Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the bugbear hits with it (included in the attack).
Surprise Attack. If the bugbear surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) damage from the attack.
Actions
Morningstar. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage in melee or 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage at range.
How bugbears fight
A bugbear is the biggest and meanest goblinoid: CR 1, 27 hit points, AC 16, and a morningstar that hits for 2d8 + 2 (11 on average) thanks to Brute, which adds an extra die to its melee weapon damage. Its javelin does 2d6 + 2 in melee or 1d6 + 2 thrown.
It’s built for ambush. If a bugbear surprises a creature and hits it in the first round, that hit deals an extra 2d6: an average of 18 damage from one morningstar blow, enough to drop most 1st-level characters outright.
Running bugbears at the table
Always try for surprise. Bugbears are stealthy for their size, with Stealth proficiency in the Monster Manual. Hide them in the dark (they have darkvision) and roll Stealth against the party’s passive Perception.
Lead with the big hit. A surprised character takes 18 damage on average from the first swing. Pick the wizard.
Put them in charge. Bugbears bully goblins into doing the dangerous work, then step in to finish the job.
Let them be bribed. Bugbears are lazy and greedy. A share of the loot can buy one off.
Common questions
How does a bugbear’s Surprise Attack work?
If the bugbear surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, that attack deals an extra 2d6 damage. The target has to be surprised, not just caught unaware later in the fight.
What does Brute do?
A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the bugbear hits with it. It’s already included in the stat block: the morningstar is 2d8 + 2 instead of 1d8 + 2.
Does a bugbear have reach?
Not in the Monster Manual stat block: its attacks reach 5 feet. The playable bugbear race gets Long-Limbed, which adds 5 feet to its reach on its turn.
How dangerous is a bugbear at 1st level?
CR 1, worth 200 XP. One is a Medium fight for four 1st-level characters by the Dungeon Master’s Guide’s encounter math, and two are Deadly. With surprise, one bugbear can drop a character before anyone acts.
Can I play a bugbear?
Yes. The builder includes the bugbear race from Volo’s Guide to Monsters and Monsters of the Multiverse, with Long-Limbed and Surprise Attack.
CR 1/2. Charges in with a greataxe; less damage, less patience.
How many bugbears for a fight?
A bugbear is worth 200 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many bugbears 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 bugbear compares at CR 1
Against the 24 other challenge 1 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the bugbear has more hit points than 13 of them, which makes it tougher than most at its CR. See every CR 1 monster.
Statistic
Bugbear
CR 1 average
Armor Class
16
12.8
Hit points
27
28
Best attack bonus
+4
+4
2024 stat block: Bugbear Warrior
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the bugbear, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
It’s called the Bugbear Warrior in the 2024 rules.
Its creature type changed from humanoid to fey.
Armor Class: 16 → 14.
Hit points: 27 → 33.
New in its stat block: Abduct, Grab and Light Hammer.
Gone from it: Brute, Surprise Attack, Morningstar and Javelin.
Armor Class
14 (hide armor)
Hit Points
33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed
30 ft.
Challenge
1 (200 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
15 (+2)
14 (+2)
13 (+1)
8 (-1)
11 (+0)
9 (-1)
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages
Common, Goblin
Gear
Hide Armor, Light Hammers (3)
Traits
Abduct. The bugbear needn’t spend extra movement to move a creature it is grappling.
Actions
Grab. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 10 ft. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) Bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 12).
Light Hammer. Melee or Ranged Attack Roll: +4 (with Advantage if the target is Grappled by the bugbear), reach 10 ft. or range 20/60 ft. Hit: 9 (3d4 + 2) Bludgeoning damage.
Related 2024 stat blocks
The 2024 rules add Bugbear Stalker (CR 3) beside the bugbear.
