Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Great Gray Owl

Small · Beast · CR 1/4 · Unaligned

Source. Tome of Beasts 2

10 (3d6)

1/4

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

-3

DEX

CON

INT

-4

WIS

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Small

Type Beast

Alignment Unaligned

XP 50

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 5 ft (1.5 m)

Fly 60 ft (18.3 m)

Swim 2 ft (0.6 m)

Climb 2 ft (0.6 m)

Crawl 2 ft (0.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 120 ft (36.6 m)

Passive Perception 14

Saving Throws

Dexterity +5 Wisdom +4

Skills

Perception +4 Stealth +5

Traits

Flyby

The owl doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.

Keen Hearing and Sight

The owl has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or sight.

Actions

Talons

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

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

About Great Gray Owl

Great Gray Owl is a small beast with a Challenge Rating of 1/4. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 13 and possesses 10 hit points (derived from 3d6).

GM Tips: Using Great Gray Owl

1 tips available

When using Great Gray Owl in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Flight Control Strategy: Target flying creatures with spells like 'Hold Person', 'Web', or 'Grease' to ground them. Without flight restriction, they can escape melee range easily. Consider area denial spells below their flight altitude to force them into disadvantageous positions.

Player Guide: Facing Great Gray Owl

1 strategies available

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

Counter Flight Advantage: This creature can fly! Use ranged attacks, reach weapons, or spells like 'Thunderwave' to push it away. Consider 'Gust of Wind' or 'Earthbind' to ground it. Melee characters need fly speed or flight magic to engage.

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: 31 XP
Hard: 46 XP
Deadly: 62 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 Great Gray Owl?: Great Gray Owl has a Challenge Rating of 1/4, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.25.
What type of creature is Great Gray Owl?: Great Gray Owl is a Small Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.