From the tangle of thorny bushes, two large creatures stare at you with owlish faces. One emerges and you see it's bear-like body. But you also see the greenish-blue mould growing from it's fur, and the disturbed spores now floating nearby...
Updated Forest encounters using D&D 2024 Monster Manual. Also a D&D 2014 version. Tables for Forest Encounters (levels 1-4, 5-10, 11+), Beasts, Humanoids, Monsters, Plant Creatures and Sylvan Creatures
All terrains - arctic | coastal | desert | feywild | forest | grassland | hill | jungle | mountain | road | ruins | sea | shadowfell | swamp | underdark | underwater | urban | all dnd 2024 encs
[Photo by Deglee Degi on Unsplash]
Forest Encounters
Forest can cover pine uplands, sylvan forests or thick jungle canopies. Encounters might take place by a giant fallen oak, in a sylvan meadow of mushrooms or among overgrown standing stones.
The woodlands are full of life, with greenery and beasts at every step. It is home to feral druids, cavorting fey, beast hunters and primordial creatures best left alone.
There is a 5e forest random encounter generator at ChaosGen. And also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Forest Encounters.
Forest Encounter Tables - creatures (2014) | creatures (2024) | locations | non-combat | enhancements
Forest Encounters Levels 1-4
MotM = Monsters of the Multiverse
| 1d8+1d12 | Forest Levels 1-4 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 shambling mound or 1 wood woad (MotM) |
| 3 | 1d2 werewolves or 1 girallon (MotM) |
| 4 | 1d4 scouts with 1d4 blink dogs or 1d4 grung wildlings (MotM) |
| 5 | 2d4 orcs or roll on Orcs lvl 1-4 |
| 6 | 2d4 kobold warriors with 1d2 giant weasels or roll on Kobolds lvl 1-4 |
| 7 | 1d4 sprites and 1d4 pixies or roll on Sylvan Creatures |
| 8 | 1d6 goblin warriors on wolves or roll on Goblinoids lvl 1-4 |
| 9 | 2d4 twig blights and 1 vine blight or roll on Plants lvl 1-4 |
| 10 | 1d2 owlbears or roll on Monsters lvl 1-4 |
| 11 | 2d4 satyrs or roll on Sylvan Creatures |
| 12 | 2d4 giant badgers or roll on Beasts |
| 13 | 1d4 lizardfolk scouts with 1 lizardfolk geomancer or roll on Lizardfolk lvl 1-4 |
| 14 | 1d4+1 giant spiders or roll on Beasts |
| 15 | 2d4 scouts or roll on Humanoids |
| 16 | 2d4 giant wasps or roll on Beasts |
| 17 | 1d4 gnoll warriors and 2d4 hyenas or roll on Gnolls lvl 1-4 |
| 18 | 1d2 yuan-ti malisons or roll on Yuan-ti lvl 1-4 |
| 19 | 1d3 apes or 1d2 flail snails (MotM) |
| 20 | 1 unicorn or 1 oaken bolter (MotM) |
Forest Levels 5-10
| 1d8+1d12 | Forest Levels 5-10 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 young gold dragon or 1d3 shadow dancers (MotM) |
| 3 | 1d4 shambling mounds or 1d2 iron cobras (MotM) with 1d4 stone defenders (MotM) and 1 oaken bolter (MotM) |
| 4 | 1d4 werewolves and 2d6 wolves or 1d4+1 yeth hounds (MotM) |
| 5 | 3d6 lizardfolk scouts with 1 lizardfolk geomancer and 1 lizardfolk sovereign or 1d3 warrior veterans with 1d6 guard drakes (MotM) |
| 6 | 1 guardian naga or 1 corpse flower (MotM) & 1d8 zombies |
| 7 | 1 gnoll demoniac with 2d4 gnoll warriors or roll on Gnolls lvl 5-10 |
| 8 | 2d6 centaur troopers and 1 centaur warden or 1d2 korreds (MotM) |
| 9 | 1d4+1 ettercaps and 2d4 giant spiders or 1d6 wood woads (MotM) |
| 10 | 1 satyr revelmaster, 2d4 satyrs & 1d4 dryads or 1 eladrin (any, MotM) |
| 11 | Roll on Forest lvl 1-4 or 1d2 werebears and 1d4 brown bears |
| 12 | 1d2 tree blights and 2d4 vine blights or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 13 | 2d4 bugbear stalkers or roll on Goblinoids lvl 5-10 |
| 14 | 1d4+2 gricks and 1 grick ancient or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 15 | 1d3 druids, 1 unicorn and 1d4 owlbears or 2d4 redcaps (MotM) |
| 16 | 1 treant or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 17 | 1 yuan-ti abomination or roll on Yuan-ti lvl 5-10 |
| 18 | 1d4 displacer beasts and 1d2 trolls or roll on Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 19 | 1 young green dragon or 1d4 brontosauruses (MotM) |
| 20 | 1d2 giant apes or 1 venom troll (MotM) and 1d4 trolls |
Forest Levels 11+
| 1d8+1d12 | Forest Levels 11+ |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 animal lord or 1d6 druids and 1 archdruid (MotM) |
| 3 | 2 young green dragons or 1 retriever (MotM) |
| 4 | 1d2 centaur wardens and 1d4 treants; or 1d3 oni with 2d6 ogres |
| 5 | 1 adult green dragon or 1d2 rot trolls (MotM) with 1d4 trolls |
| 6 | 1 gulthias blight or 1d6+2 wood woads (MotM) and 1d3 druids |
| 7 | 6d6 lizardfolk scouts with 2d6 giant lizards led by 1d3 lizardfolk geomancer and 1 lizardfolk sovereign |
| 8 | 1d3 primeval owlbears and 2d4 owlbears or 1d3 eladrin (any, MotM) |
| 9 | 4d6 gnoll warriors, 1d4 gnoll fangs of Yeenoghu and 1 gnoll pack lord |
| 10 | 2d4 shambling mounds or 2d4 girallons (MotM) and 1d2 giant apes |
| 11 | Roll on Forest lvl 5-10 or 1 archdruid (MotM) |
| 12 | 1d3+1 treants or 1 yuan-ti anathema (MotM) & 1d6 yuan-ti malisons |
| 13 | 1 unicorn with 3d6 centaur troopers or 1 warlock of the archfey (MotM) with 1d4+4 yeth hounds (MotM) |
| 14 | 1d4+1 werebears and 1d6 brown bears or 1d2 eidolons (MotM) |
| 15 | 2d6 berserkers with 1 giant ape or 1d4+1 corpse flowers (MotM) |
| 16 | 2d8 gricks with 1d3 grick ancients or 1 gray render (MotM) |
| 17 | 2d4 ogres, 2d6 orc berserkers and 1 dire worg or 1 nagpa (MotM) |
| 18 | 1 adult gold dragon or 1 dire troll (MotM) and 1d3 trolls |
| 19 | 2d6 werewolves and 2d6 dire wolves or 2d4 druids with 1d4 treants |
| 20 | 2 young gold dragons or 1 arch-hag |
Forest Beasts (Levels 1-4)
| 1d8+1d12 | Forest Beasts (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 giant elk or 1 brontosaurus (MotM) |
| 3 | 1d2 tigers or 1d4 deinonychuses (MotM) |
| 4 | 1d4 dire wolves or 1d6 constrictor snakes |
| 5 | 2d6 hyenas and 1d4 giant hyenas or 1 girallon (MotM) |
| 6 | 3d6 baboons or 1 flying snake carrying a message |
| 7 | 2d6 giant weasels or 1d3 swarms of stirges |
| 8 | 2d6 boars and 1 giant boar or 2d4 velociraptors (MotM) |
| 9 | 2d4 elk or 1d4 giant spiders |
| 10 | 1d6 giant badgers or 1d4+1 swarms of insects |
| 11 | 1d4+1 apes or 1d3 giant boars |
| 12 | 2d6 wolves or 1d4+1 giant wasps |
| 13 | 1d3 brown bears or 2d4 giant lizards |
| 14 | 2d4 giant frogs or 1d2 giant constrictor snakes |
| 15 | 1d6 giant venomous snakes or 1d4 black bears |
| 16 | 2d6 giant rats or 1d4 panthers |
| 17 | 2d4 venomous snakes and 1d4 giant venomous snakes or 1d3 guard drakes (green, MotM) |
| 18 | 2d4 giant bats or 1d3 swarms of ravens |
| 19 | 2d4 giant wolf spiders or 1 stegasaurus (MotM) |
| 20 | 1d2 swarms of venomous snakes or 1 couatl |
Forest Humanoids (Levels 1-4)
| 1d8+1d12 | Forest Humanoids (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 werebear or 1 pixie wonderbringer |
| 3 | 1d4 scouts with 1d4 blood hawks or 1d6 skulks (MotM) |
| 4 | 1 wereboar with 1d4 boars or 1d3 maezels (MotM) |
| 5 | 1d3 berserkers or 1d3 darklings (MotM) with 1 darkling elder (MotM) |
| 6 | 1d3 yuan-ti infiltrators and 1d2 giant lizards or roll on Yuan-ti lvl 1-4 |
| 7 | 2d4 kenku or 1d6 grungs (MotM) led by 1 grung elite warrior (MotM) |
| 8 | 2d4 kobold warriors & 1d4 winged kobolds or roll on Kobolds lvl 1-4 |
| 9 | 1 druid with... (roll on Beasts); or 1d3 wererats |
| 10 | 2d4 bandits with 1d6 mastiffs led by 1 bandit captain or 1 warlock of the archfey (MotM) and 1d4 pixies |
| 11 | 1d4+2 gnoll warriors led by 1 gnoll pack lord or roll on Gnolls lvl 1-4 |
| 12 | 1d2 lizardfolk scout captains or roll on Lizardfolk lvl 1-4 |
| 13 | 1d4 bugbear warriors or roll on Goblinoid lvl 1-4 |
| 14 | 1 werewolf with 1d4 wolves or 1d3 ogres |
| 15 | 1d3 goblin warriors and 1 goblin boss on giant spiders or roll on Goblinoid lvl 1-4 |
| 16 | 1d4 orc toughs with 1 orc priest or roll on Orcs lvl 1-4 |
| 17 | 1d4 hobgoblin warriors with 1d2 apes or roll on Goblinoid lvl 1-4 |
| 18 | 3d6 warrior infantry or 1d4+1 scouts and 1 druid |
| 19 | 1d4+1 scouts and 1 druid or 1d6+1 guards with 1 warrior veteran |
| 20 | 1d6 ogrillon ogres or 1 weretiger |
Forest Monsters (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Forest Monsters (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 banshee or 1 revenant |
| 3 | 1d3 harpies or 1d3 chokers (MotM) |
| 4 | 1d4+1 worgs or 1d3 meenlocks (MotM) |
| 5 | 1d3 ettercaps or 1d2 phase spiders |
| 6 | 1d2 owlbears or 1 ettercap and 1d3 giant spiders |
| 7 | 2d6 stirges or 1d2 displacer beasts |
| 8 | 1d3 ankhegs or 1d3 shadow mastiffs (MotM) |
| 9 | 1d3 gricks or 1d4 bronze scouts (MotM) |
| 10 | 1d2 will'o-wisps or 1 gorgon |
Forest Monsters (Levels 5-10)
| 1d4+1d6 | Forest Monsters (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1d4 ettercaps and 1d4 phase spiders or 1 spirit troll (MotM) |
| 3 | 1 cockatrice regent and 1d4 coacktrices or 1d4 gorgons |
| 4 | 1 treant or 1 hungry sorrowsworn (MotM) |
| 5 | 1d4 shambling mounds or 1d4+1 owlbears |
| 6 | 2d4 displacer beasts or 1 dire worg |
| 7 | 1d4+2 gricks and 1 grick ancient or 1d4+2 vampiric mists (MotM) |
| 8 | 1d2 primeval owlbears or 1d2 lost sorrowsworn (MotM) |
| 9 | 1d6 worgs and 2d4 dire wolves or 1 venom troll (MotM) and 1d2 trolls |
| 10 | 1 brazen gorgon or 1 guardian naga |
Plant Creatures (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Plant Creatures (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 shambling mound |
| 3 | 1 awakened tree and 1d4 awakened shrubs |
| 4 | 2d4 needle blights |
| 5 | 1d4 dryads or 1 vegepygmy chief (MotM) & 1d4 vegepygmies (MotM) |
| 6 | 2d6+3 twig blights |
| 7 | 1 awakened tree or 1d4+1 vegepygmies (MotM) with 1d2 thornies (MotM) |
| 8 | 1d4 vine blights or 1d4 awakened shrubs |
| 9 | 1d2 dryad and 1d2 awakened trees or 1d4 quicklings (MotM) |
| 10 | 2d4 twig blights with 1d4 needle blights and 1d2 vine blights |
Sylvan Creatures (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Sylvan Creatures (Levels 1-4) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 unicorn or 1 wood woad (MotM) |
| 3 | 2d4 blink dogs or 1d2 dryads and 1d2 satyrs |
| 4 | 1d3 centaur troopers or 1 faerie dragon (adult or youth) |
| 5 | 2d4 sprites or 1d2 redcaps (MotM) |
| 6 | 1d4 dryads or 1 yeth hound (MotM) |
| 7 | 2d4 pixies or 1d3 pegasi |
| 8 | 2d4 satyrs or 1 pseudodragon |
| 9 | 2d4 giant owls or 2d6 boggles (MotM) |
| 10 | 1 green hag or 1 pixie wonderbringer |
More Encounters
There is a 5e forest random encounter generator at ChaosGen. And also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Forest Encounters.
If you liked these there are D&D Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.
