Creation Templates

If you decide a monster should have an animal companion or mount, choose an animal from the list of a summon nature’s ally spell. The spell must have a level no higher than 1/2 the monster’s CR. Treat the companion as an additional creature in the encounter, awarding XP for defeating it as if it were an independent creature rather than an animal companion.

Alternatively, you can create an animal from scratch using simple monster creation. This monster should have a CR no higher than 1 + 1/2 the primary monster’s CR. Award XP for defeating it as if it were not an animal companion.

Spells

This step is only for monsters that use the spellcaster array. For monsters that know only a few spells (rather than being focused primarily on spellcasting), choose an array other than spellcaster and give the monster the secondary spellcasting universal option in Step 7.

The spell choices for a spellcaster monster are intentionally limited compared to those of a full NPC, since a monster created using the simple monster creation system is designed to have enough spells to last though a single battle or session. If a monster created this way ends up appearing in multiple sessions, you can swap out the spells each time, assuming that doing so fits the nature and theme of the monster.

The spells you choose for the monster during this step represent its total spellcasting arsenal for an encounter. If you want to treat some of the spells as being cast from scrolls, wands, or staves, implement them as such during play. Regardless of the source, additional spells still count against the total number the monster can cast.

You’ll also notice that some types of spells don’t appear on these lists—especially spells that solely increase statistics, such as bull’s strength, false life, and mage armor. That’s because such spells are often cast before combat, and the simple monster creation system assumes the effects of those spells are already in the monster’s base numbers.

Spell DCs: To determine the DC of a spell cast by a monster, add the spell’s level to the number listed in the spell DC column of the monster’s array. Use the spell’s cleric or sorcerer/wizard level if multiple classes can cast it. If neither of those classes has the spell, use the highest spell level listed in the spell’s description.

Choosing Spells

The easiest way to choose spells for a monster is to select a spell list from among those on the following pages that best matches its theme, using the options in this section. A fey with powerful spell-like abilities might choose the enchantment, fey, nature, or trickery spell list. A wizard dedicated to flame might choose the fire spell list, a dedicated transmuter would likely pick the transmutation list, and a generalist might take the arcane or magic list.

When you choose a spell list, the monster gains the following sets of spells according to its CR band—the spellcasting range its CR falls into.

• The primary spells of its CR band, usable once per day. These are the monster’s highest-level spells.
• Both the primary and secondary spells of the CR band one step lower than its own CR band, usable three times per day. These account for the monster’s less potent spells.
• The primary spells of the CR band two steps below its own, usable at will. These are the monster’s lowest-level spells.

This setup produces a spellcaster with a small number of powerful spells that it can use rarely, a larger number of weaker but still useful spells that it can use often, and spells so weak that it hardly ever uses them in battle but can use them frequently.

Note that a CR 0–3 monster doesn’t gain any at-will spells or any spells usable three times per day, and a CR 4–7 monster doesn’t gain any at-will spells.

Write down the spells and the number of times they can be used. For the sample monsters later in this section, the spells are separated into attack spells, defensive spells, and utility spells, but this step is optional.

When you pick a spell list, the monster automatically gains the benefit listed at the bottom of that spell list. If you choose to create your own spell list, choose the benefit that matches your monster best, or create your own benefit for that monster instead.

For example, a CR 9 monster using the aberrant spell list would gain feeblemind and spell resistance once per day each (from the 8–11 CR band); beast shape I, major image, acid arrow, and see invisibility three times per day each (from the 4–7 CR band); and cause fear and long arm usable at will (from the 0–3 CR band). It would also gain the spell list’s benefit: the fortification universal monster rule.

In-Depth Spell Choice

These lists are arranged to facilitate maximum speed in choosing spells, but you can choose spells individually, give the monster secondary spells in place of primary spells (which is why the CR 16+ band lists secondary spells), or mix and match at your discretion. To keep your monster balanced, don’t deviate too far from the number of spells listed for its power level, though you can decrease or increase the number of spells within reason.

If you want to pick spells one by one, use the following spell levels for each CR band.