Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Mastiff

Medium · Beast · CR 1/8 · Unaligned

Source. 5e 2014 Rules

5 (1d8+1)

1/8

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-4

WIS

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Miscellaneous Creatures

Size Medium

Type Beast

Alignment Unaligned

XP 25

Initiative Bonus +2

Movement

Walk 40 ft (12.2 m)

Swim 20 ft (6.1 m)

Climb 20 ft (6.1 m)

Crawl 20 ft (6.1 m)

Senses

Passive Perception 13

Skills

Perception +3

Environments

Forest or Jungle Hills Urban

Traits

Keen Hearing and Smell

The mastiff has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Actions

Bite

Cost 1

+3 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d6 thunder damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

About Mastiff

Mastiff is a medium beast with a Challenge Rating of 1/8. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 12 and possesses 5 hit points (derived from 1d8+1).

GM Tips: Using Mastiff

2 tips available

When using Mastiff 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 Mastiff

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: 14 XP
Hard: 21 XP
Deadly: 28 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 Mastiff?: Mastiff has a Challenge Rating of 1/8, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.125.
What type of creature is Mastiff?: Mastiff is a Medium Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.