Abyssal, telepathy 60 ft. (works only with creatures that understand Abyssal)
Actions
Multiattack. The dretch makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (2d4) slashing damage.
Fetid Cloud (1/Day). A 10-foot radius of disgusting green gas extends out from the dretch. The gas spreads around corners, and its area is lightly obscured. It lasts for 1 minute or until a strong wind disperses it. Any creature that starts its turn in that area must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the start of its next turn. While poisoned in this way, the target can take either an action or a bonus action on its turn, not both, and can't take reactions.
How many dretches for a fight?
A dretch is worth 50 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many dretches 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
4
6
8
2nd
8
12
12+
3rd
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 dretch compares at CR 1/4
Against the 31 other challenge 1/4 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the dretch has more hit points than 18 of them, which makes it tougher than most at its CR. See every CR 1/4 monster.
Statistic
Dretch
CR 1/4 average
Armor Class
11
11.8
Hit points
18
15
Best attack bonus
+2
+4
Dretch 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the dretch, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Fetid Cloud (1/Day). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 11, each creature in a 10-foot Emanation originating from the dretch. Failure: The target has the Poisoned condition until the end of its next turn. While Poisoned, the creature can take either an action or a Bonus Action on its turn, not both, and it can’t take Reactions.
