Keen Hearing and Smell. The wolf has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The wolf has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the wolf's allies is within 5 ft. of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
How dire wolves fight
A dire wolf is a Large wolf the size of a horse: CR 1, 37 hit points, AC 14 and a speed of 50 feet. Its bite hits at +5 for 2d6 + 3 piercing, and the target makes a DC 13 Strength save or is knocked prone.
Pack Tactics gives it advantage on attacks against any creature that has one of its allies within 5 feet. Two dire wolves on one target both attack with advantage, and once the target is prone, every melee attack against it has advantage anyway.
Running dire wolves at the table
Hunt in pairs. Pack Tactics needs a friend next to the target. Two or three dire wolves, or dire wolves with wolves, work better than one.
Knock down and hold down. A prone character has to spend half its movement to stand, and the wolves keep biting with advantage.
Use the speed. 50 feet of movement means dire wolves reach the back line on their first turn and chase down anyone who runs.
Give them riders. Dire wolves are Large, so a hobgoblin, orc or goblin chieftain can ride one.
Common questions
Can a druid Wild Shape into a dire wolf?
Yes. It’s a CR 1 beast with no swimming or flying speed, so a Circle of the Moon druid can use it from 2nd level and any druid from 8th. It’s one of the best early Wild Shape forms for Moon druids, thanks to Pack Tactics and the knockdown.
How many dire wolves does Conjure Animals summon?
Two. Conjure Animals gives two beasts of CR 1 or lower, and the DM chooses what appears unless your table lets you pick.
Can you ride a dire wolf?
It’s Large, so a Medium or smaller rider can mount it. A willing dire wolf can serve as a mount, but it isn’t trained for it by default, and Find Steed doesn’t summon one.
How hard is a dire wolf fight?
CR 1, worth 200 XP. For four 1st-level characters, one dire wolf is Medium and two are Deadly by the Dungeon Master’s Guide’s encounter math.
Did the dire wolf change in 2024?
Yes. The 2024 dire wolf has 22 hit points and bites for 1d10 + 3, knocking a Large or smaller target prone with no save.
CR 1. Another CR 1 Wild Shape favorite: two attacks a turn and a climbing speed, but no Pack Tactics or knockdown.
How many dire wolves for a fight?
A dire wolf is worth 200 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many dire wolves 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 dire wolf compares at CR 1
Against the 24 other challenge 1 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the dire wolf has more hit points than 18 of them, which makes it one of the toughest at its CR. See every CR 1 monster.
Statistic
Dire Wolf
CR 1 average
Armor Class
14
12.8
Hit points
37
28
Best attack bonus
+5
+4
Dire Wolf 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the dire wolf, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Hit points: 37 → 22.
Gone from it: Keen Hearing and Smell.
Armor Class
14
Hit Points
22 (3d10 + 6)
Speed
50 ft.
Challenge
1 (200 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
17 (+3)
15 (+2)
15 (+2)
3 (-4)
12 (+1)
7 (-2)
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages
None
Traits
Pack Tactics. The wolf has Advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the wolf’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition.
Actions
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +5, reach 5 ft. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) Piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Prone condition.
