Dungeon Master's Guide

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, Don't worry if the damage output isn't matching up with the expected challenge rating for the monster. Other factors can affect a monster's challenge rating, as will be discussed in later steps, and you can always adjust a monster's damage output later on. Some monsters use natural weapons, such as claws or tail spikes. Others wield manufactured weapons. If a monster has natural weapons, you decide how much damage it deals with those attacks, as well as the type of damage. See the Monster Manual for examples. If a monster wields a manufactured weapon, it deals damage appropriate to the weapon. For example, a greataxe in the hands of a Medium monster deals ld12 slashing damage plus the monster's Strength modifier, as is normal for that weapon. Big monsters typically wield oversized weapons that deal extra dice of damage on a hit. Double the weapon dice if the creature is Large, triple the weapon dice if it's Huge, and quadruple the weapon dice if it's Gargantuan. For example, a Huge giant wielding an appropriately sized greataxe deals 3dl2 slashing damage (plus its Strength bonus), instead of the normalldl2. A creature has disadvantage on attack rolls with a weapon that is sized for a larger attacker. You can rule that a weapon sized for an attacker two or more sizes larger is too big for the creature to use at all. Overall Damage Output. To determine a monster's overall damage output, take the average damage it deals with each of its attacks in a round and add them together. If a monster has different attack options, use the monster's most effective attacks to determine its damage output. For example, a fire giant can make two greatsword attacks or one rock attack in a round. The greatsword attacks deal more damage, so that attack routine determines the fire giant's damage output. If a monster's damage output varies from round to round, calculate its damage output each round for the first three rounds of combat, and take the average. For example, a young white dragon has a multiattack routine (one bite attack and two claw attacks) that deals an average of 37 damage each round, as well as a breath weapon that deals 45 damage, or 90 if it hits two targets (and it probably will). In the first three rounds of combat, the dragon will probably get to use its breath weapon once and its multiattack routine twice, so its average damage output for the first three rounds would be (90 + 37 + 37) + 3, or 54 damage (rounded down). When calculating a monster's damage output, also account for special off-turn damage-dealing features, such as auras, reactions, legendary actions, or lair actions. For example, a balor's Fire Aura deals 10 fire damage to any creature that hits the balor with a melee attack. The aura also deals 10 fire damage to all creatures within 5 feet of the balor at the start of each of the balor's turns. If you assume that one character ~ the party is within 5 feet of the balor at all times, hittir::; it with a melee weapon every round, then the balor's damage output per round increases by 20. STEP 12. SAVE DCs A monster might have an attack or some other trait that requires a target to make a saving throw. The sa,·e DCs to resist such effects have a direct bearing on the monster's challenge rating, and vice versa. You can determine save DCs in one of two ways. Use the Table. You can start with the monster's expected challenge rating and use the Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table to determine an appropriate save DC for any effect that requires a tar e· to make a saving throw. Calculate the DCs. Alternatively, you can calculate a monster's save DCs as follows: 8 + the monster's proficiency bonus + the monster's relevant ability modifier. You choose the ability that best applies. For example, if the effect is a poison, the relevant ability is probably the monster's Constitution. If the effect is similar to that of a spell, the relevant ability might be the monster's Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. Don't worry if the save DCs aren't matching up with the expected challenge rating for the monster. Other factors can affect a monster's challenge rating, as shown in later steps, and you can always adjust the sa - DCs later on. STEP 13. SPECIAL TRAITS, ACTIONS, AND REACTIONS Some special traits (such as Magic Resistance), specia:. actions (such as· Superior Invisibility), and special reactions (such as Parry) can improve a monster's combat effectiveness and potentially increase its challenge rating. ATTACK RIDERS Many monsters have attacks that do more than deal damage. Some effects that can be added to an attack to give it a flavorful twist include: • Adding damage of a different type to the attack • Having the monster grapple the target on a hit • Allowing the monster to knock the target prone on a hit • Imposing a condition on the target if the attack hits and the target fails a saving throw CHAPTER 9 I DUNGEON MASTER'S WORKSHOP
The Monster Features table list \·arious features that you can plunder from the Monster j\tfanual. The table notes which features increase a monster's effective Armor Class, hit points, attack bonus. or damage output for the purpose of determining its challenge rating. (The features don't actually change the monster's statistics-) Features that have no effect on a monster's challenge rating are noted with a dash (-)- When assigning special traits, actions, or reactions to a monster, keep in mind that not all monsters need them. The more you add, the more complex (and harder to run) the monster becomes. Innate Spellcasting and Spellcasting. The impact that the Innate Spellcasting and Spellcasting special traits have on a monster's challenge rating depends on the spells that the monster can cast Spells that deal more damage than the monster's normal attack routine and spells that increase the monster's AC or hit points need to be accounted for when determining the monster's final challenge rating. See the "Special Traits" section in the introduction of the Monster Manual for more information on these two special traits. STEP 14. SPEED Every monster has a walking speed. (Immobile monsters have a walking speed of 0 feet) In addition to its walking speed, a monster might have one or more other speeds, including a burrowing, climbing, flying, or swimming speed. Flying Monster. Increase the monster's effective Armor Class by 2 (not its actual A C) if it can fly and deal damage at range and if its expected challenge rating is 10 or lower (higher-level characters have a greater ability to deal with flying creatures). STEP 15. SAVING THROW BONUSES If you want a monster to be unusually resistant to certain kinds of effects, you can give it a bonus to saving throws tied to a particular ability. A saving throw bonus is best used to counteract a low ability score. For example, an undead monster with a low Wisdom score might need a Wisdom saving throw bonus to account for the fact that it's more difficult to charm, frighten, or turn than its Wisdom would indicate. A saving throw bonus is equal to the monster's proficiency bonus+ the monster's relevant ability modifier. A monster with three or more saving throw bonuses has a significant defensive advantage, so its effective AC (not its actual AC) should be raised when determining its challenge rating. If it has three or four bonuses, increase its effective AC by 2. If it has five or more bonuses, increase its effective AC by 4. STEP 16. FINAL CHALLENGE RATING At this point, you have all the statistical information you need to calculate the monster's final challenge rating. This step is identical to step 4 under "Creating Quick Monster Stats." Calculate the monster's defensive challenge rating and its offensive challenge rating, then take the average to get its final challenge rating. STEP 17. SKILL BONUSES If you want a monster to be proficient in a skill, you can give it a bonus equal to its proficiency bonus on ability checks related to that skill. For example, a monster with sharp senses might have a bonus on Wisdom (Perception) checks, while a duplicitous monster might have a bonus on Charisma (Deception) checks. You can double the proficiency bonus to account for heightened mastery. For example, a doppelganger is so good at deceiving others that its bonus on Charisma (Deception) checks is equal to double its proficiency bonus + its Charisma modifier. Skill bonuses have no bearing on a monster's challenge rating. STEP 18. CONDITION IMMUNITIES A monster can be immune to one or more debilitating conditions, and these immunities have no bearing on its challenge rating. For descriptions of the various conditions, see appendix A of the Player's Handbook. As with damage immunities, condition immunities should be intuitive and logical. For example, it makes sense that a stone golem can't be poisoned, since it's a construct without a nervous system or internal organs. STEP 19. SENSES A monster might have one or more of the following special senses, which are described in the Monster Manual: blindsight, darkvision, tremorsense, and truesight. Whether the monster has special senses or not has no bearing on its challenge rating. Passive Perception Score. All monsters have a passive Wisdom (Perception) score, which is most often used to determine whether a monster detects approaching or hidden enemies. A monster's passive Wisdom (Perception) score is 10 + its Wisdom modifier. If the monster has proficiency in the Perception skill, its score is 10 +its Wisdom (Perception) bonus. STEP 20. LANGUAGES Whether a monster can speak a language has no bearing on its challenge rating. A monster can master as many spoken languages as you want, although few monsters know more than one or two, and many monsters (beasts in particular) have no spoken language whatsoever. A monster that lacks the ability to speak might still understand a language. Telepathy. Whether or not a monster has telepathy has no bearing on its challenge rating. For more information on telepathy, see the Monster Manual. NPC STAT BLOCKS ---------------- Appendix B of the Monster Manual contains stat blocks for common NPC archetypes such as bandits and guards, as well as tips for customizing them. Those tips include adding racial traits from the Player's Handbook, equipping NPCs with magic items, and swapping armor, weapons, and spells. CHAPTER 9 I DUNGEON MASTER'S WORKSHOP
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CREDITS D&D Lead Designers: Mike Me
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INTRODUCTION T'S GOOD TO BE THE DUN
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KNow YouR PLAYERS The success of a
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OUR WORLD IS THE SETTING FOR YOUR C
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for example, might also be patron o
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FORCES AND PHILOSOPHIES Not all div
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SETTLEMENTS The places where people
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_ lost settlements are agricultural
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each is ruled by a council of drow
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11ARPER5 ORDER OF THE GAUNTLET EMER
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dedicated to preserving the natural
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CREATING A CAMPAIGN The world you c
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PuTTING EvENTS IN MoTION -------- W
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• Describe or name the creature t
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Who or what is to blame for the los
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times of day. And some holy days ar
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CHARACTER NAMES Part of your campai
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Characters who reach 20th level hav
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DARK FANTASY Vampires brood on the
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HAPTER 2: CREATING A MULTIVERSE lHE
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"PLANAR PORTALS • aistlin's] eyes
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dead god or other chunks of rock dr
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ETHEREAL CURTAINS d8 Plane Color of
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S HADOWFELL • iven stood in the u
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wt of clashing energies and collidi
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PLANE OF FIRE Fire represents vibra
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·cinder Wastes ,, ' '" THE EM ENTA
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-=:;.·.,.,-,
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O PTIONAL RULE: INTENSE YEARNING -e
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that figure into the schemes of the
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Stygia is also home to its previous
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have the celestial type and are alw
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I' A
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USEFUL MAPS A good adventure needs
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O""i'Mi:.'i\ C.o~"L~ dl2 Goal Seize
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ongoing plan to commit more crimes,
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Suspects might be obvious or could
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on the characters. A love interest
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COMBAT ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTY There a
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medium, hard, and deadly encounters
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CHECKING FOR RANDOM ENCOUNTERS You
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CHAPTER 4: CREATING NONPLAYER CHARA
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BOND In a sentence, summarize the p
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protecting lower-level NPC party me
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o1 LL AIN 1 S METHODS d20 Methods M
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H A NNEL DIVINITY: TOUCH OF DEATH :
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eholder·s disintegration eye ray h
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after door and killing whatever lie
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(Perception) check. To set an appro
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WILDERNESS Between the dungeons and
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STRONGHOLDS Strongholds provide the
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THIN leE Thin ice has a weight tole
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RANDOM BUILDINGS Pulse-pounding cha
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~~ I , " ,.. /
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determining exhaustion. Swimming fo
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AIRBORNE AND WATERBORNE VEHICLES Sh
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actively looking for a trap can att
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15 Dexterity check using thieves' t
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To keep players from straying, save
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MoRE Do-\\~TIME AcTn~TIE Chapter 8,
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individuals interested in buying ma
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CHAPTER 7: TREASURE DVENTURERS STRI
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250 GP ART OBJECTS dlO Object Gold
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TREASURE HOARD: CHALLENGE 0-4 CP SP
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i cursed. Most methods of identifyi
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Dwarves might make items usable onl
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WHAT MINOR PROPERTY DOES IT HAVE? d
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MAGIC ITEM TABLE c dlOO Magic Item
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MAGIC ITEM TABLE G dlOO Magic Item
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MAGIC ITEM TABLE I dlOO 01-05 06-10
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APPARATUS OF K W A LISH ANIMATED SH
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BAG OF 110LOING dlOO Effect 01 Sd4
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The belt of stone giant strength an
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BooTs o• STRIDING AND SPRINGING B
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CLOAK OF THE MANTA RAY C I RCLE T O
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The tower is made of adamantine, an
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CHAPTER 7 I TREASURE
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~t il the start of your next turn,
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DR IFTGLOBE DusT OF DISAPPEARANCE E
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Eves OF THE EAGLE SERPENTINE Owe FI
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FLAME ToNGUE GAUNTLETS OF OGRE PowE
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HAMMER OF THUNDERBOLTS Weapon (maul
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1oLv AvENGER I MMOVABLE Roo 110RN O
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A stone has AC 24, 10 hit points, a
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JAVELIN OF LIGHTNING KEOGHTOM'S OIN
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To create a golem, you must spend t
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NINE LIVES STEALER Weapon (any swor
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P I PES OF liAUNTING PiPES OF THE S
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POTIONS OF HEALING Potion of ... He
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RING OF ANIMAL INFLUENCE FREE ACTIO
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RING OF P ROTECT ION RING OF SPELL
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Rose oF Eves The eyes on the robe c
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slots, up to a maximum of 5th level
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RoPE oF ENTANGLEMENT by the rope ca
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successfully copied. Whether the ch
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equal to 16 x the number of charge
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STAFF OF THE WooDLAND S STAFF OF WI
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TALISMAN OF THE SPHERE TALISMAN OF
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Vecna watches anyone using this tom
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AND OF LIGHTNING BOLTS -land, rare
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dlOO Effect 54-58 You cast darkness
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A LIGN MENT A sentient magic item h
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when it wants to communicate someth
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MAJOR DETRIMENTAL PROPERTIES MINOR
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Blessings of Moradin. If you are a
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psychic damage, and each non-evil c
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SwoRD OF KAs Wondrous item, artifac
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Page 242 and 243: • RESOLUTION AND CONSEQUENCES You
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Page 252 and 253: OPTIONAL RULE: DIAGONALS The Player
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Page 269 and 270: PLOT POINTS Plot points allow playe
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Page 277: STEP 9. DAMAGE VuL "ER..'\BILITIES,
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Page 289 and 290: SPELL POINTS BY LEVEL Class Level S
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Page 295 and 296: GENERAL DUNGEON CHAMBERS d100 Purpo
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Page 299 and 300: AIR dlOO 01-60 61-70 71-80 81-83 84
Page 301 and 302: CONTAINER CONTENTS dlOO Item dlOO I
Page 303 and 304: Monsters Challenge Rating (XP) Brow
Page 305 and 306: UNDERDARK MONSTERS UNDERWATER MONST
Page 307 and 308: Half-ogre Harpy Hippogriff Imp Kuo
Page 309 and 310: CHALLENGE 11 (7,200 XP) Vampire Mum
Page 312 and 313: APPENDIX C I MAPS
Page 314 and 315: APPENDiX C I MAPS
Page 316 and 317: APPENDIX D: DUNGEON MASTER INSPIRAT
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Dungeon Master's Guide

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