How many CR 1/8 monsters are in the D&D 5e SRD?

There are 19 CR 1/8 creatures in the SRD. That is the free subset of the game's monsters, so the full Monster Manual contains more at this rating.

What level party can handle a CR 1/8 monster?

As a rough guide, a single monster is a fair fight for a party of four characters at roughly the same level as its challenge rating. That is a starting point rather than a rule — a creature's actions, mobility and control effects matter more than its rating, so read the stat block before you commit.

How much XP is a CR 1/8 monster worth?

Each creature's XP value is listed on its stat block. When you use several in one encounter, multiply the total by the encounter multiplier for the number of monsters before comparing it with the party's budget — numbers raise difficulty faster than the raw total suggests.

Monsters by challenge rating

CR 1/8 Monsters (D&D 5e)

There are 19 CR 1/8 creatures in the D&D 5e SRD. A CR 1/8 monster is a fair challenge for a party sized to that rating — use the XP with the encounter builder. Tap any name for its stat block.

Challenge rating:

19 results

What's on the CR 1/8 list

The 19 CR 1/8 creatures in the SRD are 12 beasts and 7 humanoids. They run 2 to 15 hit points and armour class 9 to 16. Challenge rating averages offence and defence together, so two creatures sharing a rating can play completely differently — check the armour class against the party's attack bonuses before assuming a fight will be quick, because a high-AC, low-HP creature frustrates a martial party while the reverse drags.

How to use these at the table

Creatures below CR 1 are rarely a threat on their own, and that is what makes them useful. Their job is numbers: six of them acting on the same initiative turns a corridor into a real problem for a level 2 party, and the action economy does the work that a single stronger monster cannot. Run them in groups of four or more, give them a reason to flee when half of them drop, and they will produce a better fight than a lone brute of the same total XP.

Where the maths bites

Encounter budgets multiply for numbers, so eight creatures of the same low rating cost far more than eight times one of them. Check the adjusted total before you commit — a swarm that looks trivial on paper can wipe a first-level party. The other trap is table time: twelve separate turns is slow. Group identical creatures onto one initiative and roll their attacks together.

Common questions

How many CR 1/8 monsters are in the D&D 5e SRD?: There are 19 CR 1/8 creatures in the SRD. That is the free subset of the game's monsters, so the full Monster Manual contains more at this rating.
What level party can handle a CR 1/8 monster?: As a rough guide, a single monster is a fair fight for a party of four characters at roughly the same level as its challenge rating. That is a starting point rather than a rule — a creature's actions, mobility and control effects matter more than its rating, so read the stat block before you commit.
How much XP is a CR 1/8 monster worth?: Each creature's XP value is listed on its stat block. When you use several in one encounter, multiply the total by the encounter multiplier for the number of monsters before comparing it with the party's budget — numbers raise difficulty faster than the raw total suggests.

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Printable Monster Cards

Every creature as a printable stat card with tokens and standees — build the encounter, then deal out the cards.

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