How many CR 3 monsters are in the D&D 5e SRD?

There are 22 CR 3 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 3 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 3 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 3 Monsters (D&D 5e)

There are 22 CR 3 creatures in the D&D 5e SRD. A CR 3 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:

What's on the CR 3 list

The 22 CR 3 creatures in the SRD are 7 monstrosities and 5 humanoids, with 10 more across other groups. They run 32 to 90 hit points and armour class 11 to 18. 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

This is the CR range that carries levels 1 to 4, where the party has few resources and no reliable answer to a bad round. A single creature in this band is a genuine fight for a small party, and two or three make a set-piece. Because characters at this tier have thin hit point totals, terrain matters more than numbers — cover, elevation and a choke point will change the outcome more than adding another monster.

Where the maths bites

Tier 1 is where published encounters most often kill characters by accident, because a single maximum-damage hit can drop a level 2 character outright. Before you run a fight here, check the monster's highest single-attack damage against the lowest hit point total at the table. If it exceeds it, that is a possible one-shot, and you should decide in advance whether you are comfortable with that.

Common questions

How many CR 3 monsters are in the D&D 5e SRD?: There are 22 CR 3 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 3 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 3 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.

From the shop

Printable Monster Cards

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

Browse Monster Cards on Etsy →

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