D&D: Five of the Deadliest Low Level Monsters
They might be low level monsters, but these five monsters pack a surprising punch. If you roll initiative against them, take caution.
Low level monsters are the cannon fodder of D&D. But that doesn’t mean discount them. As anyone who’s ever been critically hit by a goblin archer can tell you, it doesn’t take much to take out a low level character. These five monsters are especially deadly, punching above their CR.
Sure, once you hit a certain level, these stop being a problem. But the monsters below are some of the deadliest monsters you’ll find under CR 1/2.
Gnoll Witherling
These are undead gnolls, brought to life by a fell ritual that invokes the power of the demon lord Yeenoghu. They do not eat, do not sleep, they only know hunger. And for something that’s only CR 1/4, they pack a tremendous punch. As undead creatures, they have a whopping 11 hit points, and can make two attacks at a solid +4 to hit.
But on top of that, when a gnoll is reduced to 0 hit points within 30 feet of one of them, they can make an attack as a reaction. And if a witherling reduces a creature to 0 hit points, they can move up to half their speed and make an attack as a bonus action, potentially attacking up to 4 times over the span of a single round.
Kobold Underling
These creatures are featured in the Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, and are a perfect example of how dangerous the world of Critical Role’s Exandria can be. Kobold Underlings are only CR 1/8, making them among the lowest leveled creatures in the game.
And yet, these hit like a freight train, comparatively, hitting on a +5 and dealing 1d6 + 3 damage with a hit. But what makes them particularly deadly is that they when they die, they explode. Now, if you aren’t aware, Kobolds love to swarm enemies. Which means they may well be surrounding you when they die.
Fortunately, the explosion is delayed by 3 rounds unless a critical hit kills them. Either way, they deal an extra d8 damage when they die to any creature within five feet, possibly setting off a chain reaction.
Mountain Goat
The Mountain Goat out of Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden, might be one of the deadliest low-level beasts out there. In addition to sporting a 40 ft. movement speed with a whopping 13 hit points, this CR 1/8 goat proves to be the GOAT with a deadly charge attack that can double its damage if it gets a 20 ft. run up to its target, and knock them prone for any follow up attacks needed.
Drow
The vanilla Drow out of the Monster Manual can be surprisingly deadly. In addition to boasting a solid AC of 15, this Drow also can grant itself advantage on attacks thanks to Faerie Fire, and when it hits with its hand crossbow may knock creatures unconscious (not sleep, but unconscious) while poisoning them for up to an hour, making them absolutely debilitating if they get more than one shot off against a party.
Armored Troglodyte
Troglodytes might make the list, but especially the Armored Troglodyte out of Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. This Troglodyte takes the usual stat block and amps it up with a breastplate, granting it a higher AC. But what really makes them deadly is the fact that this monster has multiattack. It makes a total of three attacks at CR 1/4, doing one bite (1d4+2) attack and two longsword attacks (1d10 + 2 each) for a potential total 2d10 + 1d4 + 6 to a single character caught off guard by them. That’s more than enough to kill a single low level character in one round.
These five monsters can make any initiative an exciting one.
