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Challenge Ratings (CR) Calculations

Are you confused about how to create an encounter based on your party’s level? Or maybe you just need to calculate the CR of your latest NPC monster creations? We write this article for all of you Dungeon Masters and Developers to have a place and resource to go to for a more focused and organized place to find these links in a centralized location! In no way is this the gospel or the correct way to calculate CR levels, these are mere suggestions and resources for you! If you have a better way or resource, please share!

** These resources apply to DnD5e only for now. If you have other sources for other rulesets and editions, please PM me or create your own article and we will consider posting it here.

The list of link resources below were created as of the date of this article, I apologize in advance if these are not working or not valid any longer, or if they are not quite what you needed.

  1. DnD5e Encounter Calculator: http://dhmstark.co.uk/rpgs/encounter-calculator-5th/

  2. WoTC published this handy Monster Manual Creatures by Challenge Rating List to make a developer’s or DM’s Job a bit easier: https://media.wizards.com/2014/downloads/dnd/MM_MonstersCR.pdf

  3. Mike Mearls of WoTC’s take on CR Levels: http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/building-adventures-0

  4. Sly Flourish’s take on Encounter Building: http://slyflourish.com/5e_encounter_building.html

  5. Donjon’s 5e Encounter Calculator: https://donjon.bin.sh/5e/calc/enc_size.html

  6. A Custom Excel Cheat Sheet from Enworld Forums: http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=66597&d=1422673540

  7. A Fantasy Grounds Forums Discussion regarding CR Levels: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?46508-Calculating-Encounter-Challenge-Rating&highlight=Level+Calculation

  8. A quick DnD5e CR calculator link: –http://1-dot-encounter-planner.appspot.com/quick-monster-stats.html

  9. 5e Tools Calculator for CR & XP! https://5etools.com/crcalculator.html#0,13,1,3,false,Medium,1,10,false,0,false,0,

  10. A more Advanced CR level Calculator: https://iadndmn.neocities.org/CRcalc.html

  11. The Angry GM’s Article about CR Levels: https://theangrygm.com/lets-build-a-dungeon-adventure-5/

  12. Suggested link; Kobold Fight Club https://kobold.club/fight/#/encounter-builder

Also, we found in this group there is this person’s (Vorpal Tribble’s) way to adapt and figure the CR Calculations: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?208308-How-to-calculate-CR

Vorpal Tribble’s CR calculator example…

Follow these six Steps:

#1. Divide creature’s average HP by 4.5 to 6.5. 4.5 for 5 HD or lower, 5 for 6-10 HD, 5.5 for 11-15 HD, 6 for 16-20 HD., 6.5 for 20-25 HD.

#2. Add 1 for each five points above 10 its AC is, subtracting 1 for every 5 below.

#3. Add 1 for each special attack (+2 to +5 or more if its got a decent number of spells in its spell-like abilities).

#4. Add 1 for each quality unless you deem it worthy of more. Add 1 for each resistance and 10 points of DR it has, and 2 for each immunity. Subtract 1 for each vulnerability.

#5. Add 1 for every two bonus feats it has.

#6. Divide total by 3. This should be its rough CR

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