Page 91 - DnD 5e - Xanathar's Guide to Everything

MULTIPLE MONSTERS: lST-STH LEVEL
---------...hallenge Rating·-------
Character
Level 1/8 1 /4 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6
1st 1:2 1 :1 3:1 5:1
2nd 1:3 1:2 1 :1 3:1 6:1
3rd 1:5 1:2 1 :1 2:1 4:1 6:1
4th 1:8 1:4 1:2 1:1 2:1 4:1 6:1
5th 1 :12 1:8 1:4 1:2 1:1 2:1 3:1 5:1 6:1

MULTIPLE MONSTERS: 6TH-10TH LEVEL
------------Challenge Rating·------------
Character
Level 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
6th 1 :12 1:9 1:5 1:2 1 :1 2:1 2:1 4:1 5:1 6:1
7th 1:12 1:12 1:6 1:3 l :1 1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1
8th 1:12 1:12 1:7 1:4 1:2 1 :1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 6:1
9th 1 :12 1:12 1:8 1:4 1:2 1:1 1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 6:1
10th 1 :12 1:12 1:10 1:5 1:2 1 :1 1 :1 2:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 6:1

MULTIPLE MONSTERS: llTH-lSTH LEVEL
--------------\.hallenge Rating•-------------
Character
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
11th 1:6 1:3 1:2 1:1 2:1 2:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 6:1
12th 1:8 1:3 1:2 1:1 1:1 2:1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 6:1
13th 1:9 1:4 1:2 1:2 1:1 1 :1 2:1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 6:1
14th 1:10 1:4 1:3 1:2 1:1 1 :1 2:1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 4:1 5:1 6:1
15th 1:12 1:5 1:3 1:2 1:1 1 :1 1 :1 2:1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 5:1 6:1

MULTIPLE MONSTERS: 16TH-20TH LEVEL
- ----------------Challenge Rating· -----------------
Character
Level 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
16th 1:5 1:3 1:2 1:1 1:1 1:1 2:1 2:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 4:1 5:1 5:1 6:1
17th 1:7 1:4 1:3 1:2 1:1 1:1 1 :1 2:1 2:1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 4:1 5:1 6:1
18th 1:7 1:5 1:3 1:2 1:1 1:1 1 :1 2:1 2:1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 4:1 5:1 6:1 6:1
19th 1:8 1:5 1:3 1:2 1:2 1:1 l :1 1:1 2:1 2:1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 4:1 5:1 6:1 6:1
20th 1:9 1 :6 1 :4 1:2 1:2 1:1 1 :1 1:1 1:1 2:1 2:1 2:1 3:1 3:1 4:1 4:1 5:1 5:1 6:1

stack up against your group. Hit points, attacks, and number of creatures in the encounter, you can come up
saving throws are all usefuJ indicators. Compare the with different options for building the e ncounter.
damage a monster can deal to the hit point maximum of
each character. Be wary of any monster that is capable STEP 5: Ann FLAVOR
of dropping a character with a single attack, unless you The events that unfold during an encounter have to do
are designing the fight to be especially deadly. with a lot more than swinging weapons a nd casting
In the same way, compare the monsters' hit points to spells. The most interesting confrontations also take
the damage output of the party's strongest characters, into account the personality or behavior of the monsters,
again looking for targets that can be killed with one perhaps determining whether they can be communi-
blow. Having a significant number of foes drop in the cated with or whether they're all acting in concert. Other
first rounds of combat can make an encounter too easy. possible factors include the nature of the physical envi-
Likewise, look at whether a monster's deadliest ronment, such as whether it includes obstacles or other
abilities call for saving throws that most of the party features that might come into play, and the ever-present
members are weak with, and compare the characters' possibility of something unexpected taking place.
offensive abilities to the monsters' saving throws. If you al ready have ideas for how to flesh out your
If the only creatures you can choose from at the de- encounter in these ways, go right a head and finish your
sired challenge rating aren't a good match for the char- creation. Otherwise, take a look at the following sec-
acters' statistics, don't be afraid to go back to step 3. By tions for some basic advice on adding flavor elements to
altering your challenge rating targets and adjusting the the simple mechanics of the fight.

CHAPTER 2 DUNGEON MASTER'S TOOLS