Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Bearfolk

Medium · Humanoid · CR 3 · Chaotic Good

Source. Tome of Beasts 1 (2023 Edition)

14 (hide armor)

45 (6d8 + 18)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-1

WIS

CHA

-1

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Humanoid

Alignment Chaotic Good

XP 700

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

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 11

Languages

Common, Giant

Traits

Keen Smell

The bearfolk has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Actions

Battleaxe

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d8+4 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage if used with two hands.

Bite

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d6+4 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.

Multiattack

The bearfolk makes one Battleaxe attack, one Warhammer attack, and one Bite attack.

Warhammer

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d8+4 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.

Bonus Actions

Frenzy

The bearfolk triggers a berserk frenzy that lasts 1 minute. While in frenzy, it has resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage and has advantage on attack rolls. Attack rolls made against a frenzied bearfolk have advantage.

About Bearfolk

Bearfolk is a medium humanoid with a Challenge Rating of 3. It has a chaotic good alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 45 hit points (derived from 6d8 + 18).

Bearfolk has communication capabilities including Common, Giant. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Bearfolk

2 tips available

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

Mid-level Encounter: Ideal for parties levels 3-8 as solo or small groups
Terrain Advantage: Use terrain to offset moderate combat abilities

Player Guide: Facing Bearfolk

2 strategies available

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

Moderate Threat: Prepare standard combat tactics
Tactical Advantage: Use terrain and positioning

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 3.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 5 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 1,200 XP
Hard: 1,800 XP
Deadly: 2,400 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 Bearfolk?: Bearfolk has a Challenge Rating of 3, making it appropriate for parties of level 3.0.
What type of creature is Bearfolk?: Bearfolk is a Medium Humanoid, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Bearfolk speak?: Bearfolk can communicate in Common, Giant.