How To Make A Custom Monster Statblock For Dungeons And Dragons 5e
While the Dungeon Master's Guide has some rules for making custom monsters, I believe it is lackluster and lacks two crucial elements—design philosophy and the reason behind creating a monster. You can make monsters, set their challenge rating, and hit points, but without a philosophy behind it, you may find your custom stat blocks lacking in uniqueness and versatility. So, how do I go about making a custom monster? Check out below for a quick guide and the stats for the fey-infused Arcano Griffon.
Step One: Follow The DMG Guidelines
Choose A Challenge Rating: While Challenge Rating (CR) is a loose guideline at best, it is where many people start. Depending upon what level your players are, how many creatures you want to run, and your general power level will all dictate the CR of a creature. For a rough guide, a creature's challenge can be roughly equivalent to a player character of the same level. IE: A CR5 should be an adequate challenge for a level-five character that is well-built, has all their class resources available, and is armed with level-appropriate magic items.
Stats: For a CR 5, the DMG recommends it have about 131-145 hitpoints +6 to hit on attacks 33-38 damage a round and a spell save DC of 15. However, this should be adjusted by the nature of the creature. Spellcasters should have a lower HP pool, more damage sources, and some form of crowd control, while giant beasts can be taken almost beat for beat from the recommendations. Lower health can be balanced with a higher armor class or additional movement options such as low damage, high crowd control, and abilities that can counter the relatively high 33-38 damage a round.
Step Two: Compare With And Remix Existing Statblocks
There are thousands of official stat blocks for creatures in Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition. You can often find a creature that matches your intended challenge rating and has the same flavor you want. However, as D&D thrives in homebrew, you can always remix an existing stat block to create something new. For example, perhaps you love the hippogriff but want something more substantial. Maybe look towards the griffon stat block or even the Deep Crow from Acquisitions Incorporated for a potent flying creature that you can drop the sunlight sensitivity. This method works for creating a new creature all together. Taking an existing stat block, adding some spells and calling it a caster, or taking away damage numbers and creating a reduced threat monster are just some ways to remix a stat block into something new.
Step Three: Know The Why
Here is where we get into the philosophy and the why you want to create a monster rather than run a premade stat block. For me, it comes down to flavor. I have made several new beasts, not because I didn't like what wizard's had, but to allow for my players to have higher level stats for spells such as polymorph and summon greater steed. The philosophy was to improve my player's fun and provide a more unique adventure experience. So, when creating a creature, ask yourself, why? Why does this creature need to exist? What niche does it fill? How does it act differently from others? And when are you going to implement it into your home game?
Step Four: Create Unique Abilities
Finally, you must give your creature something unique that differentiates it from the masses. For example, the Arcano Griffon stat block below comes with the Gusting Wings ability, which takes an action and does no damage. Why did I choose this when it could simply go ham on the players with its beak and claws? I made this ability because, as a griffon, players are likely to encounter this beast high in the mountains or atop a wizard's tower as a protector. The damage doesn't come from the ability itself; the hurt comes from the falling damage that those who fail their save are likely to experience. The Gusting Wings ability informed the entirety of the stat block and is the reason why it has lower HP and a relatively low damage per round for a CR 5 creature, as the removal of players, particularly those with low strength, creates a more favorable position for the monster, where it need not perform on pure damage alone. Instead, the Arcano Griffon is a more technical creature, using the environment, a high wisdom stat, and its fly speed to its advantage rather than being a sack of hit points to be smacked down over time.
