5e Maker · D&D 5e Encounter Builder & CR Calculator

D&D 5e Encounter Builder & CR Calculator

Calculate 2014 Basic Rules encounter difficulty, add saved stat blocks, then generate terrain and tactical ideas to review.

Deterministic encounter math

Calculate difficulty before you generate flavor

Uses the 2014 Basic Rules encounter thresholds and multiple-monster multipliers. It does not mix in the different 2024 encounter-budget method.

Party

Monsters

Difficulty

Easy

Awarded XP

900

Difficulty XP

1,350

Multiplier

×1.5

EasyMediumHardDeadly
1,0002,0003,0004,400

Awarded XP is the raw monster total. Difficulty XP applies the ×1.5 multiplier for 2 monsters and a party of 4; it is only for encounter classification.

Rules source: D&D Beyond Basic Rules (2014), Building Combat Encounters. Situational advantages, surprise, terrain, and party composition still require GM judgment.

AI encounter draft

Add terrain, tactics, and encounter flavor

Describe the party and scene. The AI result is a separate creative draft; verify its numbers with the calculator above.

No signup required · 1 free encounter draft per day · Review mechanics before play

Not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast. Uses SRD 5.1 under CC-BY-4.0.

Deterministic example

Four level-5 characters vs four CR-2 creatures

The calculator separates the arithmetic from the GM judgment that determines whether the encounter will actually feel fair.

Raw monster XP
4 × 450 XP = 1,800 XP
Group multiplier
Four monsters use a ×2 multiplier under the 2014 method
Adjusted XP
3,600 XP · above the 3,000 hard threshold and below the 4,400 deadly threshold
GM review
Terrain, surprise, party resources, and unusually dangerous abilities can change the real difficulty.

This page uses the 2014 Basic Rules calculation. It does not mix in the different 2024 encounter-building method.

About this tool

A deterministic 5e encounter calculator plus an optional AI drafting tool. Add mixed-level party groups and monsters to calculate raw XP, multiple-monster adjusted XP, and easy, medium, hard, or deadly thresholds using the 2014 Basic Rules method. Signed-in users can add their saved stat blocks directly. Then use AI for tactics, terrain, and encounter flavor, while treating party composition and situational advantages as GM judgment rather than a mathematical guarantee.

When to use it

Built for these moments.

How it works

From idea to table-ready working draft.

1

Enter the party

Add one or more character groups so mixed levels and party sizes use the correct 2014 XP thresholds.

2

Add monsters

Enter CR and count manually, or load a monster you previously reviewed and saved.

3

Judge the whole scene

Use adjusted XP as a starting point, then account for terrain, surprise, resources, and party composition.

Related tools

More from 5e Maker.

Build a monster once, then reuse it here.

Create and review an editable stat block, save it to your account, and select it inside the encounter builder.

Create a reusable monster

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