Updated10February2015(addedlinktoMonsterTraitsandActions)ThisisthethirdinmyseriesofconversiondocumentsforD&D5thEdition.(YoucanfindtheoneforNexthereandtheonefor3.5/3E/Pathfinderhere.)Icreatedthisdocumentbycomparingthe5EversionsofmonstersfromtheMonsterManualwiththeir2Ecounterparts.Ialsoreferredtotwosourcesforconvertingmonstersfrom2Eto3E:WizardsofficialConversionManualandtheDragonMagazinearticleHowtoCreateaMonster.Iwillonceagainincludetwowarnings:

1. Ifyoucomparethe2Eand5Eversionsofmonstersyourself,youwillnoticethisconversiondoesnotproduceperfectlyidenticalresults.Iwentforapproximation,notprecision.

2. Iamfallible,sotheremaybemistakes.Ifyoufindany,letmeknow.Theendofthisdocumentalsoexplainshowtoadjusttheseguidelinesforconvertingmonstersfrom1E.YouwillneedaccesstoatleasttheD&DBasicRulesandtheMonsterManualtomakefulluseofthis.TheDungeonMastersGuide,whilenotstrictlyrequired,ishighlyrecommendedforitsmonstercreationguidelines(pages273283).Also,thankstoRussMorrisseyforasimplificationondragonAC,andthepeopleinthisENWorldthreadforgeneralhelp!ChallengeRatingBeforeyougetstarted,youshouldchooseaninitialChallengeRatingforthecreature.ThisisanestimateofthemonstersCR,whichyoucanusetoguidetherestofyourconversion.Therearetwowaystodothis:

UsetheCRofasimilar5Ecreature.Ifyouusethisapproach,thecreatureshouldalsoserveasyourreferencemonster(seeAbilityScores).

UsetheCREstimatorinAppendix1toconvertitsAD&D2EXPValue.Whenyouarefinishedconvertingyourmonsterto5E,youmaywishtoadjustthisinitialCRforabetterfit.ThebestwaytodothisistousetherulesfordeterminingCRintheDMG,butifyourepressedfortime,youcanjustcompareittosimilar5Ecreaturesonceagain.

Size5Eappearstouse3.5ssizeranges(slightlytrimmed).Thesedonotperfectlymatch2Essizecategories,soconvertthemasfollows:

2ESize 5ESize

Tiny(2orless) Tiny(2feetorless)

Small(24) Small(24feet)

Medium(47) Medium(48feet)

Large(78) Medium(48feet)

Large(812) Large(816feet)

Huge(1216) Large(816feet)

Huge(1625) Huge(1632feet)

Gargantuan(2532) Huge(1632feet)

Gargantuan(32ormore) Gargantuan(32feetormore)Youcanalsosimplyusethe2Esizecategoryasis,ifyoudontmindbeingoffbyafewfeet.Type2Edidnothavecreaturetypes,soyouwillneedtoassignthoseyourself,basedonthemonstersdescription.Thetypesareallexplainedinthe5EBasicRules.TagsAppendedtothecreaturetypein5E,thesecanbedeterminedfromthemonstersdescription.Typicaltagsincludetitan(forcreatureslikethetarrasque),shapechanger,specifictypesoffiends(suchasdemonoryugoloth),andspecifichumanoidraces(elf,thrikreen,etc.)Ifyourcreatureisntlikelytohaveanyofthetagsabove,skipthisstep.AlignmentGenerally,keepthisthesame.However,creaturesin5Emayalsobeunaligned,meaningtheyoperateoninstinctsoyoumaywanttochangeneutraltounalignedforsomecreatures.

ArmorClassItseasiesttorecalculateACfromscratch,basedontheirDexteritybonusandanyarmorworn.(MakesuretochecktherulesfordeterminingACintheBasicRulesPDF.)Ifthecreaturedidnotweararmor,andhadanACof6orbelow,theyshouldhavenaturalarmor.Inthatcase,givethema+2bonustotheirnewAC.Dragonsappeartohavestrongernaturalarmorin5E.Fornow,Isuggestestimatingtheir5EACbysubtractingitfrom19.Example:AdragonofsomesorthasAC1.Subtractthatfrom19:19(1)=19+1=20.

HitDiceIn5E,thetypeofhitdieisdeterminedbyacreaturessize.Tinycreaturesused4hitdice.Smallcreaturesused6hitdice.Mediumcreaturesused8hitdice.Largecreaturesused10hitdice.Hugecreaturesused12hitdice.Gargantuancreaturesused20hitdice.In2E,HitDicemaybedisplayedinformatslike11or5+3.ThefirstnumberisthenumberofHitDiceignorethelaternumber.Tinycreaturesshouldkeepthesamenumberofhitdiceastheyhadin2E.SmallorMediumcreaturesshouldaddonehitdie.Forexample,1d6shouldbecome2d6.Large,Huge,andGargantuancreaturesshouldaddtwohitdice.Forexample,3d10shouldbecome5d10.Averagehitpointsforcreaturesshouldberecalculatedasfollows:Xd4MultiplyXby2.5(rounddown),thenaddtheirConstitutionbonus,timesX.Xd6MultiplyXby3.5(rounddown),thenaddtheirConstitutionbonus,timesX.Xd8MultiplyXby4.5(rounddown),thenaddtheirConstitutionbonus,timesX.Xd10MultiplyXby5.5(rounddown),thenaddtheirConstitutionbonus,timesX.Xd12MultiplyXby6.5(rounddown),thenaddtheirConstitutionbonus,timesX.Xd20MultiplyXby10.5(rounddown),thenaddtheirConstitutionbonus,timesX.Example:Amonsterhas3d8HDandaConstitutionof14(+2bonus).Sotheiraveragehitpointsare4.5times3,roundeddown:13.ThenyoumultiplytheirConbonusbytheirHD,foratotalof+6.13+6=19.Twoexceptions:Oozesshouldprobablykeeptheircurrenthitdice.Dragonshavebeenupgradedalotsince2E,soany2Edragonconvertedlikeothermonstersislikelytobecomparativelyweak.Butsincewehaveonlyoneexample,Icanonlysuggestyouconvertthemlikeothercreaturesoftheirsize.

SpeedUsethe2EMovementstat,thenconvertitasfollowsforeachmovementtype(infeet).Movementupto12:Divideby3,multiplyby10,roundtonearest10.Movementabove12:Multiplyby2,roundtonearest10.Forreference,the2EabbreviationsforspecialmovementareFl(flying),Sw(swimming),Br(burrowing),Cl(climbing),andWb(movingacrosswebs).Example:AcreaturehasMovement9,Fl21.Itsnewgroundmovementis9/3=3,3x10=30feet.Itsnewflightspeedis21x2=42,roundedto40feet.Acreaturethatcanmoveacrosswebs(Wb)shouldreplacethatspeedwiththetraitWebWalker(seeGiantSpiderintheMonsterManual).

AbilityScoresTheonlyabilityscoreprovidedinmost2EstatblocksisIntelligence.Youcanusethisstatisticasgiveniftheresarange,gofortheaverageorhighestscore.IfonlytheIntelligenceratingisprovided,usethebelowforreference:

Non(0)[whichmustbeincreasedtoatleast1for5E] Animal(1) Semi(24) Low(57) Average(810) Very(1112) High(1314) Exceptional(1516) Genius(1718) Supragenius(1920) Godlike(21+)

Ifyouarereallylucky,themonstersdescriptionmaydescribeotherabilityscores.Usethemasgiveniftheyareprovided,withtheexceptionofStrength,whichshouldbeconvertedasfollows:

2EStrength 5EStrength

118 Same

18/0118/99 18

18/00(2Eogre) 19

19(2Ehillgiant) 2021

20(2Estonegiant) 2223

21(2Efrostgiant) 2324

22(2Efiregiant) 2526

23(2Ecloudgiant) 2728

24(2Estormgiant) 29

25 30

Foranyabilityscoresmissingatthispoint,youwillneedtochooseareferencemonster.Thisisanexistingmonstersimilartotheoneyoureconverting.(Forexample,askeletalundeadcouldusetheskeletonasareference.)IfyoubasedthemonstersinitialCRonanexisting5Emonster,youalreadyhaveyourreferencemonster!Usetheabilityscoresofthereferencemonstertofillinanyblanks,possiblytweakingthemasneededtofitthemonstersconceptorknownabilityscores.Whenchoosingareferencemonster,usethesesources,inthisorderofpreference:

1. TheD&D5EMonsterManual.2. MonstersfromD&DNextmaterial.3. D&D3.5sMonsterManual.Youcanusethissiteasaquickreference:

http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/monsters.htm4. TheHowtoCreateaMonsterarticle(linkedabove).

Notethatin5E,creaturesalwayshaveallsixabilityscores.Ifyouusea3.5referencemonsteranditismissinganyofthese,youshouldlookatthenextclosestNextor5Emonster,orusetheguidelinesforfillinginblanksfrommy3.5conversiondocument.Alternatively,the2EsourcebookDungeonMasterOption:HighLevelCampaignsprovidesamethodfordeterminingmonsterabilityscores,ifyouwanttofillintheblanksfromthe2Eside.Theyrecommendrollingrandomlyandconsultingatable,butIwouldusetheaverageresultonthetableinstead(results912).Another2EresourcetoconsiderisTheCompleteBookofHumanoids.NotethatanyresultingStrengthscoreswouldstillneedtobeconvertedto5E.SavingThrowsIgnorethe2Erulesformonstersavingthrows.In5E,savesareassociatedwitheachofthesixabilityscores,somostcreaturesjustusetheirabilitybonusforsaves.However,afew5Emonstersdoappeartoapplytheirproficiencybonustothesesaves.Youmaywishtodothesameforyourconvertedcreature,iftheir2Edescriptionsuggestsitshould.Inmostcases,though,youshouldprobablypassongivingyourcreatureproficiencywithsavesitsmucheasierwithoutit.

SkillsThemajorityofmonsterswillhavefewornoskills,especiallymonstersdrivenbyinstinct.Consultthe2Emonstersdescriptiontoseeifithasanytalentsthatmightmatchaparticular5Eskill.Forreference,the5Eskillsare:Athletics(Strength)Acrobatics,SleightofHand,andStealth(Dexterity)Arcana,History,Investigation,Nature,andReligion(Intelligence)AnimalHandling,Insight,Medicine,Perception,andSurvival(Wisdom)Deception,Intimidation,Performance,andPersuasion(Charisma)FulldescriptionsoftheskillscanbefoundintheBasicRulesPDF.Ifacreaturehasproficiencyinaskill,theirbonuswiththatskillisequaltotherelevantabilitybonus,plustheirproficiencybonus.Example:AmonsterhasaDexterityof15(+2bonus)andproficiencyinStealth.Thismeansthattheyshouldhavea+4bonuswithStealth(Dexterity)checks.Iftheyareamorepowerfulcreature,theymayhavea+5bonusinstead.Ifacreatureishardtosurprise,itshouldprobablyhaveproficiencyinPerception(Wisdom).Ifthecreatureisgoodatsurprisingenemies,itshouldprobablyhaveproficiencyinStealth(Dexterity).Somecreaturesseemtohaveahigherproficiencyinoneskillthantheothers,typicallydoubletheirnormalproficiencybonus(+4or+6).Forexample,doppelgangershavea+4onDeception(Charisma)checks.Youmaywishtodothesamewithacreaturessignatureskill.

Vulnerabilities,Resistances,ImmunitiesLookatthe2EcreaturesSpecialDefensesanddescriptionthisshouldgiveyouanideawhatthecreatureisvulnerableagainst(listedunderDamageVulnerabilitiesin5E),whatthecreatureisresistantagainst(listedunderDamageResistances),andwhatthecreatureisimmuneagainst(listedunderDamageImmunitiesorConditionImmunities).Some2Ecreaturescanonlybeharmedbymagicalweaponsofacertainbonus(+1,+2,etc.).ThisshouldbelistedunderDamageResistancesasfollows:bludgeoning,piercing,andslashingfromnonmagicalweaponsIfthecreaturecanonlybeharmedbysomeothermaterial,addthefollowing:...nonmagicalweaponsthatarent(silveredoradamantineor[othersubstance])Modifytheaboveasneededforotherresistances.WhenyounoteConditionImmunities,rememberthattheymayoverlapwithresistancesordamageimmunities.Forexample,acreatureimmunetopoisondamageshouldalsonotethattheyareimmunetothepoisonedcondition.Theinnateimmunitiesofundeadin5Eare:DamageImmunities:poisonConditionImmunities:poisonedOnlyaddotherimmunitiestoanundeadcreatureiftheyareseparatefromitsundeadnature.Incorporealcreaturesshouldprobablyhavethefollowingresistancesandimmunities:DamageResistances:acid,cold,fire,lightning,thunderbludgeoning,piercing,andslashingfromnonmagicalweaponsDamageImmunities:poisonConditionImmunities:grappled,paralyzed,petrified,poisoned,prone,restrained

Magicresistancehasalsobeensimplified,andisnowlistedasatraitseetheflameskullforanexample.SensesThereareonlyfoursensesestablishedin5Eatthispoint:blindsight,darkvision,tremorsense,andtruesight.2Esinfravision,ultravision,andsimilarsensesareequivalenttodarkvision.Anynonvisualreplacementforsightshouldbeblindsightortremorsense.Anycreaturewithinnatetrueseeingshouldhavetruesight.Also,allcreatureshaveapassivePerceptionscore.Thisisequalto10plustheirtotalbonustoPerception(Wisdom)checks.LanguagesRefertotheBasicRulesPDFfortheknownlanguagesin5E.Ifnolanguageforyourcreatureislistedthere,givethemthenativelanguageprovidedintheir2Edescription.

TraitsTodetermineacreaturesTraits,lookatthe2Emonstersdescription.Whenpossible,youshoulduseequivalenttraitsfromtheMonsterManualifthisisnotpossible,eitherbasetheconvertedtraitonasimilar5Etrait,orsimplyusetheoriginaltextasis.AlistoftheknownTraitsin5Ecanbefoundhere.Spellcastingisaspecialcase.Inadditiontobeingusedfor2Emonsterswithlevelsinaspellcastingclass,listsofspelllikepowersalsotendtobetranslatedasSpellcasting.(Theonlyexceptionshouldbespecificspelllikepowerswhicharereallyimportanttoacreaturesconcept,inwhichcasetheyareeitherlistedasInnateSpellcastingorbrokenoutasindividualtraits,actions,orreactions.)Ifthecreaturelistsacasterlevel,usethat.Ifnocasterlevelisprovided,usetheir2EHitDice.Makesuretousethe5Erulesforspellcasting,andreplacespellswithclosestequivalentsifnecessaryrefertotheBasicRulesformoredetails.(ForInnateSpellcasting,thespellcastingabilityistypicallyWisdomorCharisma.)ActionswithanAttackRollActionsshouldbetakenfroma2Ecreaturesnormalattacks,SpecialAttacks,ordescription.Youneedtoconvertthreethingstomaketheseinto5Eactionsthetohitbonus,thedamageinflictedbyelementsoftheattack,andanysavingthrowsrequired.AlistoftheknownActionsin5Ecanbefoundhere.ToHitIgnoretheTHAC0andrecalculatethisfromscratch.In5E,thetohitforanactionisbasedontheproficiencybonus.Thisiscombinedwiththerelevantabilitybonus(usuallyStrengthorDexterity).Notethatmostnaturalattacks(claw,bite,etc.)appeartobefinesseattacks,meaningtheycanuseeitherStrengthorDexteritywithattackrolls.Unlessyouthinkyourcreatureshouldbeaweakmeleecombatant,youshouldchoosethehighestofeitherStrengthorDexterityfortohitwithnaturalattacks.

UnusualattackslikethewraithsLifeDrainappeartoeitherhaveahigherbonus,orareusingsomethingotherthanStrengthorDexterity.Idonthaveanyspecificrecommendationsforthisrightnow,butfeelfreetoexperimentwithotherabilityscores(likeConstitutionorCharisma)ifthatseemsappropriate.Youreprobablysaferavoidingthat,however.DamageIn2E,damageisoftenexpressednotindice,butasarange,like16,312,or25.Insuchcases,youwillhavetofigureouthowmanydicethatisbeforeconverting.(Intheabovecases,its1d6,3d4,and1d4+1.)Forattacksthatuseaweapon,refertothedamagelistedintheBasicRulesPDForStarterSet.Ifthecreatureislarge,increasetheweaponsdamagediebyone(i.e.1d6becomes2d6).Ifthecreatureishuge,increasetheweaponsdamagediebytwo(i.e.1d6becomes3d6).Someespeciallyhugecreatures,andgargantuancreatures,mayincreasethedamagediebythree(i.e.1d6becomes4d6),butyoumaybesaferstickingwithtwo.Fornaturalattacksbytinyorsmallcreatures,youshouldprobablyleavethedamagedicealone.However,theminimumdamagedieappearstobe1d4,soanyweakerattacksshouldprobablyupgradetothat.(Thesamegoesfordamagedicebelow1d4forothercreatures.)Fornaturalattacksbymediumorlargercreatures,usethefollowingtable:

2EDamageDice 5EDamageDice

1d4 1d6(or2d4)

1d6 1d8(or2d6)

1d8 1d10(or2d8)

1d10 1d12(or2d10)

1d12 2d8(or2d12)Ifanattackinflictsmorethanonedieofdamage,increasethe5Edamagediebythatnumber.Forexample,2d4shouldbecome2d6(or3d4).Somecreaturesstrongestnaturalattacksseemtoaddbothonedieofdamageandincreasethedietypebyoneforexample,1d6becoming2d8.Thisshouldbeusedcarefully,however,andshouldntbeusedonmorethanoneattack.

DontforgettoaddthemonstersStrengthbonustomeleedamageandDexteritybonustorangeddamage.YoucancalculateaveragedamagethroughthemethodaboveunderHitDice.Othertypesofdamagingattacks(liketheflameskullsfireray)seemtobetreatedmuchlikethestrongestnaturalattacksabove,buttherearentmanyexamplesyet.Still,thatguidelinemayworkfornow.Dragonbreathweaponsareupgradedmuchmorethanthat,butuntilwehavemoredragons,Imreluctanttorecommendanyguidelinesthere.SavingThrowsforActions5Esavingthrowsareverydifferentfrom2E.Theyshouldprobablybeconvertedasfollows:

2ESavingThrow 5ESavingThrow

Paralyzation,Poison,orDeathMagic Constitution

Rod,Staff,orWand Wisdom(orDexterity)

PetrificationorPolymorph Constitution(orWisdom)

BreathWeapon Constitution(orDexterity)

Spell WisdomFeelfreetosubstituteadifferentabilityscoreforthesave,ifitseemsmoreappropriate.YouwillneedtocalculateaDifficultyClass(DC)forthesaveyourcreatureinflicts.Theusualwaytocalculatethisis8+proficiencybonus+theabilitybonusofthecreaturefortherelevantsave.Forexample,aCR2creaturewithConstitution13(+1bonus)thatinflictsaConstitutionsaveeffectshouldrequireaDCof11(8+2+1).

ThewraithsLifeDrainshouldbeusedinplaceof2Esenergydrainattack.RechargeSomeactionsalsohavearecharge.TwoexamplesarethegiantspidersWebandtheyounggreendragonsPoisonBreath,whichbothhavearechargeof56.Rechargeseemstocoverstrongeffectsthat,in2E,couldonlybeusedalimitednumberoftimesperday,orrequiredanumberofroundsbetweenuses.MyrecommendationistouseRecharge56formostlimiteduseactions,andkeepXperdayforespeciallystrongattacksthatshouldonlybeusedonceinabattle.

ActionswithoutanAttackRollMany5Ecreaturessuchasthedoppelganger,flameskull,grick,nothic,owlbear,andyounggreendragonhaveMultiattack,allowingthemtotakemorethanoneactionperturn.Ifyour2Emonstercouldattackmorethanonce,youshouldprobablygivethemMultiattackin5E.Notethatmostcreaturescanonlymaketwoattackstheonlyexceptionistheyounggreendragon,whichcanmakethree.Therearealsoafewcreaturesthatcantakeactionsnotrequiringanattackrollorsavingthrow.Ifyourmonstercoulddothisin2E,youcanprobablyusethemasisin5E.ReactionsAnythingthatcouldbeconvertedintoanAction,butrequiressomesortoftrigger,shouldbecategorizedasaReaction.Otherwise,theyshouldbeconvertedlikeotherActions.AlistoftheknownReactionsin5Ecanbefoundhere.FinalNotesEverythingnotmentionedabove,likeMorale,shouldprobablybedroppedin5E.Ofcourse,ifyoufeelitsveryimportanttothecreaturesconcept,feelfreetoportitoveranyway.

Appendix1:CREstimatorThebelowconversionfollowsaverybroadcomparisonofthe5ECRand2EXPValueforthesamecreaturesinbotheditions.Itsnotperfect,butitworksasaroughstartingpoint.

5ECR 2EXP

0 7

15to35

65to120

175to270

1 420

2 650

3 975to1400

4 2000

5 3000to4000

6 5000to6000

7 7000

8 8000

+1 +1000

Appendix2:1EWhiletherewereseveralunderlyingchangesbetween1Eand2E,themonsterstatisticscanbeconvertedmoreorlessthesameas2Ecreatures.Thereareafewdifferences,however,whicharemostlycosmetic.Movementratesarethesameas2E,buttheyareusuallydisplayedinthefollowingformat:[normal]/[flying]//[swimming]([burrowing])*[web]@[climb]1Eonlyrecognizesthreesizecategories:S(small),M(humansized),andL(large).Misdefinedas57feetSisanythingsmallerthan5feetLisanythinglargerthan7feet.Ifaspecificsizeinfeetisgiven,youmayusethatnumberwiththe2Esizeconversionifnot,youwillhavetochooseanappropriatesizeyourself,basedonthecreaturesdescription.XPValueiscalculateddifferentlyfrom2E.Assuch,ifyouwanttousetheirXPValuetodeterminetheir5ECR,youcannotuseAppendix1sCREstimator.Instead,usethefollowingalternativetable(ignoringtheextraXPpermonsterhp):

5ECR 1EBasicXPValue

0 5orless

5to20

20to50

50to100

1 100to200

2 200to350

3 350to650

4 650to900

5 900to1300

6 1300to1700

7 1700to2100

8 2100to2500

9 2500to3000

10 3000to3500

11 3500to4000

12 4000to4500

13 4500to5000

14 5000to5500

15 5500to6000

16 6000to6500

17 6500to7000

18 7000to7500

19 7500to8000

20 8000to9000

21 9000to10,000

22 10,000to15,000

23 15,000to20,000

+1 +5000(Notethattheoriginal1EMonsterManualdoesnotprovideXPValuesatallyouhavetorefertothe1EDungeonMastersGuide.)

PsionicAbilityislistedformany1Emonsters(aswellasasmallernumberof2Emonsters).Psionicsrulesarebeyondthescopeofthisconversion,butyoumaywishtoimportanydescribedpsionicpowersasInnateSpellcasting(seetheMindFlayerforanexample),orasothertraits,actions,orreactionsasappropriate.FYI,the1EMonsterManualIIhasalistconvertingthedamageranges(28,etc.)todicerolls,whichmaycomeinhandyforboth1Eand2Econversions.