There are lots of iconic D&D monsters at CR 5 (and plenty of obscure ones too). They run the gamut from simple to complex, lackluster to stellar. In this ranking, I cover a bunch of challenge rating 5 creatures for 5e.
—Monstrous Heroes—
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—Chapters—
0:00 5th level and CR 5 Monsters
3:31 F Tier
4:13 D Tier
10:28 C Tier
22:25 B Tier
31:48 A Tier
41:31 S Tier
43:57 Memories to Last a Lifetime
#dungeonsanddragons #dndmonster #dnd5e
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Please take this as constructive criticism. In your video you expressed that you are trying to rework your interaction with your audience, trying for a more inclusive comfortable experience. What struck me most about your video is your knowledge, bravo, but the second is that you stare right into the camera and your blinking is almost non-existence — this is aggressive and uncomfortable for the viewer, even though unintentional. Try to work on looking away from camera in a natural way, rather like when you talk with someone. This is harder than it sounds since you are just sitting there with a camera. Your expertise with AD&D is impressive and you are pleasant to look at, but the eye contact needs softening. All my best and thank you.
Voice sounds great!
I thought succubi produced Alu-fiends? Wizards of the Coast even published an entire novel series, The Empyrean Odyssey, starring an Alu-fiend named Aliiza. Are we just going to pretend all of that doesn't exist now? Yeesh.
Another great video, Esper. Thank you.
What was the name of the track that played at the start of the video? Because it went kinda hard and I wanna listen to it on its own.
I think the defining traits of a cambion are it's direct fiendish heritage and it's unique innate abilities. I made a cambion recently as an NPC. I'll gladly rant if you're interested.
Edit: as the list goes on so many beautiful memories come to mind. Thank you for this list Esper. It's causing my nostalgia to kick into overdrive. 🙂
Awesome video man! The more approachable method works a treat. I hope this translates to more views and better circulation on the algorithm!
I like the new vibes in the video. I once ran an alip as a boss monster with legendary actions and I had it attached to a ritual to summon it. There were three cultists and three legendary actions. They figured out pretty quick to take out the cultist first.
Wait a brontosaurus is a CR5 i’d expect that to be a bit stronger CR8 maybe 9
33:05 wait kobald dragons are metallic
34:41 you should do a yuan-ti ranking video
Love the monster rankings! Prost from Florida good sir!
As someone who has loved your channel for 6+ years, I really appreciate your attitude about making small adjustments to improve your videos! No criticism or suggestions from me, I love what you do brother. Your content improves my life and mental health in a very real way. Keep it up!
The Oblex reminds me of the Master from Fallout
These monsters are all classics!
Uuuuuuh! Challenge Rating Time! I love those so much! Thanks a lot, Esper!
edit: Oh, btw – where can I find the outro music? Fantastic!
I love these crs because they’re applicable at most levels
Also in french bulette the bu- makes a different sound from the bu-sh sound, it have to spelt boulet like poulet (chicken) to sound like that, which may have been what was intended perhaps
Really like the personal pieces to camera in this vid. Feels like you're actually welcoming us viewers into your Emporium.
About the language and races in Dnd… it's not that strange. The Spanish speak Spanish, the English speak English, the Germans speak German, the Japanese speak Japanese…
We have a very different taste in monsters, I for one hate tanarukk and cambion, no way they are better then bulette and trolls for me personally.
What would you do to improve upon the tlincalli?
The power of positivity is inherent in your new style!
Is it just me, or do the asides seem distracting?
Just out of curiosity, think you'll do a 6 levels of Good video?
I think that's still interesting as compared to the 6 levels of evil video you made.
Cheers
Esper: "I'm going to be more positive."
Also Esper: "What's with all these languages named the same thing as the creature that speaks it?"
You'd prefer "Sahuaginish?" Probably too much of a mouth full, even if it would better fit the trend set by "Elvish" and "Dwarvish." The thing is, I think if humans were only capable of speaking and understanding a single language, we'd probably just call it "the human language" too.
Where would you track the Kruthik Hive Lord? It's a cr 5 monster but I didn't see it in your video despite the mention in your community post.
What's sad about the 5e Challenge Rating system is that for most of those creatures it assumes players used core rules only for their characers. I put a Barlgura plus a mob of lesser demons (dretches and manes mostly) in something that should effortlessly kill the party in an open combat (the intent was they will run away to better position where they can utilize narrow space to cancel the numbers advantage, which was but a short run back), but they took them all out in three to four rounds in an open field, with nary a scratch… Something that, by the book, should be almost 2x deadly encounter (they were level 4 at the time, if I recall correctly). This made them too cocky, and when they encountered the boss (shadow demon and two shadows, which I added specifically to make the battle last a bit longer than two rounds, given the Barlgura encounter I had every reason to assume that a less numerous encounter will be stomped) they just assumed they win that battle too (despite the magical darkness present, which gave the enemies a huge advantage), and they barely survived.
That was the adventure I learned you cannot trust the Challenge Rating in this game 🙂
My God. Accurate lore? Unique, useful D&D long- form content? Great campaign advice? And finally…David Bowie, the closest thing to Elvis our generation had (and some would say superior to him), quotes to open? You have my sub with no further questions, Sir.
I still think CR is garbage, though. Seeing a CR 2 rip through a level 4 party, while a CR 5 loses to a bunch of level one noobs, says something is wrong fundamentally with the calculations. Not to say the info you give here is bad, mind you. Great video. CR itself just needs a rework, IMHO.
i guess allips created by Suicide got to harsh for the nannys
Heyyo Esper and DnD lovers, i got striken by the lightning of inspiration one more time listening to your video…
when you talk about the Allip this tortured spirit… you used the word "anguish" (what a scary word!)
in my bad behaviour of foreigner i mispelled it "Hang-Wish" ohhhhhhhhhhhh …
what about a ghost ambushing adventurers from the ceilings of grim dark caves or crypts with a rope and psychic terror skills…
the victime would have to succeed in wisdom or charisma saving throws to fight back the confusion and focus on breaking free from the tight noose strangling it steadily that the ghost is pulling up laughing sarcasticly…
this encounter would hang on a cliffhanger and the tension would be …. breath taking 🤪😧😧😧😧😧