
And then you add in any other monsters, and the math gets tricky! If the monster is consistently knocking you unconscious, and requiring Healing Word just to survive, then it’s likely a CR that’s nearly (but not quite) double your level. In most cases, if you’re fighting a single monster and it’s proving to be enough of a threat to use healing or spells, then it’s a CR equal to your level (if you’re a party of 4!).

The truth is, it’s difficult for players to calculate CR in the heat of battle… Especially if GMs are making their own monsters or changing existing ones.

Deadly traps should be reserved for obviously dangerous situations where you really should have listened to the DM. Your GM should only be using Setbacks and Dangerous traps for generic dungeoneering. Setbacks are standard traps, Dangerous traps are if you wanna knock the Barbarian unconscious, and Deadly traps are nearly guaranteed to trigger Instant Death rules. Hazard CR is determined by “Danger” (Setback, Dangerous, Deadly) and Character level (4 ranges of 4-6 levels).

Any less than easy is too much of a cakewalk, any more than Deadly can lead to unfair party wipes. There are three categories – Easy, Medium, Hard, Deadly – that a party is recommended to face. Then, you calculate the CR of an encounter by the XP values that the monsters give. If you’re using monsters and hazards that are prebuilt, then each of them will have a solid number. How do you decide how dangerous a monster is? Let’s find out! How to Calculate CR 5eĬR is automatically input into the monster’s logs in the Monster Manual, Tome of Foes, or any other compendium you’re using. However, you might want to consider spending spells if the enemy is incredibly dangerous, or the monster has a ton of spells itself.Īs players, CR can be the best way to determine how much trouble you’re in during an encounter. Thanks to 5e’s method of calculating attack and AC, no encounter is completely impossible for PCs.

When it is above, then you’ve got an all-out brawl on your hands! If it’s equal to the party’s level, then they might want to spend a resource or two. The CR of traps and encounters are a sign of how difficult an encounter will be if the CR of the encounter is below the party’s level, it should be easy mode. CR, or Challenge Rating, is an effective method of balancing basic 5e campaigns.
