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Challenge Rating (CR)

Challenge Rating, usually shortened to CR, is a rough measure of how threatening a monster is to a group of four player characters. Compare it with the characters’ level, while also considering the circumstances of the encounter.

Reading a Challenge Rating

  • A CR above the characters’ level signals a potentially dangerous opponent.
  • A CR below their level usually indicates a smaller individual threat.
  • A matching CR is a comparison point, not a guarantee of an easy fight, a balanced encounter, or a particular outcome.

For example, a CR 5 creature is a threat to assess against a party around level 5. It does not mean it is an even match for one level-5 character. Fractions such as CR 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 describe creatures below CR 1; they are not fractions of a character level.

What CR does—and does not—tell you

CR is not a creature’s level, Armor Class, attack bonus, saving throw DC, or number of Hit Dice. Read the creature’s actual stat block for those values and for abilities that might be especially dangerous to your party.

The number of characters, multiple enemies, terrain, surprise, resistances, available resources, and the way creatures use their abilities can all change a fight’s difficulty. Do not simply add monster CRs together or divide a CR by the number of characters to calculate encounter difficulty. The Dungeon Master’s Guide provides encounter-building guidance.

CR, XP, and proficiency

A monster’s stat block lists its Challenge Rating alongside its Experience Point (XP) value and Proficiency Bonus. These are related statistics, but they serve different purposes: CR describes threat, XP supports advancement, and Proficiency Bonus contributes to trained rolls and other statistics. Use the printed values in the stat block rather than treating the CR itself as a roll modifier.

See Experience points & advancement and Proficiency. A player character’s Proficiency Bonus follows total character level, not the CR of a creature they control.

Summons, companions, and transformations

If a spell or feature sets a maximum CR for a creature you may choose, compare that limit with the creature’s CR and check the feature’s other restrictions, such as creature type or movement speeds. Having a low enough CR alone does not make a creature eligible.

Some magically created creatures have no CR. Use the spell or feature’s scaling stat block; do not assign a CR from the caster’s level or the spell slot used. CR by itself does not determine a companion’s command rules, duration, or number of uses.

Finding creatures in this wiki

Browse monsters by Challenge Rating or open the bestiary and read the full stat block. Creature entries retain their source editions; CR does not make different editions’ abilities interchangeable.

Source

Paraphrased from the supplied Player’s Handbook (2024), Rules Glossary, “Challenge Rating” (printed page 363; PDF page 362) and “Stat Block” (printed page 375; PDF page 374). Encounter-building details are covered by the Dungeon Master’s Guide; this page is a general player-facing explanation.