Sense Magic. The chuul senses magic within 120 feet of it at will. This trait otherwise works like the detect magic spell but isn't itself magical.
Actions
Multiattack. The chuul makes two pincer attacks. If the chuul is grappling a creature, the chuul can also use its tentacles once.
Pincer. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage. The target is grappled (escape DC 14) if it is a Large or smaller creature and the chuul doesn't have two other creatures grappled.
Tentacles. One creature grappled by the chuul must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. Until this poison ends, the target is paralyzed. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
How many chuuls for a fight?
A chuul is worth 1,100 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many chuuls 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
3rd
—
—
1
4th
—
1
1
5th
1
2
4
6th
2
3
5
7th
2
4
6
8th
3
6
7
9th
4
7
9
10th
5
8
11
11th
6
10
12+
12th
8
12+
12+
13th
9
12+
12+
14th
10
12+
12+
15th
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 chuul compares at CR 4
Against the 14 other challenge 4 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the chuul has more hit points than 9 of them, which makes it tougher than most at its CR. See every CR 4 monster.
Statistic
Chuul
CR 4 average
Armor Class
16
12.4
Hit points
93
87
Best attack bonus
+6
+6
Chuul 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the chuul, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Sense Magic. The chuul senses magic within 120 feet of itself. This trait otherwise works like the Detect Magic spell but isn’t itself magical.
Actions
Multiattack. The chuul makes two Pincer attacks and uses Paralyzing Tentacles.
Pincer. Melee Attack Roll: +6, reach 10 ft. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) Bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 14) from one of two pincers.
Paralyzing Tentacles. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 13, one creature Grappled by the chuul. Failure: The target has the Poisoned condition and repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. After 1 minute, it succeeds automatically. While Poisoned, the target has the Paralyzed condition.
