Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Gnoll

Medium · Humanoid · CR 1/2 · Chaotic Evil

Source. 5e 2014 Rules

15 (hide armor, shield)

22 (5d8)

1/2

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-2

WIS

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Humanoid

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 100

Initiative Bonus +1

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Swim 15 ft (4.6 m)

Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 10

Languages

Gnoll

Environments

Desert Forest or Jungle Grassland or Plains Hills Mountain The Abyss Urban

Traits

Rampage

When the gnoll reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on its turn, the gnoll can take a bonus action to move up to half its speed and make a bite attack.

Actions

Bite

Cost 1

+4 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d4 thunder damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Longbow

Cost 1

+3 to hit, range 150/600 ft (45.7/182.9 m). Hit: 1d8 thunder damage.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.

Spear

Cost 1

+4 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d8 thunder damage. / +4 to hit, range 20/60 ft (6.1/18.3 m). Hit: 1d6 thunder damage.

Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage, or 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.

About Gnoll

Gnoll is a medium humanoid with a Challenge Rating of 1/2. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 22 hit points (derived from 5d8).

Gnoll has communication capabilities including Gnoll. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Gnoll

2 tips available

When using Gnoll in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Minion Strategy: Use as scouts or minions for larger threats
Group Tactics: Group 3-4 together to pose a moderate threat

Player Guide: Facing Gnoll

2 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

Easy Target: This creature is weak - focus on other threats
Group Threat: Multiple can be dangerous - use area attacks

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 1.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 2 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 75 XP
Hard: 112 XP
Deadly: 150 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Gnoll?: Gnoll has a Challenge Rating of 1/2, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.5.
What type of creature is Gnoll?: Gnoll is a Medium Humanoid, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Gnoll speak?: Gnoll can communicate in Gnoll.