Encounter difficulty calculator
Enter how many heroes are in your party and their level, then add monsters. The calculator uses the SRD 5.2 table to find the low, moderate and high budgets and shows where your encounter lands.
Party
Monsters
XP budget per character (SRD 5.2)
| Party's level | Low | Moderate | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 | 75 | 100 |
| 2 | 100 | 150 | 200 |
| 3 | 150 | 225 | 400 |
| 4 | 250 | 375 | 500 |
| 5 | 500 | 750 | 1.100 |
| 6 | 600 | 1.000 | 1.400 |
| 7 | 750 | 1.300 | 1.700 |
| 8 | 1.000 | 1.700 | 2.100 |
| 9 | 1.300 | 2.000 | 2.600 |
| 10 | 1.600 | 2.300 | 3.100 |
| 11 | 1.900 | 2.900 | 4.100 |
| 12 | 2.200 | 3.700 | 4.700 |
| 13 | 2.600 | 4.200 | 5.400 |
| 14 | 2.900 | 4.900 | 6.200 |
| 15 | 3.300 | 5.400 | 7.800 |
| 16 | 3.800 | 6.100 | 9.800 |
| 17 | 4.500 | 7.200 | 11.700 |
| 18 | 5.000 | 8.700 | 14.200 |
| 19 | 5.500 | 10.700 | 17.200 |
| 20 | 6.400 | 13.200 | 22.000 |
Experience points by challenge rating
| Challenge rating (CR) | XP | Challenge rating (CR) | XP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 10 | 14 | 11.500 |
| 1/8 | 25 | 15 | 13.000 |
| 1/4 | 50 | 16 | 15.000 |
| 1/2 | 100 | 17 | 18.000 |
| 1 | 200 | 18 | 20.000 |
| 2 | 450 | 19 | 22.000 |
| 3 | 700 | 20 | 25.000 |
| 4 | 1.100 | 21 | 33.000 |
| 5 | 1.800 | 22 | 41.000 |
| 6 | 2.300 | 23 | 50.000 |
| 7 | 2.900 | 24 | 62.000 |
| 8 | 3.900 | 25 | 75.000 |
| 9 | 5.000 | 26 | 90.000 |
| 10 | 5.900 | 27 | 105.000 |
| 11 | 7.200 | 28 | 120.000 |
| 12 | 8.400 | 29 | 135.000 |
| 13 | 10.000 | 30 | 155.000 |
A creature of CR 0 gives 10 XP, or 0 if it has no attacks.
How to use it
Enter the number of heroes in your party and their level. If some heroes have a different level, add another row.
Pick monsters from the encyclopedia or add them by challenge rating and count.
Compare the total monster XP with the budgets: the low, moderate and high limits show on the bar.
Frequently asked questions
How is the budget worked out?
Each hero adds the table value for their level, summed for the party. The monsters' XP is compared with this budget.
Is there a multiplier for the number of monsters?
Not in the SRD 5.2 rules. Monster XP is simply added up. Many weak monsters can still push a party harder than expected.
Can an encounter go above the high budget?
It can, but use it with care. The party should be able to flee or find another way out, or the encounter may end the heroes.