Keen Smell. The bear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Actions
Multiattack. The bear makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.
How many black bears for a fight?
A black bear is worth 100 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many black bears fit each difficulty for a party of four characters of the same level. A dash means even one would be over the budget.
Party level
Low
Moderate
High
1st
2
3
4
2nd
4
6
8
3rd
6
9
12+
4th
10
12+
12+
Budgets add up every monster’s XP, so you can swap some for other creatures of the same total. Try other party sizes and mixes in the encounter calculator.
How the black bear compares at CR 1/2
Against the 32 other challenge 1/2 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the black bear has more hit points than 9 of them, which makes it a little frailer than most at its CR. See every CR 1/2 monster.
Statistic
Black Bear
CR 1/2 average
Armor Class
11
12.5
Hit points
19
20
Best attack bonus
+3
+4
Black Bear 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the black bear, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
