Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 50/100 ft., one target. Hit: 30 (7d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
How many giant apes for a fight?
A giant ape is worth 2,900 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many giant apes 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
5th
—
1
1
6th
—
1
1
7th
1
1
2
8th
1
2
2
9th
1
2
3
10th
2
3
4
11th
2
4
5
12th
3
5
6
13th
3
5
7
14th
4
6
8
15th
4
7
10
16th
5
8
12+
17th
6
9
12+
18th
6
12
12+
19th
7
12+
12+
20th
8
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 giant ape compares at CR 7
Against the 5 other challenge 7 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the giant ape has more hit points than 5 of them, which makes it one of the toughest at its CR. See every CR 7 monster.
Statistic
Giant Ape
CR 7 average
Armor Class
12
17
Hit points
157
125
Best attack bonus
+9
+7
Giant Ape 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the giant ape, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Boulder Toss (Recharge 6). The ape hurls a boulder at a point it can see within 90 feet. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 17, each creature in a 5-foot-radius Sphere centered on that point. Failure: 24 (7d6) Bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Prone condition. Success: Half damage only.
Bonus actions
Leap. The ape jumps up to 30 feet by spending 10 feet of movement.
