shaman advisor commands a clan of lizardfolk from
a coral throne.
An aboleth in a swirling pool is guarded by chuuls and worshiped by enthralled

veterans.
5th to 10th
A sahuagin baron watches a pack of sahuagin fight water weirds.
A corrupt sahuagin priestess feeds sacrificial victims to giant crocodiles.
11th to 16th A kraken rules a deep-sea trench, surrounded by reverent water elementals.
Page 49 of 51
Monsters and the Tiers of Play
How combat plays out against specific types of monsters in other 5e games changes depending on the level of the
characters. Character power progression isn't smooth and linear across levels. Rather, it spikes at particular
levels, potentially changing the outcome of a battle dramatically. As an example, the jump from 4th to 5th level
gives melee characters twice as many attacks, while spellcasters gain access to spells such as fireball,
significantly raising a party's damage output overnight. Recognizing when and how these changes take place can
help GMs understand and prepare for these shifts in game play.
1st Level
Though not identified as its own tier of play in the fifth edition core rules, games at 1st level are entirely different
from games at later levels. Characters of 1st level have few resources—hit points in particular. Creatures of CR
1/2 can kill 1st-level characters with a single critical hit, and 1st-level spellcasters have few spells able to control
more than one or two monsters.
When designing combat encounters at 1st level, be wary of using foes higher than CR 1/4, and lean toward
running fewer monsters than characters. A CR 1/2 creature might make a decent boss monster for 1st-level
characters, but a CR 1 monster might knock characters unconscious with a single hit-or even kill them
completely.
Even when running a published adventure for 1st-level characters, take note of the encounters it offers. Many
such adventures include potentially deadly encounters at 1st level, so adjust them accordingly by running lower-
CR monsters and fewer of them.
Creatures of CR 1/8 to CR 1/2 work well for 1st-level characters, including bandits, cultists, and skeletons, with
maybe a thug for a boss.
2nd through 4th Level
At 2nd through 4th level, encounters most often play out as expected for a heroic fantasy roleplaying game.
Characters are robust enough to face a range of monsters and not get killed. Most characters have a single
attack, or sometimes two if they fight with a weapon in each hand. Spells usually target one or two creatures.
Combat encounters of 2nd to 4th level are often the easiest to balance compared to other levels of play.
Characters of 2nd through 4th level can typically handle a group of monsters from challenge rating 1/8 to CR 1, a
pair of monsters of CR 2 or 3, or a single monster up to about CR 5.
Great foes at these levels include all of those appropriate for 1st-level characters, along with ogres, scouts, dire
wolves, and veterans. Cult fanatics, hags, vampire spawn, ettins, and lamias can work well for bosses at this tier.
5th to 10th Level
At 5th level, character power spikes up. Fighters can attack twice, and can double that double attack with Action
Surge. Spellcasters gain access to spells such as fireball, spirit guardians, and hypnotic pattern. As characters
rise above 5th level, their capabilities increase quickly. Monks get Stunning Strike. Spellcasters learn spells able
to take out a foe with a single failed saving throw, including banishment and polymorph.
At 5th level and above, you can no longer trust a lone nonlegendary monster to challenge a group of characters.
Often a single spell, class feature, or volley of attacks can incapacitate or kill any such creature. Against large
groups of foes, a casting of fireball or a use of Turn Undead can end the fight. Get comfortable with this change
to how your encounters are going to play out, and use lightning rod monsters to let the characters show off these
potent capabilities without ruining your fun.
Page 50 of 51
At these levels, the heroes' defensive capabilities increase as well. Characters can fly, turn invisible, or block off
entire sections of the battlefield with spells like wall of fire. Healing becomes plentiful. Paladins can protect
entire parties with their defensive features. Even lower-level defensive features such as the shield spell can be
used more often with a larger number of available spell slots.
At 5th level and above, a GM's understanding of the capabilities of the characters and how those capabilities
relate to a monster's stat block is vital to building challenging encounters. Creatures who challenge characters at
5th level and above (roughly CR 4 and up) are usually more complicated than those of lower challenge ratings.
Hard encounters put together using default encounter-building rules might be less challenging than expected.
Characters of 5th to 10th level can often take on hordes of foes of CR 1/4 to CR 1. They can usually survive
battles against groups of CR 2 to CR 5 monsters, small groups of CR 6 to CR 10 foes, and single monsters up to
CR 15.
Great foes at this tier include young dragons, giants, mages, and lower-CR demons and devils. Bosses can include
medusas, lower-CR adult dragons, mid-CR demons and devils, and maybe even an archmage.
11th to 16th level
At 11th level, characters become superheroes. They have huge amounts of resources at their disposal to handle
the hardest monsters in the game. The heroes' ability to control or incapacitate foes continues to increase, along
with their ability to dish out tremendous amounts of damage.
The variance in power and capabilities between different groups at these levels of play is wide. Challenging
battles can take significantly longer to run than those of lower levels. Monsters who feel like a good challenge
often end up easier to defeat than expected, and characters at this level can often take out a single powerful boss
with ease. Likewise, the characters have numerous options to mitigate the damage their foes deal—made worse
by the fact that many published monsters appropriate for these levels deal too little damage for their challenge
rating.
Characters at these levels can often take on large groups of monsters of up to CR 3, medium-sized groups of CR 6
to CR 10, small groups of CR 11 to CR 14, and single opponents of up to CR 21. Good foes at this tier include all
of those mentioned previously, along with ancient dragons, higher-CR giants, liches, and high-CR demons and
devils. And even at a high CR, a boss monster almost certainly wants some friends to defend against the
characters.
17th to 20th level
From 17th level up, the characters are just short of godlike. They travel across worlds. They can often easily
defeat any single monster of any challenge rating, unless the GM customizes that monster to face them.
Characters at the highest levels have the strongest defenses imaginable, letting them absorb tremendous
amounts of damage and wave off most detrimental effects. To build challenging encounters at these levels, GMs
must customize those encounters around the powers and capabilities of the characters, and such battles can take
a long time to run.
At these levels, characters can take on huge numbers of foes below CR 5, large groups of CR 6 to CR 10,
medium-sized groups of CR 11 to CR 15, and bosses of CR 22 and above. Characters at these levels can fight—
and triumph over—any monster in 5e, even when partnered with other monsters.
Page 51 of 51

5e Monster Builder

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The Lazy GM's 5e Monster Builder Resource

Updated 9 October 2023

Building a Quick Monster

Step 1: Determine Challenge Rating

Alternatively, What Challenge Rating Do You Need?

Step 2: Write Down the Baseline Statistics

Step 3: Determine Proficient Abilities

Step 4: Determine Remaining Abilities

4 9 14 84 (64-106) +6 28 2 14 (3d8 + 1) Ettin, ghost

18 > 20 21 266 (200-333) +13 113 5 23 (4d10 + 1) Demilich

19 > 20 21 285 (214-356) +13 119 5 24 (4d10 + 2) Balor

25 > 20 24 430 (323-538) +16 222 5 44 (6d10 + 11)

26 > 20 25 460 (345-575) +17 240 5 48 (6d10 + 15)

28 > 20 25 540 (405-675) +17 276 5 55 (6d10 + 22)

29 > 20 26 600 (450-750) +18 294 5 59 (6d10 + 26)

30 > 20 27 666 (500-833) +19 312 5 62 (6d10 + 29) Tarrasque

Optional Step: Consider Armor Class

Optional Step: Customize Attacks

Optional Step: Further Modify Statistics

Optional Step: Add Monster Types and Features

Minion (CR 1/8)

Small or Medium Creature

Hit Points 9 (2d8)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Senses passive Perception 11

Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Soldier (CR 1/2)

Armor Class 12 (leather armor or natural armor)

Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Senses passive Perception 10

Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Medium or Large Creature

Armor Class 13 (studded leather or natural armor)

Hit Points 45 (7d8 + 14)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Saving Throws Con +4

Senses passive Perception 10

Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Multiattack. The brute makes two attacks.

Hit Points 84 (13d8 + 26)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +4

Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception +4, Stealth +6

Senses passive Perception 14

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Multiattack. The specialist makes two attacks.

Medium or Large creature

Armor Class 15 (chain shirt or natural armor)

Hit Points 130 (20d8 + 40)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Saving Throws Dex +5, Wis +5

Senses passive Perception 15

Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3

Multiattack. The myrmidon makes three attacks.

Sentinel (CR 11)

Medium, Large, or Huge Creature

Armor Class 17 (natural armor or magical protection)