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D&D 5e Beasts

The D&D 5e SRD includes 87 creatures of the beast type, from low-CR minions to legendary threats. Tap any name for its full stat block, actions and lore.

87 results

The beasts in the SRD

The 87 beasts here span CR 0 to CR 8, so the type covers several tiers of play — 30 large-sized and 20 medium-sized, with 37 more across other groups. Size matters more than the type label in practice, because it decides reach, grappling and how many of them fit in a corridor. Sort by challenge rating when you are building an encounter, and by size when you are working out whether the fight fits the room.

Running beasts

Beasts are the most useful low-tier monsters in the game because they need no explanation. They also behave predictably, which lets players feel clever: a wolf pack that uses pack tactics and flanks, a bear that defends a den and stops chasing once the party leaves. Animals fight to eat or to protect, not to the death, and a beast that breaks off is both realistic and a mercy for a first-level party.

What they need from you

Beasts are the creatures most likely to be affected by druid and ranger abilities — charm, speak with animals, and wild shape all change how the encounter plays. That is not a problem to design around; it is the payoff for those class choices. Let a player talk the wolves down. Beasts are also the standard target for tracking and survival checks, so they pair naturally with travel and hunting scenes.

Common questions

How many beasts are in the D&D 5e SRD?
The SRD includes 87 creatures of the beast type. The SRD is the free subset of the rules, so the published Monster Manual contains more.
What does the beast creature type actually do mechanically?
Creature type rarely changes a stat block on its own, but it determines what targets the creature. Spells, class features and magic items that single out a type — and the immunities common to that type — are where it matters. Check the individual stat block for the specific immunities and resistances.
Where can I get printable stat cards for these creatures?
Every creature on this page links to its full stat block. If you want them as physical cards to deal out at the table rather than pages to look up, the MakeMythic monster card bundle covers the creatures as printable stat cards with tokens and standees.

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