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, minotaur, 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, ki-rin |
| 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.
- PB: Proficiency bonus of all monsters of this challenge rating.
- Ability Scores: Typical ability score array with corresponding ability score modifiers for monsters of this challenge rating. A monster’s actual ability score array can vary significantly from the listed array, but the highest ability score should never exceed the listed highest ability score, and the sum of a monster’s ability score modifiers should generally not differ much from the sum of the listed ability score modifiers; if it does, the monster’s other properties such as its armor class, hit points, or average damage per round should be adjusted to compensate.
- Atk: Minimum attack bonus for monsters of this challenge rating. Since a monster’s attack bonus typically derives from its highest ability score modifier, many monsters have a higher attack bonus than this listed minimum; in such cases, the monster’s other properties such as its armor class, hit points, or average damage per round should be adjusted to compensate.
- DC: Minimum saving throw Difficulty Class for the spells and effects of monsters of this challenge rating. Unlike the attack bonus, a monster’s saving throw Difficulty Class may or may not derive from its highest ability score modifier. Nevertheless, many monsters have a higher saving throw Difficulty Class than this listed minimum; in such cases, the monster’s other properties such as its armor class, hit points, or average damage per round should be adjusted to compensate.
- 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 higher average damage per round, and vice-versa.
- 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 | PB | Ability Scores | Atk | DC | AC | HP | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 0 | 10 XP | 2 sp | +2 | 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) 10(+0) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +2 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| CR ⅛ | 25 XP | 5 sp | +2 | 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +3 | 13 | 13 | 21 | 3 |
| CR ¼ | 50 XP | 1 gp | +2 | 14(+2) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +3 | 13 | 13 | 43 | 5 |
| CR ½ | 100 XP | 2 gp | +2 | 14(+2) 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +3 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 7 |
| CR 1 | 200 XP | 4 gp | +2 | 14(+2) 12(+1) 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +3 | 13 | 13 | 78 | 12 |
| CR 2 | 450 XP | 8 gp | +2 | 16(+3) 12(+1) 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +3 | 13 | 13 | 95 | 18 |
| CR 3 | 700 XP | 12 gp | +2 | 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +4 | 13 | 13 | 110 | 24 |
| CR 4 | 1,100 XP | 18 gp | +2 | 18(+4) 14(+2) 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +5 | 14 | 14 | 125 | 30 |
| CR | XP | Coins | PB | Ability Scores | Atk | DC | AC | HP | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 5 | 1,800 XP | 27 gp | +3 | 18(+4) 14(+2) 14(+2) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +6 | 15 | 15 | 140 | 36 |
| CR 6 | 2,300 XP | 4 pp | +3 | 18(+4) 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +6 | 15 | 15 | 155 | 42 |
| CR 7 | 2,900 XP | 6 pp | +3 | 20(+5) 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) 10(+0) 10(+0) | +6 | 15 | 15 | 170 | 48 |
| CR 8 | 3,900 XP | 9 pp | +3 | 20(+5) 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) | +7 | 16 | 16 | 185 | 54 |
| CR 9 | 5,000 XP | 14 pp | +4 | 20(+5) 18(+4) 14(+2) 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) | +7 | 16 | 16 | 200 | 60 |
| CR 10 | 5,900 XP | 20 pp | +4 | 20(+5) 18(+4) 16(+3) 12(+1) 12(+1) 10(+0) | +7 | 16 | 17 | 215 | 66 |
| CR 11 | 7,200 XP | 30 pp | +4 | 22(+6) 18(+4) 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) 10(+0) | +8 | 17 | 17 | 230 | 72 |
| CR 12 | 8,400 XP | 44 pp | +4 | 22(+6) 20(+5) 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) 10(+0) | +8 | 17 | 17 | 245 | 78 |
| CR | XP | Coins | PB | Ability Scores | Atk | DC | AC | HP | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 13 | 10,000 XP | 64 pp | +5 | 22(+6) 20(+5) 18(+4) 14(+2) 12(+1) 10(+0) | +8 | 18 | 18 | 260 | 84 |
| CR 14 | 11,500 XP | 94 pp | +5 | 22(+6) 20(+5) 18(+4) 16(+3) 12(+1) 10(+0) | +8 | 18 | 18 | 275 | 90 |
| CR 15 | 13,000 XP | 140 pp | +5 | 24(+7) 20(+5) 18(+4) 16(+3) 14(+2) 10(+0) | +8 | 18 | 18 | 290 | 96 |
| CR 16 | 15,000 XP | 200 pp | +5 | 24(+7) 20(+5) 18(+4) 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) | +9 | 18 | 18 | 305 | 102 |
| CR 17 | 18,000 XP | 280 pp | +6 | 24(+7) 22(+6) 18(+4) 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) | +10 | 19 | 19 | 320 | 108 |
| CR 18 | 20,000 XP | 380 pp | +6 | 24(+7) 22(+6) 20(+5) 16(+3) 14(+2) 12(+1) | +10 | 19 | 19 | 335 | 114 |
| CR 19 | 22,000 XP | 490 pp | +6 | 26(+8) 22(+6) 20(+5) 18(+4) 14(+2) 12(+1) | +10 | 19 | 19 | 350 | 120 |
| CR 20 | 25,000 XP | 610 pp | +6 | 26(+8) 22(+6) 20(+5) 18(+4) 16(+3) 12(+1) | +10 | 19 | 19 | 380 | 132 |
| CR | XP | Coins | PB | Ability Scores | Atk | DC | AC | HP | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 21 | 33,000 XP | 730 pp | +7 | 26(+8) 24(+7) 20(+5) 18(+4) 16(+3) 12(+1) | +11 | 20 | 20 | 425 | 150 |
| CR 22 | 41,000 XP | 840 pp | +7 | 26(+8) 24(+7) 20(+5) 18(+4) 16(+3) 14(+2) | +11 | 20 | 20 | 470 | 168 |
| CR 23 | 50,000 XP | 930 pp | +7 | 28(+9) 24(+7) 22(+6) 18(+4) 16(+3) 14(+2) | +11 | 20 | 20 | 515 | 186 |
| CR 24 | 62,000 XP | 970 pp | +7 | 28(+9) 24(+7) 22(+6) 20(+5) 16(+3) 14(+2) | +12 | 21 | 20 | 560 | 204 |
| CR 25 | 75,000 XP | 1,000 pp | +8 | 28(+9) 26(+8) 22(+6) 20(+5) 16(+3) 14(+2) | +12 | 21 | 20 | 605 | 222 |
| CR 26 | 90,000 XP | 1,100 pp | +8 | 28(+9) 26(+8) 22(+6) 20(+5) 18(+4) 14(+2) | +12 | 21 | 21 | 650 | 240 |
| CR 27 | 105,000 XP | 1,100 pp | +8 | 30(+10) 26(+8) 24(+7) 20(+5) 18(+4) 14(+2) | +13 | 22 | 21 | 695 | 258 |
| CR 28 | 120,000 XP | 1,200 pp | +8 | 30(+10) 26(+8) 24(+7) 22(+6) 18(+4) 14(+2) | +13 | 22 | 21 | 740 | 276 |
| CR | XP | Coins | PB | Ability Scores | Atk | DC | AC | HP | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 29 | 135,000 XP | 1,200 pp | +9 | 30(+10) 28(+9) 24(+7) 22(+6) 18(+4) 14(+2) | +13 | 22 | 21 | 785 | 294 |
| CR 30 | 155,000 XP | 1,300 pp | +9 | 30(+10) 28(+9) 24(+7) 22(+6) 18(+4) 16(+3) | +14 | 23 | 21 | 830 | 312 |
| CR 31 | 175,000 XP | 1,400 pp | +9 | 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) 22(+6) 20(+5) 16(+3) | +14 | 23 | 22 | 890 | 335 |
| CR 32 | 195,000 XP | 1,400 pp | +9 | 32(+11) 28(+9) 26(+8) 22(+6) 20(+5) 16(+3) | +14 | 23 | 22 | 950 | 360 |
| CR 33 | 215,000 XP | 1,500 pp | +10 | 32(+11) 30(+10) 26(+8) 22(+6) 20(+5) 16(+3) | +15 | 24 | 22 | 1,010 | 385 |
| CR 34 | 235,000 XP | 1,600 pp | +10 | 32(+11) 30(+10) 26(+8) 22(+6) 20(+5) 18(+4) | +15 | 24 | 22 | 1,070 | 410 |
| CR 35 | 255,000 XP | 1,700 pp | +10 | 34(+12) 30(+10) 26(+8) 24(+7) 20(+5) 18(+4) | +15 | 24 | 22 | 1,130 | 435 |
| CR 36 | 280,000 XP | 1,700 pp | +10 | 34(+12) 30(+10) 28(+9) 24(+7) 20(+5) 18(+4) | +16 | 25 | 23 | 1,190 | 460 |
| CR | XP | Coins | PB | Ability Scores | Atk | DC | AC | HP | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 37 | 305,000 XP | 1,800 pp | +11 | 34(+12) 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) 20(+5) 18(+4) | +16 | 25 | 23 | 1,250 | 485 |
| CR 38 | 330,000 XP | 1,900 pp | +11 | 34(+12) 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) 22(+6) 18(+4) | +16 | 25 | 23 | 1,310 | 510 |
| CR 39 | 355,000 XP | 2,000 pp | +11 | 36(+13) 32(+11) 28(+9) 26(+8) 22(+6) 18(+4) | +17 | 26 | 23 | 1,370 | 535 |
| CR 40 | 380,000 XP | 2,100 pp | +11 | 36(+13) 32(+11) 30(+10) 26(+8) 22(+6) 18(+4) | +17 | 26 | 23 | 1,430 | 560 |
| CR 41 | 405,000 XP | 2,200 pp | +12 | 36(+13) 34(+12) 30(+10) 26(+8) 22(+6) 18(+4) | +17 | 26 | 24 | 1,500 | 590 |
| CR 42 | 430,000 XP | 2,300 pp | +12 | 36(+13) 34(+12) 30(+10) 26(+8) 22(+6) 20(+5) | +18 | 27 | 24 | 1,580 | 620 |
| CR 43 | 455,000 XP | 2,500 pp | +12 | 38(+14) 34(+12) 30(+10) 26(+8) 24(+7) 20(+5) | +18 | 27 | 24 | 1,650 | 650 |
| CR 44 | 480,000 XP | 2,600 pp | +12 | 38(+14) 34(+12) 30(+10) 28(+9) 24(+7) 20(+5) | +18 | 27 | 24 | 1,730 | 680 |
| CR | XP | Coins | PB | Ability Scores | Atk | DC | AC | HP | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 45 | 505,000 XP | 2,700 pp | +13 | 38(+14) 34(+12) 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) 20(+5) | +19 | 28 | 24 | 1,800 | 710 |
| CR 46 | 535,000 XP | 2,800 pp | +13 | 38(+14) 36(+13) 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) 20(+5) | +19 | 28 | 25 | 1,880 | 740 |
| CR 47 | 565,000 XP | 3,000 pp | +13 | 40(+15) 36(+13) 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) 22(+6) | +19 | 28 | 25 | 1,950 | 770 |
| CR 48 | 595,000 XP | 3,100 pp | +13 | 40(+15) 36(+13) 32(+11) 28(+9) 26(+8) 22(+6) | +20 | 29 | 25 | 2,030 | 800 |
| CR 49 | 625,000 XP | 3,300 pp | +14 | 40(+15) 36(+13) 32(+11) 30(+10) 26(+8) 22(+6) | +20 | 29 | 25 | 2,100 | 830 |
| CR 50 | 655,000 XP | 3,500 pp | +14 | 40(+15) 36(+13) 34(+12) 30(+10) 26(+8) 22(+6) | +20 | 29 | 25 | 2,180 | 860 |
| CR 51 | 685,000 XP | 3,600 pp | +14 | 42(+16) 38(+14) 34(+12) 30(+10) 26(+8) 22(+6) | +21 | 30 | 26 | 2,270 | 900 |
| CR 52 | 715,000 XP | 3,800 pp | +14 | 42(+16) 38(+14) 34(+12) 30(+10) 26(+8) 24(+7) | +21 | 30 | 26 | 2,360 | 940 |
| CR | XP | Coins | PB | Ability Scores | Atk | DC | AC | HP | DpR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 53 | 745,000 XP | 4,000 pp | +15 | 42(+16) 38(+14) 34(+12) 30(+10) 28(+9) 24(+7) | +21 | 30 | 26 | 2,450 | 980 |
| CR 54 | 775,000 XP | 4,200 pp | +15 | 42(+16) 38(+14) 34(+12) 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) | +22 | 31 | 26 | 2,540 | 1,020 |
| CR 55 | 805,000 XP | 4,400 pp | +15 | 44(+17) 40(+15) 34(+12) 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) | +22 | 31 | 26 | 2,630 | 1,060 |
| CR 56 | 835,000 XP | 4,600 pp | +15 | 44(+17) 40(+15) 36(+13) 32(+11) 28(+9) 24(+7) | +22 | 31 | 27 | 2,720 | 1,100 |
| CR 57 | 865,000 XP | 4,900 pp | +16 | 44(+17) 40(+15) 36(+13) 32(+11) 28(+9) 26(+8) | +23 | 32 | 27 | 2,810 | 1,140 |
| CR 58 | 895,000 XP | 5,100 pp | +16 | 44(+17) 40(+15) 36(+13) 32(+11) 30(+10) 26(+8) | +23 | 32 | 27 | 2,900 | 1,180 |
| CR 59 | 925,000 XP | 5,400 pp | +16 | 46(+18) 42(+16) 36(+13) 32(+11) 30(+10) 26(+8) | +23 | 32 | 27 | 2,990 | 1,220 |
| CR 60 | 955,000 XP | 5,600 pp | +16 | 46(+18) 42(+16) 38(+14) 32(+11) 30(+10) 26(+8) | +24 | 33 | 27 | 3,080 | 1,260 |