Keen Sight and Smell. The vulture has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Pack Tactics. The vulture has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the vulture's allies is within 5 ft. of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Actions
Multiattack. The vulture makes two attacks: one with its beak and one with its talons.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage.
How many giant vultures for a fight?
A giant vulture is worth 200 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many giant vultures 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 giant vulture compares at CR 1
Against the 24 other challenge 1 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the giant vulture has more hit points than 4 of them, which makes it one of the frailest at its CR. See every CR 1 monster.
Statistic
Giant Vulture
CR 1 average
Armor Class
10
13
Hit points
22
28
Best attack bonus
+4
+4
Giant Vulture 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the giant vulture, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Its creature type changed from beast to monstrosity.
Hit points: 22 → 25.
Ability scores: CON 15 → 16.
New in its stat block: Gouge.
Gone from it: Keen Sight and Smell, Multiattack, Beak and Talons.
Armor Class
10
Hit Points
25 (3d10 + 9)
Speed
10 ft., fly 60 ft.
Challenge
1 (200 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
15 (+2)
10 (+0)
16 (+3)
6 (-2)
12 (+1)
7 (-2)
Damage resistances
necrotic
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages
Understands Common but can’t speak
Traits
Pack Tactics. The vulture has Advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the vulture’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition.
Actions
Gouge. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) Piercing damage, and the target has the Poisoned condition until the end of its next turn.
