Custom Monsters
Monster and Player Character Equivalence
The following table shows the approximate combat equivalence between monster challenge ratings (CR) and player character levels. For example, a CR 1 monster is roughly equivalent to a 3rd-level player character in combat. Similarly, if a CR 1 monster is a spellcaster, it is likely a 3rd-level spellcaster.
| Monster CR | Player Character | Sample Monsters |
|---|---|---|
| CR 0 | – | Crawling claw, homunculus, human commoner |
| CR ⅛ | – | Human bandit, kobold, manes demon, stirge |
| CR ¼ | 1st Level | Goblin, pixie, pseudodragon, skeleton, zombie |
| CR ½ | 2nd Level | Cockatrice, gnoll, hobgoblin, lizardfolk, orc, worg |
| CR 1 | 3rd Level | Animated armor, bugbear, ghoul, imp, specter |
| CR 2 | 4th Level | Centaur, gargoyle, gelatinous cube, griffon, ogre |
| CR 3 | 5th–6th Level | Basilisk, hell hound, human knight, mummy, owlbear |
| CR 4 | 7th Level | Banshee, flameskull, red dragon wyrmling, succubus |
| CR 5 | 8th Level | Bulette, flesh golem, hill giant, troll, wraith |
| CR 6 | 9th Level | Chimera, cyclops, medusa, vrock demon, wyvern |
| CR 7 | 10th Level | Drow mage, illithid, shield guardian, stone giant |
| CR 8 | 11th Level | Fomorian, frost giant, hezrou demon, hydra |
| CR 9 | 12th Level | Clay golem, cloud giant, glabrezu demon, treant |
| CR 10 | 13th–14th Level | Aboleth, deva angel, stone golem, young red dragon |
| CR 11 | 15th–16th Level | Behir, djinni, efreeti, malebranche devil, remorhaz |
| CR 12 | 17th–18th Level | Boneclaw, eidolon, erinyes devil, human archmage |
| CR 13 | 19th–20th Level | Beholder, rakshasa, storm giant, vampire lord |
| CR 14–15 | – | Elder brain, gelugon devil, mummy lord, purple worm |
| CR 16–17 | – | Adult red dragon, death knight, iron golem, phoenix |
| CR 18–19 | – | Amnizu devil, balor demon, demilich, sibriex demon |
| CR 20–24 | – | Ancient red dragon, kraken, lich, pit fiend devil |
| CR 25–29 | – | Archdevil Zariel, Demon Lord Orcus, marut |
| CR 30–34 | – | Avatars of lesser deities, the Tarrasque |
| CR 35–39 | – | Avatars of intermediate deities |
| CR 40–44 | – | Avatars of greater deities |
| CR 45–49 | – | Lesser deities |
| CR 50–54 | – | Intermediate deities |
| CR 55–60 | – | Greater deities |
Custom Monster Table
The following table shows the typical statistics of monsters of various challenge ratings. As usual, follow the guidelines in the Dungeon Master’s Guide when customizing monsters.
Abbreviations:
- CR: Challenge rating of the monster.
- XP: Experience points awarded for defeating a monster of this challenge rating.
- Coins: Coinage typically carried by a monster of this challenge rating. Not all monsters carry coinage on their person, but those that do can typically be expected to carry the listed amount.
- Prof: Proficiency bonus of all monsters of this challenge rating.
- Ability Scores: Typical ability score array for monsters of this challenge rating. A monster’s actual ability score array can vary greatly from the listed array, though the sum of all ability scores typically equals the sum of the listed ability scores.
- AC: Typical Armor Class for monsters of this challenge rating. Can vary substantially depending on the monster. Monsters with lower Armor Class typically have more hit points or a higher average damage per round, and vice-versa.
- HP: Typical hit points for monsters of this challenge rating. Can vary substantially depending on the monster. Monsters with fewer hit points typically have higher Armor Class or average damage per round, and vice-versa.
- Atk: Typical attack bonus for monsters of this challenge rating.
- Save DC: Typical saving throw Difficulty Class for the spells and effects of monsters of this challenge rating.
- DpR: Typical average damage per round for monsters of this challenge rating when all attacks hit and all effects trigger. Can vary substantially depending on the monster. Monsters with lower average damage per round typically have higher Armor Class or more hit points, and vice-versa.
| CR | XP | Coins | Prof | Ability Scores | AC | HP | Atk | Save DC | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 0 | 10 XP | 2 sp | +2 | 13, 12, 10, 09, 06, 05 | 12 | 4 | +2 | 12 | 1 |
| CR ⅛ | 25 XP | 5 sp | +2 | 14, 12, 11, 09, 07, 06 | 13 | 21 | +3 | 13 | 3 |
| CR ¼ | 50 XP | 1 gp | +2 | 15, 13, 11, 10, 07, 06 | 13 | 43 | +3 | 13 | 5 |
| CR ½ | 100 XP | 2 gp | +2 | 15, 13, 12, 10, 08, 06 | 13 | 60 | +3 | 13 | 7 |
| CR 1 | 200 XP | 4 gp | +2 | 16, 14, 12, 10, 08, 06 | 13 | 78 | +3 | 13 | 12 |
| CR 2 | 450 XP | 8 gp | +2 | 16, 14, 13, 11, 08, 07 | 13 | 95 | +3 | 13 | 18 |
| CR 3 | 700 XP | 12 gp | +2 | 17, 15, 13, 11, 09, 07 | 13 | 110 | +4 | 13 | 24 |
| CR 4 | 1,100 XP | 18 gp | +2 | 17, 16, 14, 12, 09, 07 | 14 | 125 | +5 | 14 | 30 |
| CR 5 | 1,800 XP | 27 gp | +3 | 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 07 | 15 | 140 | +6 | 15 | 36 |
| CR 6 | 2,300 XP | 4 pp | +3 | 18, 17, 15, 12, 10, 08 | 15 | 155 | +6 | 15 | 42 |
| CR 7 | 2,900 XP | 6 pp | +3 | 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 08 | 15 | 170 | +6 | 15 | 48 |
| CR 8 | 3,900 XP | 9 pp | +3 | 20, 18, 15, 13, 11, 08 | 16 | 185 | +7 | 16 | 54 |
| CR 9 | 5,000 XP | 14 pp | +4 | 20, 18, 16, 14, 11, 09 | 16 | 200 | +7 | 16 | 60 |
| CR 10 | 5,900 XP | 20 pp | +4 | 21, 19, 16, 14, 12, 09 | 17 | 215 | +7 | 16 | 66 |
| CR 11 | 7,200 XP | 30 pp | +4 | 21, 20, 17, 14, 12, 09 | 17 | 230 | +8 | 17 | 72 |
| CR 12 | 8,400 XP | 44 pp | +4 | 22, 20, 17, 15, 13, 09 | 17 | 245 | +8 | 17 | 78 |
| CR 13 | 10,000 XP | 64 pp | +5 | 22, 21, 18, 15, 13, 10 | 18 | 260 | +8 | 18 | 84 |
| CR 14 | 11,500 XP | 94 pp | +5 | 23, 21, 18, 16, 13, 10 | 18 | 275 | +8 | 18 | 90 |
| CR 15 | 13,000 XP | 140 pp | +5 | 24, 22, 18, 16, 14, 10 | 18 | 290 | +8 | 18 | 96 |
| CR 16 | 15,000 XP | 200 pp | +5 | 24, 22, 19, 17, 14, 11 | 18 | 305 | +9 | 18 | 102 |
| CR 17 | 18,000 XP | 280 pp | +6 | 25, 23, 19, 17, 14, 11 | 19 | 320 | +10 | 19 | 108 |
| CR 18 | 20,000 XP | 380 pp | +6 | 25, 24, 20, 17, 15, 11 | 19 | 335 | +10 | 19 | 114 |
| CR 19 | 22,000 XP | 490 pp | +6 | 26, 24, 21, 18, 15, 11 | 19 | 350 | +10 | 19 | 120 |
| CR 20 | 25,000 XP | 610 pp | +6 | 26, 24, 22, 18, 16, 12 | 19 | 380 | +10 | 19 | 132 |
| CR 21 | 33,000 XP | 730 pp | +7 | 27, 25, 22, 18, 16, 12 | 20 | 425 | +11 | 20 | 150 |
| CR 22 | 41,000 XP | 840 pp | +7 | 28, 26, 22, 19, 16, 12 | 20 | 470 | +11 | 20 | 168 |
| CR 23 | 50,000 XP | 930 pp | +7 | 28, 26, 22, 20, 17, 13 | 20 | 515 | +11 | 20 | 186 |
| CR 24 | 62,000 XP | 970 pp | +7 | 28, 26, 23, 20, 18, 13 | 20 | 560 | +12 | 21 | 204 |
| CR 25 | 75,000 XP | 1,000 pp | +8 | 29, 27, 24, 20, 18, 13 | 20 | 605 | +12 | 21 | 222 |
| CR 26 | 90,000 XP | 1,100 pp | +8 | 30, 28, 24, 20, 19, 13 | 21 | 650 | +12 | 21 | 240 |
| CR 27 | 105,000 XP | 1,100 pp | +8 | 30, 28, 24, 22, 19, 13 | 21 | 695 | +13 | 22 | 258 |
| CR 28 | 120,000 XP | 1,200 pp | +8 | 31, 29, 24, 22, 19, 14 | 21 | 740 | +13 | 22 | 276 |
| CR 29 | 135,000 XP | 1,200 pp | +9 | 32, 29, 26, 22, 19, 14 | 21 | 785 | +13 | 22 | 294 |
| CR 30 | 155,000 XP | 1,300 pp | +9 | 32, 30, 26, 22, 20, 14 | 21 | 830 | +14 | 23 | 312 |
| CR 31 | 180,000 XP | 1,400 pp | +9 | 33, 30, 26, 23, 20, 15 | 22 | 890 | +14 | 23 | 335 |
| CR 32 | 205,000 XP | 1,400 pp | +9 | 33, 31, 27, 24, 20, 15 | 22 | 950 | +14 | 23 | 360 |
| CR 33 | 240,000 XP | 1,500 pp | +10 | 34, 31, 27, 24, 20, 16 | 22 | 1,010 | +15 | 24 | 385 |
| CR 34 | 270,000 XP | 1,600 pp | +10 | 34, 32, 28, 24, 21, 16 | 22 | 1,070 | +15 | 24 | 410 |
| CR 35 | 300,000 XP | 1,700 pp | +10 | 35, 33, 28, 25, 21, 16 | 22 | 1,130 | +15 | 24 | 435 |
| CR 36 | 345,000 XP | 1,700 pp | +10 | 36, 33, 29, 25, 21, 16 | 23 | 1,190 | +16 | 25 | 460 |
| CR 37 | 385,000 XP | 1,800 pp | +11 | 36, 34, 30, 25, 21, 17 | 23 | 1,250 | +16 | 25 | 485 |
| CR 38 | 425,000 XP | 1,900 pp | +11 | 37, 34, 30, 26, 22, 17 | 23 | 1,310 | +16 | 25 | 510 |
| CR 39 | 480,000 XP | 2,000 pp | +11 | 37, 35, 30, 26, 22, 18 | 23 | 1,370 | +17 | 26 | 535 |
| CR 40 | 520,000 XP | 2,100 pp | +11 | 38, 35, 31, 27, 22, 18 | 23 | 1,430 | +17 | 26 | 560 |
| CR 41 | 580,000 XP | 2,200 pp | +12 | 38, 36, 31, 27, 23, 19 | 24 | 1,500 | +17 | 26 | 590 |
| CR 42 | 660,000 XP | 2,300 pp | +12 | 39, 36, 32, 27, 23, 19 | 24 | 1,580 | +18 | 27 | 620 |
| CR 43 | 720,000 XP | 2,500 pp | +12 | 40, 36, 32, 28, 23, 20 | 24 | 1,650 | +18 | 27 | 650 |
| CR 44 | 790,000 XP | 2,600 pp | +12 | 40, 37, 33, 28, 24, 20 | 24 | 1,730 | +18 | 27 | 680 |
| CR 45 | 880,000 XP | 2,700 pp | +13 | 41, 38, 33, 29, 24, 20 | 24 | 1,800 | +19 | 28 | 710 |
| CR 46 | 960,000 XP | 2,800 pp | +13 | 41, 38, 33, 29, 25, 21 | 25 | 1,880 | +19 | 28 | 740 |
| CR 47 | 1,050,000 XP | 3,000 pp | +13 | 42, 39, 34, 29, 25, 21 | 25 | 2,950 | +19 | 28 | 770 |
| CR 48 | 1,150,000 XP | 3,100 pp | +13 | 42, 40, 34, 30, 26, 21 | 25 | 2,030 | +20 | 29 | 800 |
| CR 49 | 1,250,000 XP | 3,300 pp | +14 | 42, 40, 35, 30, 26, 22 | 25 | 2,100 | +20 | 29 | 830 |
| CR 50 | 1,350,000 XP | 3,500 pp | +14 | 43, 40, 36, 31, 26, 22 | 25 | 2,180 | +20 | 29 | 860 |
| CR 51 | 1,500,000 XP | 3,600 pp | +14 | 44, 41, 36, 31, 26, 23 | 26 | 2,270 | +21 | 30 | 900 |
| CR 52 | 1,600,000 XP | 3,800 pp | +14 | 45, 41, 36, 32, 26, 23 | 26 | 2,360 | +21 | 30 | 940 |
| CR 53 | 1,750,000 XP | 4,000 pp | +15 | 45, 42, 37, 32, 27, 23 | 26 | 2,450 | +21 | 30 | 980 |
| CR 54 | 1,950,000 XP | 4,200 pp | +15 | 46, 43, 37, 33, 27, 23 | 26 | 2,540 | +22 | 31 | 1,020 |
| CR 55 | 2,100,000 XP | 4,400 pp | +15 | 46, 43, 37, 33, 28, 24 | 26 | 2,630 | +22 | 31 | 1,060 |
| CR 56 | 2,250,000 XP | 4,600 pp | +15 | 47, 44, 38, 33, 28, 24 | 27 | 2,720 | +22 | 31 | 1,100 |
| CR 57 | 2,450,000 XP | 4,900 pp | +16 | 47, 44, 39, 33, 29, 25 | 27 | 2,810 | +23 | 32 | 1,140 |
| CR 58 | 2,650,000 XP | 5,100 pp | +16 | 48, 44, 39, 34, 29, 25 | 27 | 2,900 | +23 | 32 | 1,180 |
| CR 59 | 2,800,000 XP | 5,400 pp | +16 | 48, 44, 40, 34, 30, 26 | 27 | 2,990 | +23 | 32 | 1,220 |
| CR 60 | 3,050,000 XP | 5,600 pp | +16 | 49, 45, 40, 35, 30, 26 | 27 | 3,080 | +24 | 33 | 1,260 |