Shambling mound
Large plant · Challenge 5
For four level 5 characters, 1 shambling mound is a Moderate fight under the 2024 rules.
How many shambling mounds for a party of four?
The most shambling mounds that fit each difficulty. A dash means even one is too many.
| Level | 2024 rules (XP budget) | 2014 rules (stays below…) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Moderate | High | Medium | Hard | Deadly | |
| 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 4 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Mixed party or different size? Use the encounter builder; it handles any combination.
Questions
What CR is a shambling mound in 5e?
A shambling mound is challenge rating 5, worth 1,800 XP. It is a large plant with an armor class of 15 and 136 hit points on average.
How many shambling mounds should I use against a level 5 party?
For four level 5 characters under the 2024 rules: up to 1 for a Low encounter, 1 for Moderate and 2 for High.
Is a shambling mound a good fight for level 3 characters?
Not really. Even one shambling mound (1,800 XP) is beyond the High budget of four level 3 characters (1,600 XP).
Monsters of similar challenge
Troll
CR 5 · Large giant · 1,800 XP
Hill giant
CR 5 · Huge giant · 1,800 XP
Wraith
CR 5 · Medium undead · 1,800 XP
Vampire spawn
CR 5 · Medium undead · 1,800 XP
Gladiator
CR 5 · Medium humanoid · 1,800 XP
Night hag
CR 5 · Medium fiend · 1,800 XP
Statistics from the System Reference Document 5.1. Full stat block: see the SRD or your rulebook.