D&D 5e Elementals
The D&D 5e SRD includes 16 creatures of the elemental type, from low-CR minions to legendary threats. Tap any name for its full stat block, actions and lore.
16 results
The elementals in the SRD
The 16 elementals here span CR 1/4 to CR 11, so the type covers several tiers of play — 7 large-sized and 5 small-sized, with 4 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 elementals
Elementals are usually summoned or bound rather than native, which gives every encounter with one an implied question: who called it, and why is it still here. Mechanically they tend to have a strong movement or damage gimmick tied to their element — moving through spaces, engulfing, or ignoring difficult terrain — and the fight is most interesting when the environment shares that element.
What they need from you
Elemental damage types are the most commonly resisted in the game, so check the party before building an encounter around one. The other consideration is that bound elementals have a reason to stop fighting: break the binding and the creature leaves rather than dying. That is a good objective to hand players who are looking for an alternative to a long fight.
Common questions
- How many elementals are in the D&D 5e SRD?
- The SRD includes 16 creatures of the elemental type. The SRD is the free subset of the rules, so the published Monster Manual contains more.
- What does the elemental 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.
From the shop
Printable Monster Cards
Every creature as a printable stat card with tokens and standees — run any of these without flipping through a book.
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