Hold Breath. The crocodile can hold its breath for 30 minutes.
Actions
Multiattack. The crocodile makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 16). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the crocodile can't bite another target.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target not grappled by the crocodile. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
How many giant crocodiles for a fight?
A giant crocodile is worth 1,800 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many giant crocodiles 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
4th
—
—
1
5th
1
1
2
6th
1
2
3
7th
1
2
3
8th
2
3
4
9th
2
4
5
10th
3
5
6
11th
4
6
9
12th
4
8
10
13th
5
9
12
14th
6
10
12+
15th
7
12
12+
16th
8
12+
12+
17th
10
12+
12+
18th
11
12+
12+
19th
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 giant crocodile compares at CR 5
Against the 26 other challenge 5 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the giant crocodile has more hit points than 6 of them, which makes it one of the frailest at its CR. See every CR 5 monster.
Statistic
Giant Crocodile
CR 5 average
Armor Class
14
14.6
Hit points
85
103
Best attack bonus
+8
+7
Giant Crocodile 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the giant crocodile, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
The numbers are the same; the text follows the 2024 rules glossary.
Armor Class
14
Hit Points
85 (9d12 + 27)
Speed
30 ft., swim 50 ft.
Challenge
5 (1,800 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
21 (+5)
9 (-1)
17 (+3)
2 (-4)
10 (+0)
7 (-2)
Senses
passive Perception 10
Languages
None
Traits
Hold Breath. The crocodile can hold its breath for 1 hour.
Actions
Multiattack. The crocodile makes one Bite attack and one Tail attack.
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +8, reach 5 ft. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) Piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 15). While Grappled, the target has the Restrained condition and can’t be targeted by the crocodile’s Tail.
Tail. Melee Attack Roll: +8, reach 10 ft. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 5) Bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Prone condition.
