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: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
How many brown bears for a fight?
A brown bear is worth 200 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many brown 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
1
1
2
2nd
2
3
4
3rd
3
4
8
4th
5
7
10
5th
10
12+
12+
6th
12
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 brown bear compares at CR 1
Against the 24 other challenge 1 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the brown bear has more hit points than 17 of them, which makes it tougher than most at its CR. See every CR 1 monster.
Statistic
Brown Bear
CR 1 average
Armor Class
11
13
Hit points
34
28
Best attack bonus
+5
+4
Brown Bear 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the brown bear, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
