Recommended challenge ratings by level

To calculate challenge rating in 5e, you need to consider both the defensive and offensive statistics of a creature. A creature with a 1/8 challenge rating (CR) typically has an AC of 13, 7-35 hit points, and a +3 attack bonus. Compared to a CR 10 creature, which has an average of 17 AC, 206-220 hit points, and a +7 attack bonus.

On page 274 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, you can find a table that shows the various defensive and offensive elements that go into determining a creature’s monster rating:

— Defensive — — Offensive —
CR Xp +Prof. Bonus AC Hit Points Attack Bonus Damage/Round Save DC
0 10 +2 13 1-6 +3 0-1 13
1/8 25 +2 13 7-35 +3 2-3 13
1/4 50 +2 13 36-49 +3 4-5 13
1/2 100 +2 13 50-70 +3 6-8 13
1 200 +2 13 71-85 +3 9-14 13
2 450 +2 13 86-100 +3 15-20 13
3 700 +2 13 101-115 +4 21-26 13
4 1,100 +2 14 116-130 +5 27-32 14
5 1,800 +3 15 131-145 +6 33-38 15
6 2,300 +3 15 146-160 +6 39-44 15
7 2,900 +3 15 161-175 +6 45-50 15
8 3,900 +3 16 176-190 +7 51-56 16
9 5,000 +4 16 191-205 +7 57-62 16
10 5,900 +4 17 206-220 +7 63-68 16
11 7,200 +4 17 221-235 +8 69-74 17
12 8,400 +4 17 236-250 +8 75-80 18
13 10,000 +5 18 251-265 +8 81-86 18
14 11,500 +5 18 266-280 +8 87-92 18
15 13,000 +5 18 281-295 +8 93-98 18
16 15,000 +5 18 296-310 +9 99-104 18
17 18,000 +6 19 311-325 +10 105-110 19
18 20,000 +6 19 326-340 +10 111-116 19
19 22,000 +6 19 341-355 +10 117-122 19
20 25,000 +6 19 356-400 +10 123-140 19
21 33,000 +7 19 401-445 +11 141-158 20
22 41,000 +7 19 446-490 +11 159-176 20
23 50,000 +7 19 491-535 +11 177-194 20
24 62,000 +7 19 536-580 +11 195-212 21
25 75,000 +8 19 581-625 +12 213-230 21
26 90,000 +8 19 626-670 +12 231-248 21
27 105,000 +8 19 671-715 +13 249-266 22
28 120,000 +8 19 716-760 +13 267-284 22
29 135,000 +9 19 760-805 +13 285-302 22
30 155,000 +9 19 805-850 +14 303-320 23

Here’s how to use that table:

  1. Defensive Challenge Rating. First, look at your monster’s hit points and note the associated challenge rating. Then, look at the suggested AC for that hit point value. If the monster’s AC is at least two points higher or lower than challenge rating suggested by its hit points, adjust the CR up or down by 1 for every 2 points of difference.
  2. Offensive Challenge Rating. Determine the monster’s average damage per round. Note that the “damage per round” numbers in this table assume that all attacks land. For example, if a monster has multiattack and each of its attacks deals an average of 5 damage, its damage per round is 10 (even though, realistically, not all of its attacks will land, and its real DPR will be lower) (DMG 277 – Step 11). Once you know the monster’s damage per round, find it on the table above and note the challenge rating associated with it. Then, look at the attack bonus or save DC (whichever is more relevant for the monster’s damage) suggested for that challenge rating. If it’s at least two points higher or lower than the challenge rating indicated by its damage per round, adjust the CR up or down by 1 for every 2 points of difference.
  3. Average Challenge Rating. Finally, average the defensive and offensive challenge ratings. Round the average up or down to the nearest challenge rating that exists. For example, if your monster’s offensive challenge rating is 9 and their defensive challenge rating is 6, their final challenge rating is 8 (7.5 rounded up). Once you’ve determined a monster’s CR, you can assign its proficiency bonus.

Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 274-7

Other Considerations for a Creature’s Challenge Rating

Expected CR Resistance HP Mod Immunity HP Mod
1-4 x2 x2
5-10 x1.5 x2
11-16 x1.25 x1.5
17+ x1 x1.25
Feature Effect on CR
Aggressive Increase the monster’s effective per-round damage output by 2.
Ambusher Increase the monster’s effective attack bonus by 1.
Angelic Weapons Increase the monster’s effective per-round damage output by the amount noted in the trait.
Avoidance Increase the monster’s effective AC by 1.
Blood Frenzy Increase the monster’s effective attack bonus by 4.
Breath Weapon For the purpose of determining effective damage output, assume the breath weapon hits two targets, and that the target each fails its saving throw.
Brute Increase the monster’s effective per-round damage by the amount noted in the trait.
Charge Increase the monster’s damage on one attack by the amount noted in the trait.
Constrict Increase the monster’s effective AC by 1.
Damage Transfer Double the monster’s effective hit points. Add one-third of the monster’s hit points to its per-round damage.
Dive Increase the monster’s damage on one attack by the amount noted in the trait.
Elemental Body Increase the monster’s effective per-round damage by the amount noted in the trait.
Enlarge Increase the monster’s effective per-round damage by the amount noted in the trait.
Fiendish Blessing Apply the monster’s Charisma modifier to its actual AC.
Frightful Presence Increase the monster’s effective hit points by 25% if the monster is meant to face characters of 10th level or lower.
Horrifying Visage Increase the monster’s effective hit points by 25% if the monster is meant to face characters of 10th level or lower.
Innate Spellcasting The impact that Innate Spellcasting has on a monster’s challenge rating depends on the spells that the monster can cast. Spells that deal more damage than the monster’s normal attack routine and spells that increase the monster’s AC or hit points need to be accounted for when determining the monster’s final challenge rating.
Legendary Resistance Each per-day use of this trait increases the monster’s effective hit points based on the expected challenge rating.
Magic Resistance Increase the monster’s effective AC by 2.
Martial Advantage Increase the monster’s effective per-round damage by the amount gained by this trait.
Nimble Escape Increase the monster’s effective AC and effective attack bonus by 4 (assuming the monster hides every round).
Pack Tactics Increase this monster’s effective attack bonus by 1.
Parry Increase the monster’s effective AC by 1.
Possession Double the monster’s effective hit points.
Pounce Increase the monster’s effective damage for 1 round by the amount it deals with the bonus action gained from this trait.
Psychic Defense Apply the monster’s Wisdom modifier to its acual AC if the monster isn’t wearing armor or wielding a shield.
Rampage Increase the monster’s effective per-round damage by 2.
Regeneration Increase the monster’s effective hit points by 3 * the number of hit points the monster regenerates each round.
Relentless Increase the monster’s effective hit points based on the expected challenge rating: 1-4, 7 hp; 5-10, 14 hp; 11-16, 21 hp; 17 or higher, 28 hp.
Shadow Stealth Increase the monster’s effective AC by 4.
Spellcasting The impact that Spellcasting has on a monster’s challenge rating depends on the spells that the monster can cast. Spells that deal more damage than the monster’s normal attack routine and spells that increase the monster’s AC or hit points need to be accounted for when determining the monster’s final challenge rating.
Stench Increase the monster’s effective AC by 1.
Superior Invisibility Increase the monster’s effective AC by 2.
Surprise Attack Increase the monster’s effective damage for 1 round by the amount noted in the trait.
Swallow Assume the monster swallows one creature and deals 2 rounds of acid damage to it.
Undead Fortitude Increase the monster’s effective hit points based on the expected challenge rating: 1-4, 7 hp; 5-10, 14 hp; 11-16, 21 hp; 17 or higher, 28 hp.
Web Increase the monster’s effective AC by 1.

Dungeon Master’s Guide page 280-1

dungeons and dragons gnolls vs. spellcasters

Example Challenge Rating Calculation 5e

I create a monster with the following statistics:

AC Hit Points Attack Bonus Damage/Round Save DC
15 135 6 25 14

It also has resistance to nonmagical weapon damage and the Avoidance feature.

Here’s how to calculate its CR:

  1. Defensive Challenge Rating. My monster has 135 hit points, which suggests a CR of 5. However, with that expected CR and nonmagical weapon damage, this moster’s “effective HP” is 202 (135 x 1.5). This suggests a CR of 9. With the Avoidance feature, the monster’s effective AC goes from 15 to 16. This is within range of a CR 9 monster, so we are finished calculating the monster’s Defensive Challenge Rating.
  2. Offensive Challenge Rating. This monster’s damage per round is 25, which indicates a CR of 3. However, since their attack bonus of +6 indicates a CR of 5, we need to increase that CR of 3. The difference here in CR is 2, so we increase the original CR 3 to an Offensive Challenge Rating of 4.
  3. Average Challenge Rating. The monster’s Defensive Challenge Rating is 9, and its Offensive Challenge Rating is 4, so its Average Challenge Rating is 7 (6.5 rounded up). Finished!