"This rocky beach has several small piles of dead fish. Several manticores wheel above the waves and stand in the shallows. A particularly large one watches the others from the high-tide mark."
Updated Coastal encounters using D&D 2024 Monster Manual. Also a D&D 2014 version. Tables for Coastal Creatures (levels 1-4, 5-10, 11+), Beasts, Aquatic Beasts, Beaches, Monsters and Spirits.
All terrains - arctic | coastal | desert | forest | grassland | hill | jungle | mountain | swamp | underdark | underwater | urban
[Photo by Luke Smyth on Unsplash]
Coastal Encounters
Coastal encounters bring visions of sandy dunes, steep cliffs, pebble beaches and tidal caves. Maybe encounters take place in a ruined lighthouse, haunted shipwreck or abandoned roc's nest.
A meeting place between the world of the water and land they are a place of travellers, watchful guardians and those who make their living from the sea.
There is a 5e coastal random encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Coastal Encounters.
Coastal Encounter Tables - creatures (2014) | creatures (2024) | locations | non-combat | enhancements
Coastal Levels 1-4
| 1d8+1d12 | Coastal Levels 1-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 dragon wyrmling (bronze or blue) or 1 banshee | |
| 3 | 1d2 manticores or 1 merrenoloth (MotM) with a boat | |
| 4 | 1d3 plesiosauruses or roll on Beach Encounters lvl 1-4 | |
| 5 | 1d6 scouts with a rowing boat or 2d4+2 tortles (MotM) | |
| 6 | 1d3 merrow or roll on Monsters lvl 1-4 | |
| 7 | 2d4 pirates (bandits) and 1 bandit captain or 2d6 dolphins (MotM) | |
| 8 | 1d6 lizardfolk scouts and canoes or roll on Beach Encounters lvl 1-4 | |
| 9 | 2d6 giant crabs or 2d4 dimetrodons (MotM) | |
| 10 | 2d4 mud mephits or roll on Spirits lvl 1-4 | |
| 11 | 1d6 commoners with a boat or roll on Humanoids | |
| 12 | 2d4 merfolk skirmishers or 1 swashbuckler (MotM) | |
| 13 | 1d4 giant toads or roll on Beasts | |
| 14 | 2d6 warrior infantry or 1 deep scion (MotM) | |
| 15 | 1d4+1 giant lizards or roll on Beasts | |
| 16 | 1d6 sahuagin warriors or roll on Sahuagin lvl 1-4 | |
| 17 | 2d6 stirges or 1d4 sea spawn (MotM) | |
| 18 | 2d4 kobold warriors & 1d2 giant wolf spiders or roll on Kobolds | |
| 19 | 1d4 giant eagles or 2d4 pteranodons | |
| 20 | 1 sea hag or 1 archer (MotM) on a quetzalcoatlus (MotM) |
Coastal Levels 5-10
| 1d8+1d12 | Coastal Levels 5-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 djinni or 1 morkoth (MotM) | |
| 3 | 1 ship (or wreck) with 2d6+6 pirates (bandits) and 1d3 bandit captains or 2d4 deep scions (MotM) | |
| 4 | 1 young blue dragon or 1 stone giant dreamwalker (MotM) | |
| 5 | 2d6 sahuagin warriors & 1 sahuagin baron or roll on Sahuagin (5-10) | |
| 6 | 1d3 water elementals or 1 young bronze dragon | |
| 7 | 3d6 sahuagin warriors & 1 sahuagin priest or roll on Sahuagin (5-10) | |
| 8 | 2d6 merrow or roll on Beach Encounters lvl 5-10 | |
| 9 | 3d6 warrior infantry and 1d4 berserkers in a boat or 1 canoloth (MotM) guarding the area | |
| 10 | 1 cyclops sentry with 2d4 giant goats or roll on Beach Encs. lvl 5-10 | |
| 11 | Roll on Coastal lvl 1-4 or 3d6 cultists led by 1 kraken priest (MotM) | |
| 12 | 2d6 pirates and 1 pirate captain or 2d6 plesiosauruses | |
| 13 | 1d3 water elementals and 2d4 mud mephits or roll on Spirits lvl 5-10 | |
| 14 | 1d4 air elementals or 3d6 tortles (MotM) led by 1 tortle druid (TMoF) | |
| 15 | 1d4+2 manticores or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 | |
| 16 | 1d6+1 veteran warriors or 4d6 kobold warriors with 1d4+1 kobold dragonshields (MotM) and 1d2 kobold scale sorcerers (MotM) | |
| 17 | Coven of 3 sea hags or roll on Spirits lvl 5-10 | |
| 18 | 1d2 hydras; or 2d4 toughs, 1d4 scouts and 1 swashbuckler (MotM) | |
| 19 | 1d4 sea trolls (swim 30 ft) or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 | |
| 20 | 1 marid or 1 spirit troll (MotM) |
Coastal Levels 11+
| 1d8+1d12 | Coastal Levels 11+ |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 adult bronze dragon or 1 leviathan (MotM) |
| 3 | 1 marid and 1d4 water elementals or 1 nagpa (MotM) |
| 4 | 2 young bronze dragons or 1 storm giant with 1d3 griffons |
| 5 | 1 marid or 1 stone giant dreamwalker (MotM) with 1d2 stone giants |
| 6 | 2d6+6 merrow and 1 sea hag or 1d3+1 lonely sorrowsworn (MotM) |
| 7 | 2d4 air elementals or 1 frost giant everlasting one (MotM) |
| 8 | 3d6+10 sahuagin warriors, 1 sahuagin priest and 1 sahuagin baron |
| 9 | 2d4 water elementals or 1 wastrilith (MotM) |
| 10 | 2d6 veteran warriors with a boat or 1 storm giant quintessent (MotM) |
| 11 | Roll on Coastal lvl 5-10 or 1 balhannoth (MotM) |
| 12 | 1 dragon turtle or 1d2 elemental cultists with 2d6 cultist fanatics |
| 13 | 1 pirate admiral with 4d6 pirates or 1 morkoth (MotM) |
| 14 | 1 cyclops oracle with 1d4 cyclops sentries or 2d6+2 manticores |
| 15 | 1d2 storm giants or 1d3+1 spirit trolls (MotM) |
| 16 | 2 young blue dragons or 1 blue abishai (MotM) |
| 17 | 1 storm giant mounted on a roc or 1 djinni |
| 18 | Coven of 3 sea hags with 2d6 merrow or 1d2 eidolons (MotM) |
| 19 | 1 adult blue dragon or 1 animal lord |
| 20 | 1 kraken or 1 elder tempest (MotM) |
Coastal Beasts (Levels 1-4)
| 1d8+1d12 | Coastal Beasts (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 saltwater giant crocodile |
| 3 | 1 pseudodragon or 1d2 manticores |
| 4 | 2d4 blood hawks |
| 5 | 2d4 giant venomous snakes or 2d6 ponies |
| 6 | 2d4 pteranodons |
| 7 | 1 giant octopus or roll on Aquatic Beasts |
| 8 | 1d4+1 saltwater crocodiles |
| 9 | 1d3 plesiosauruses or roll on Aquatic Beasts |
| 10 | 2d4 giant wolf spiders or 2d4 dimetrodons (MotM) |
| 11 | 2d6 giant crabs or roll on Aquatic Beasts |
| 12 | 1d4+1 giant lizards |
| 13 | 1d4 giant toads |
| 14 | 2d6 stirges or 2d6 dolphins (MotM) |
| 15 | 1 archelon or 1 swarm of crabs (swarm of insects) |
| 16 | 1d2 brown bears or 1d2 quetzalcoatluses (MotM) |
| 17 | 2d4 giant crabs and 1 swarm of crabs (swarm of insects) |
| 18 | 1d4 giant seagulls (giant vultures) or 1 giant constrictor snake |
| 19 | 1d2 griffons |
| 20 | 1d4 giant eagles |
Aquatic Beasts (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Aquatic Beasts (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2d4 aquatic giant venomous snakes (swim speed 30 ft) |
| 3 | 1d2 killer whales |
| 4 | 1d4 giant octopi or 2d4 dimetrodons (MotM) |
| 5 | 1d4+1 reef sharks |
| 6 | 2d6 giant crabs or or 2d6 dolphins (MotM) |
| 7 | 1d6 giant seahorses |
| 8 | 1d3 plesiosauruses or 1d3 hunter sharks |
| 9 | 1 archelon |
| 10 | 1d3 swarms of pirahnas or 1 giant shark |
Beach Encounters (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Beach Encounters (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 marid or 1d4 sea trolls (swim 30 ft, hold breath up to 10 minutes) |
| 3 | Coven of 3 sea hags or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 4 | 2d6+3 cultists with 1d4+1 cultist fanatics and 1 priest and a boat with fiendish sigils; |
| 5 | 2d6 merrow or 1 pirate captain with 2d6 pirates |
| 6 | 3d6 sahuagin warriors led by 1d2 sahuagin priests or 1d2 kraken priests (MotM) with 3d6 cultists |
| 7 | 1d2 cyclops sentries with... 1d4 giant toads (or roll on Beasts) |
| 8 | Seaweed with 1 tree blight & 1d4+1 vine blights; or 1d6 chuuls |
| 9 | 1d2 hydras or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 10 | 1 basking young dragon (blue or bronze) |
Beach Encounters (Levels 5-10)
| 1d4+1d6 | Beach Encounters (Levels 5-10) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 marid or 1d4 sea trolls (swim 30 ft, hold breath up to 10 minutes) |
| 3 | Coven of 3 sea hags or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 4 | 2d6+3 cultists with 1d4+1 cultist fanatics and 1 priest and a boat with fiendish sigils; |
| 5 | 2d6 merrow or 1 pirate captain with 2d6 pirates |
| 6 | 3d6 sahuagin warriors led by 1d2 sahuagin priests or 1d2 kraken priests (MotM) with 3d6 cultists |
| 7 | 1d2 cyclops sentries with... 1d4 giant toads (or roll on Beasts) |
| 8 | Seaweed with 1 tree blight & 1d4+1 vine blights; or 1d6 chuuls |
| 9 | 1d2 hydras or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 10 | 1 basking young dragon (blue or bronze) |
Coastal Spirits (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Coastal Spirits (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 air elemental or 1 water elemental |
| 3 | 2d4 steam mephits or 1 shipwrecked ghost |
| 4 | 1 sea hag |
| 5 | 2d4 mud mephits or 1d2 vampiric mists (MotM) |
| 6 | 1 water weird |
| 7 | 1d4+1 ice mephits or 1d4 dust mephits |
| 8 | 1d3 pegasi or 1d2 poltergeists |
| 9 | 1 banshee or 2d4 animated sea objects (flying sword) |
| 10 | 1 helmed horror |
Coastal Spirits (Levels 5-10)
| 1d4+1d6 | Coastal Spirits (Levels 5-10) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 marid |
| 3 | 1d4 air elementals or 1 water elemental with 1d4 water weirds |
| 4 | 1 wraith and 2d4 specters or 1 frost salamander (MotM) |
| 5 | 1d3 wind spirits (invisible stalker) or 1 lonely sorrowsworn (MotM) |
| 6 | 1d2 merfolk wavebenders and 1d3 archelons or 1 haunting revenant |
| 7 | 1d4 water elementals or 3d6 mephits (mix of steam, mud, ice & dust) |
| 8 | 1 air elemental and 1d6 pegasi |
| 9 | Coven of 3 sea hags or 1 mist giant (cloud giant) |
| 10 | 1 djinni or 1 spirit troll (MotM) |
Coastal Monsters (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Coastal Monsters (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 sea troll (swim 30 ft, hold breath up to 10 minutes) |
| 3 | 2d4 shipwrecked zombies or 1d4 gray oozes |
| 4 | 2d4 mud mephits or roll on Spirits lvl 1-4 |
| 5 | 1 sea jelly (ochre jelly, swim 10 ft.) or 1d2 manticores |
| 6 | 1d3 merrow or 1d4 cockatrices |
| 7 | 1d3 griffons or 1 deep scion (MotM) |
| 8 | 2d4 awakened seaweeds (awakened shrub) or 1d2 swarms of stirges |
| 9 | 1 blue pudding (black pudding, swim 20 ft.) or 1 chuul |
| 10 | 1 mass of sentient seaweed (shambling mound) or 1 bulette |
Coastal Monsters (Levels 5-10)
| 1d4+1d6 | Coastal Monsters (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 young dragon (blue or bronze) or 1 morkoth (MotM) |
| 3 | 2d6 merrow pr 1d2 canoloths (MotM) |
| 4 | 1d3 wind spirits (invisible stalker) or roll on Spirits lvl 5-10 |
| 5 | 1d2 hydras or 1d2 tree blights |
| 6 | 1d4+1 chuuls or 1 cyclops oracle |
| 7 | 1d4+2 manticores or 1 cockatrice regent |
| 8 | 1d4 sea trolls (swim 30 ft, hold breath up to 10 minutes) |
| 9 | 2d6 griffons or 1 hydroloth (MotM) |
| 10 | 1d4 sentient seaweeds (shambling mound) or 1 balhannoth (MotM) |
More Encounters
There is a 5e coastal random encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Coastal Encounters.
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