Page 90 - DnD 5e - Xanathar's Guide to Everything

For example, reading the row for 1st-level characters smaller than it is. For example, to make an easy encoun-
from the 1st- 5th Level table, we see that one 1st-level ter for a party of five characters, put them up against
character is the equiva lent of two CR 1/8 monsters or monsters that would be a tough fight for three charac-
one CR 1/4 monster. The ratio reverses for higher cha l- ters. Likewise, you can treat the party as up to ha lf again
lenge ratings, where a single monster is more powerful larger to build a battle that is potentially deadly, though
than a single 1st-level character. One CR 1/2 creature is still not likely to be an automatic defeat. A party of four
equivalent to three 1st-level characters, while one CR 1 characters facing an encounter designed for six charac-
opponent is equivalent to five. ters would fall into this category.
Let's say you have a party of four 3rd-level characters.
Using the table, you can see that one CR 2 foe is a good WEAK MONSTERS AND HIGH-LEVEL
match for the entire party, but that the characters w ill CHARACTERS
likely have a hard time handling a CR 3 creature. To save space on the tables and keep them simple, some
Using the same guidelines, you can mix and match of the lower challenge ratings are missing from the high-
challenge ratings to put together a group of creatures er-level tables. For low challenge ratings not appearing
to oppose four 3rd-level characters. For example, you on the table, assume a 1:12 ratio, indicating that twelve
could select one CR 1 creature. That's worth two 3rd- creatures of those challenge ratings are equivalent to
level characters, leaving you with two characters' worth one character of a specific level.
of mons ters to allocate. You could then add two CR 1/4
monsters to account for one other character and one CR S TEP 4: SELECT MONSTERS
1/2 mons ter to account for the final character. In total, After using the tables from the previous step to deter-
your encounter has one CR 1, one CR 1/2, and two CR mine the challenge ratings of the monsters in your en-
1/4 creatures. counter, you're ready to pick individual monsters. This
For groups in which the characters are of different lev- process is more of an art than a science.
els, you have two options. You can group all characters In addition to assessing monsters by challenge rating,
of the same level. together, match them with monsters, it's important to look at how certain monsters might
and then combine all the creatures into one encounter.
Alternatively, you can determine the group's average
level and treat each character as being of that level for IA,/\c,"'c,~i"'~ c, tol o{ .,,..i..,.io"'s is IAc.rJ..
the purpose of selecting appropriate monsters.
The above guidelines a re designed to create a fight l\01.A ,..,.J. I.At ~·Ui"'~ ,,,,.,J. .,..,.J. •c.ti"'~ IAc.t{ o{ llA ........
that will challenge a party while still being winnable. ll' s tc,sitr if '101.A cc,"' Lu1t G"' ''1' o"' <c,clA o"''·
If you want to create an easier encounter that w ill So stick witlA l,.._, <l<v<"' lots· 0
challenge characters but not threaten to defeat them,
you can treat the party as if it were roughly one-third