Top 10 Most Powerful Creatures For Their CR Level

In this video, we'll be going over some of the toughest monsters your party may encounter in DnD 5e. The creatures in this video will be ranked in comparison to the Challenge Rating (or CR) of a creature that you're technically meant to fight them at. For example, a Banshee has a CR of 4, meaning that she is meant to be taken by a level 4 party of four players. Some creatures might give the party a lot more trouble at lower CR levels than other creatures at higher CR levels due to a lot of factors such as resources and overall party strength, which is why you might see some lower level creatures on this list. With that out of the way, let's begin the list.

Video edited by BV
Written by: Zephyr

├ The List
Intro: (0:00)
10. Tarrasque (30) : (0:28)
9. Catoblepas (5) : (3:52)
8. Flameskull (4) : (6:25)
7. Ancient Solar Dragon (21): (9:06)
6. Purple Worm (15): (11:25)
5. Aboleth (10): (13:29)
4. Elder Brain (14) : (20:09)
3. Kraken (23) : (28:30)
2. Gelatinous Cube (2) : (37:27)
1. Orcus (26): (36:08)

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[avichaid]

I really feel like the shadow should get a mention here. When compared to say, an orc (another example of CR 1/2), this creature might deal less damage, but its strength drain is insane. A level twenty barbarian can probably tank hits from 20+ orcs, but 10 hits from shadows will kill it outright - no death saves, nothing. As for non-strength based characters, they'd be just as suseptible to this creature at level 20 as they'd be at level 1.

[senorblinky]

Guess which ten creatures my group is encountering in their next dungeon?

[SilverFoxR]

I am surprised that the Gelatinous Cube got on the list, but the Intellect Devourer didn't. I get that it's a very low-CR creature, but it's dangerous for even high-level parties. After all, not only can it just instantly kill a party member who fails against it's saving throw AND that party member cannot be resurrected without high-level spells (as it eats the brain of the player), but it also now takes control of that character. That means that low to mid-level parties won't even be able to get their fallen comerade back, but also that they might now have to fight that player one man down.

The fact that this low CR monster can just instantly kill even a 20th level party member makes me wonder how it didn't get on the list.

[godzillatalks]

Tiamat isn't the strongest CR 30 Monster? I feel like the Rise of Tiamat version of Tiamat is wayyyy more deadly then the Tarrasque

[retrojohnny]

This is why I always homebrew my Tarrasques to have a ranged Object attack or something. You mean to tell me this BEAST of a monster cant pick up a boulder or tree and chuck it at a target?

[andromidius]

The Gelatinous Cube is obscenely strong - to the point it almost wiped a level 4 party of 5 I was DM'ing in a recent campaign. Yes, the stars aligned against the party - the scouting rogue rolled a natural 1 on his perception check, walked right into it, couldn't escape, two party members failed to pull him out, got sucked in themselves... But it just goes to show its scary even when its a throwaway 'flavour monster'.

[HarryFernandes]

U know its about to be good when terrasque is at 10

[ProduccionesPaquito]

About the kraken: No polymorph inmunity, no legendary resistances, no magic resistance. Polymorph it into a slug. Yeet the slug into Mount Doom. Easy 50k XP

[kristofkalman]

Tiamat would eat the Tarrasque for breakfast, she can optimally use 1 bite, 2 claw and 1 tail attack alongside two breath weapons of any ancient chromatic dragon EVERY SINGLE TURN. On average, that equals 122 single target damage, and an AOE damage somewhere between 139 and 179, for a total potential 301 dpr (assuming attacks hit, and saves are failed). In comparison, the Tarrasque deals 232 damage with a full attack, and even if it swallows the target of every attack other than bite, thats still just 252 points of damage, and all of it is single target damage. Beyond that: Tiamat can fly, whilst the Tarrasque is defenceless against flying ranged opponents. The argument that the Tarrasque has more hp is not really valid, because Tiamat heals 30 hp every round, and this closes the gap between their hp in two rounds.

[timsuu]

I would love to hear more about creatures not mentioned in previous videos. Hearing about dnd creatures is so fascinating

[finderfinder]

Surprised Sul Khatesh wasn’t mentioned at all, I have seen a LOT of white rooming around her, since there is not much one can do against a monster that is immune to nonmagical bps, can set up antimagic zones in places of her choice, and can cast spells in antimagic zones she creates, so she can basically only be damaged by artifacts

[AJTheMightyGamer]

I can speak from experience as a player and a DM, flame skulls are deceptively tough when played optimally with a competent DM. And it being a pretty intelligent creature, it fighting smartly also makes sense in game as well.

[isaachoover]

Dude your so cool, i found this way after bindgeing your “villians corner series (at least 10 times)” and your knowledge is so amazing

[Chaptor]

Been following your wow channel for years and only just now found out you had one for D&D as well! Loving the content so far :)

[phatmann]

Bro did not read the Tiamat stat block

[StilltheApllyon]

The deadliest creature for its CR is the Swarm of Rot Grubs from the Monster Manual. It is CR 1/2 and if it hits, any character of level 1 or 2 is almost guaranteed to die. On a hit the character is infected with 1d4 grubs. You have to immediately do fire damage to the infected character, and who would know to do that? If you don't do that on the 1st round, then every round the character takes 1d6 damage per rot grub infesting them. If your party lacks a paladin, the infected character WILL die, because the only cure is magic that cures disease. At level 1 or 2, the only the paladin can cure disease.

[mardshima]

Tarrasque and Kraken always being memed for being too weak even for low level character not even party. Tho I can agree with most of the list. Here is my list that wan't in yor list
1. Shadow, Intelect Devourer, and Maurezhi (and basically any other stat reducing monsters). You may able to easily kill them but their lingering stat reducing effect is so harmful whether it's for your dump stat or your primary stat. And Shadow is only CR1/2 with lot of damage and condition immunity.

2. Any creature with Pack Tactic like Kobold, Wolf, ect. There SO many TPK story involving them.

3. All Wyrmling. They have high AC for their CR, have 60 ft flying speed, and unfair Breath Attack. Like how can you expect lv1 character to survive 18 acid damage from a Brass Dragon Wyrmling?

4. Quickling. Has 16AC but any attack against them made with disadvantage most of the time, has Evasion, can attack 3 times with 8 damage each, and wapping 120 ft speed! And they are CR1! How should a party of lv1 deal with them!? Oh yeah the Wizard can use Magic Missile! But wait, the Wizard is dead! Quickling has +6 on their Initiative!

5. Sul Khatesh. Probably THE strongest monster in 5e. Can cast spells within her own Antimagic Field along with immunity to non magical physical damage and other silly stuff in her arsenal.

[Mwarrior]

the tarrasque is the perfect example of a creature that needs heavy homebrew to work as intended. it needs aoe attacks and ranged attacks or itjust gets bodied by a squad of archers or a swarm of small attackers.

[maxkogan]

Based on HP alone. The apsects of Tiamat (also actual Tiamat) and Bahamut are way more difficult than a tarrasque. The tarrasque has *nothing* against an airborne enemy

[drosc]

Keep it up Mr. Logs--from YGO and Magic, to WoW, now D&D!
Love to see it, great video per always!