Keen Hearing and Smell. The hound has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The hound has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the hound'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: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) fire damage.
Fire Breath (Recharge 5–6). The hound exhales fire in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
How many hell hounds for a fight?
A hell hound is worth 700 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many hell hounds 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
2nd
—
—
1
3rd
—
1
2
4th
1
2
2
5th
2
4
6
6th
3
5
8
7th
4
7
9
8th
5
9
12
9th
7
11
12+
10th
9
12+
12+
11th
10
12+
12+
12th
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 hell hound compares at CR 3
Against the 21 other challenge 3 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the hell hound has more hit points than 1 of them, which makes it one of the frailest at its CR. See every CR 3 monster.
Statistic
Hell Hound
CR 3 average
Armor Class
15
14
Hit points
45
60
Best attack bonus
+5
+5
Best save DC
12
12
Hell Hound 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the hell hound, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Hit points: 45 → 58.
New in its stat block: Multiattack.
Gone from it: Keen Hearing and Smell.
Armor Class
15
Hit Points
58 (9d8 + 18)
Speed
50 ft.
Challenge
3 (700 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
17 (+3)
12 (+1)
14 (+2)
6 (-2)
13 (+1)
6 (-2)
Damage immunities
fire
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages
Understands Infernal but can’t speak
Traits
Pack Tactics. The hound has Advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the hound’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition.
Actions
Multiattack. The hound makes two Bite attacks.
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +5, reach 5 ft. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) Piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) Fire damage.
Fire Breath (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 12, each creature in a 15-foot Cone. Failure: 17 (5d6) Fire damage. Success: Half damage.
