During your Dungeons & Dragons campaign, your group of adventurers is going to come across many creatures. No matter where you are in this fantasy world, you will have many combat encounters with any number of monsters of varying toughness. Here is a complete list of monsters you could potentially come across in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition sorted by their challenge rating. For more information on specific monsters in the list, be sure to consult the monster manual.

0 challenge rating

These monsters are typically non-hostile by nature and can often be found in towns and other areas. They will offer up at most 10 experience per kill.

  • Awakened ShrubBaboonBadgerBatCatCommonerCrabCranium RatCrawling ClawDeerEagleFrogGiant Fire BeetleGoatHawkHomunculusHyenaJackalLemureLizardMyconid sproutOctopusOwlQuipperRatRavenScorpion                                                                   Sea HorseShrieker                                                                    SpiderVultureWeasel

1/8 challenge rating

These creatures are on the lower end of threats of the D&D world. They give 25 experience per kill.

  • BanditBlood HawkBoggleCamelCultistDolphinFlumphFlying SnakeGiant CrabGiant RatGiant WeaselGuardKoboldManesMastiffMerfolkMonodroneMuleNeogi HatchlingNoblePoisonous SnakePonySlaad TadpoleStirgeTribal WarriorTwig BlightXvart

1/4 challenge rating

Now we are starting to get into monsters that you are likely to encounter in early game locations. They give 50 experience per monster.

  • AarakocraAcolyteApprentice WizardAxe BeakBlink DogBoarBullywugConstrictor SnakeCowDraft HorseDretchDrowDuodroneElkFlying SwordGiant BadgerGiant BatGiant CentipedeGiant FrogGiant LizardGiant OwlGiant Poisonous SnakeGiant Wolf SpiderGnoll WitherlingGoblinGrimlockGrungKenkuKobold InventorKuo-toaMud MephitNeedle BlightPantherPixiePseudodragonPteranodonRiding HorseSkeletonSmoke MephitSpriteSteam MephitSwarm of BatsSwarm of RatsSwarm of RavensTroglodyteVegepygmyVelociraptorViolet FungusWinged KoboldWolfZombie

1/2 challenge rating

At this challenge rating, monsters are a little more dangerous, but they aren’t unmanageable to take down solo. They give 100 experience per kill.

  • ApeBlack BearChitineCockatriceCrocodileDarklingDarkmantleDeep Gnome (Svirfneblin)Dust MephitFirenewt WarriorGas SporeGazerGiant GoatGiant Sea HorseGiant WaspGnollGnoll HunterGray OozeHobgoblinIce MephitJackalwereLizardfolkMagma MephitMagminMyconid adultOrcPiercerReef SharkRust MonsterSahuaginSatyrScoutShadowSwarm of InsectsSwarm of Rot GrubsThugTridroneVine BlightWarhorseWarhorse SkeletonWorg

1 challenge rating

These monsters are worth 200 experience and are the start of things becoming more challenging for low-level characters.

  • Animated ArmorBrass Dragon WyrmlingBrown BearBugbearCopper Dragon WyrmlingDeath DogDire WolfDryadDuergarFaerie DragonFire SnakeFirenewt Warlock of ImixGhoulGiant EagleGiant HyenaGiant OctopusGiant SpiderGiant StriderGiant ToadGiant VultureGnoll Flesh GnawerGoblin BossGrung WildlingHalf-OgreHarpyHippogriffImpKobold DragonshieldKobold Scale SorcererKuo-toa WhipLionMaw DemonNilbogQuadroneQuaggoth spore servantQuasitQuicklingScarecrowSea SpawnSpecterSpySwarm of QuippersThornyThri-kreenTigerVargouilleXvart Warlock of RaxivortYuan-ti Pureblood

2 challenge rating

450 experience will be your reward for taking down any of these monsters.

  • AllosaurusAnkhegAurochsAwakened TreeAzerBandit CaptainBardBerserkerBlack Dragon WyrmlingBronze Dragon WyrmlingCarrion CrawlerCentaurCult FanaticDarkling ElderDruidEttercapGargoyleGelatinous CubeGhastGiant BoarGiant Constrictor SnakeGiant ElkGibbering MoutherGithzerai MonkGnoll Pack LordGreen Dragon WyrmlingGrickGriffonGrung Elite WarriorGuard DrakeHobgoblin Iron ShadowHunter SharkIntellect DevourerLizardfolk ShamanMeenlockMerrowMimicMinotaur SkeletonMyconid SovereignNothicOchre JellyOgreOgre ZombieOrc Claw of LuthicOrc Eye of GruumshOrc Hand of YurtrusOrogPegasusPentadronePerytonPlesiosaurusPolar BearPriestQuaggothQuetzalcoatlusRhinocerosRug of SmotheringSaber-Toothed TigerSahuagin PriestessSea HagShadow MastiffSilver Dragon WyrmlingSpined DevilSwarm of Poisonous SnakesVegepygmy ChiefWereratWhite Dragon WyrmlingWill-o’-WispYuan-ti Broodguard

3 challenge rating

These monsters are worth 700 experience.

  • AnkylosaurusArcherBasiliskBearded DevilBlue Dragon WyrmlingBugbear ChiefCave FisherCholdrithDeep ScionDisplacer BeastDoppelgangerFlail SnailGiant ScorpionGithyanki WarriorGold Dragon WyrmlingGreen HagGrellHell HoundHobgoblin CaptainHook HorrorIllusionistKiller WhaleKnightLeucrottaManticoreMartial Arts AdeptMinotaurMummyNeogiNightmareOrc Red Fang of ShargaasOwlbearPhase SpiderRedcapSlithering TrackerSpectatorSwashbucklerTrapperVeteranWater WeirdWerewolfWightWinter WolfYetiYuan-ti Malison

4 challenge rating

1,100 experience is the reward for taking these monsters down.

  • BabauBansheeBarghestBlack PuddingBone NagaChuulCouatlElephantEttinFlameskullGhostGirallonGnoll Fang of YeenoghuHelmed HorrorHobgoblin DevastatorLamiaLizard King/QueenNeogi MasterOrc Blade of IlnevalOrc War ChiefRed Dragon WyrmlingShadow DemonSuccubusWarlock of the ArchfeyWereboarWeretigerYeth HoundYuan-ti Mind WhispererYuan-ti Nightmare Speaker

5 challenge rating

These monsters are worth 1,800 experience.

  • Air ElementalBanderhobbBarbed DevilBarlguraBeholder ZombieBuletteCambionCatoblepasDrow Elite WarriorEarth ElementalEnchanterFire ElementalFlesh GolemGiant CrocodileGiant SharkGladiatorGorgonHalf-Red Dragon VeteranHill GiantKraken PriestMaster ThiefMezzolothMindwitnessNight HagOtyughRed SlaadRevenantRoperSahuagin BaronSalamanderShambling MoundSpawn of KyussSwarm of Cranium RatsTanarukkTlincalliTransmuterTriceratopsTrollUmber HulkUnicornVampire SpawnWater ElementalWerebearWood WoadWraithXornYoung RemorhazYuan-ti Pit Master

6 challenge rating

Your experience will go up 2,300 points upon killing these.

  • Annis HagBodakChasmeChimeraConjurerCyclopsDriderGaleb DuhrGauthGithzerai ZerthHobgoblin WarlordInvisible StalkerKuo-toa ArchpriestMageMammothMedusaMouth of GrolantorVrockWarlock of the Great Old OneWyvernYoung Brass DragonYoung White Dragon

7 challenge rating

These monsters reward 2,900 points of experience per kill.

  • Bheur hagBlue SlaadDraeglothDrow MageGiant ApeGrick alphaKorredMind FlayerOniShield GuardianStone GiantWarlock of the fiendYoung Black DragonYoung Copper DragonYuan-ti Abomination

8 challenge rating

These are worth 3,900 experience.

  • AssassinBlackguardChain DevilCloakerDivinerDrow Priestress of LolthFomorianFrost GiantGithyanki KnightGreen SlaadHezrouHydraShoosuvaSpirit NagaTyrannosaurus RexYoung Bronze DragonYoung Green Dragon

9 challenge rating

These monsters have 5,000 experience hiding inside them.

  • AbjurerAbominable YetiBone DevilChampionClay GolemCloud GiantEvokerFire GiantFlindGlabrezuGray SlaadNecromancerNycalothTreantUlitharidWar priestYoung Blue DragonYoung Silver Dragon

10 challenge rating

You take 5,900 experience from these foes.

  • AbolethAlhoonDeath KissDeath SlaadDevaFroghemothGuardian NagaStone Giant DreamwalkerStone GolemYochlolYoung Gold DragonYoung Red Dragon

11 challenge rating

You get 7,200 experience for killing these monsters.

  • BehirCloud Giant Smiling OneDaoDjinniEfreetiGynosphinxHorned DevilMaridMorkothRemorhazRoc

12 challenge rating

8,400 experience is rewarded upon death.

  • ArcanalothArchdruidArchmageErinyesFrost Giant Everlasting OneKi-rinWarlordYuan-ti Anathema

13 challenge rating

10,000 experience is yours after vanquishing these foes.

  • Adult Brass DragonAdult White DragonBeholderDevourerNalfeshneeNeothelidRakshasaStorm GiantUltrolothVampireYoung Red Shadow Dragon

14 challenge rating

These monsters are worth 11,500 experience.

  • Adult Black DragonAdult Copper DragonDeath TyrantElder BrainFire Giant DreadnoughtIce Devil

15 challenge rating

These monsters reward 13,000 experience.

  • Adult Bronze DragonAdult Green DragonMummy LordPurple Worm

16 challenge rating

15,000 experience points rewarded to the group when you take down these guys.

  • Adult Blue DragonAdult Silver DragonIron GolemMarilithPlanetarStorm Giant Quintessent

17 challenge rating

18,000 experience points will be your just rewards for killing these monsters.

  • Adult Blue DracolichAdult Gold DragonAdult Red DragonAndrosphinxDeath KnightDragon TurtleGoristro

18 challenge rating

The 18th challenge rating has only one monster in it, worth 20,000 experience.

  • Demilich (outside of its lair)

19 challenge rating

Again, only one monster here, worth 22,000 experience.

  • Balor

20 challenge rating

These four foes are worth 25,000 experience.

  • Ancient Brass DragonAncient White DragonDemilich (in lair)Pit Fiend

21 challenge rating

At this high rating, you are rewarded 33,000 experience.

  • Ancient Black DragonAncient Copper DragonLich (not in lair)Solar

22 challenge rating

These two dragons and laired beast are worth 41,000 experience.

  • Ancient Bronze DragonAncient Green DragonLich (in lair)

23 challenge rating

Take down one of these bosses for 50,000 experience.

  • Ancient Blue DragonAncient Silver DragonEmpyreanKraken

24 challenge rating

The toughest of dragons are worth 62,000 experience.

  • Ancient gold dragonAncient red dragon

30 challenge rating

For taking down the strongest monster in Dungeons & Dragons, you can get 155,000 experience.

  • Tarrasque