Medium fey, lawful evil · CR 3 · new in the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2)
Armor Class
17 (half-plate armor)
Hit Points
58 (9d8 + 18)
Speed
30 ft.
Challenge
3 (700 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
15 (+2)
14 (+2)
14 (+2)
12 (+1)
10 (+0)
13 (+1)
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages
Common, Goblin
Gear
Greatsword, Half Plate Armor, Longbow
Traits
Aura of Authority. While in a 10-foot Emanation originating from the hobgoblin, the hobgoblin and its allies have Advantage on attack rolls and saving throws, provided the hobgoblin doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition.
Actions
Multiattack. The hobgoblin makes two attacks, using Greatsword or Longbow in any combination.
Greatsword. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) Slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) Poison damage.
Longbow. Ranged Attack Roll: +4, range 150/600 ft. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) Piercing damage plus 5 (2d4) Poison damage.
The hobgoblin captain isn’t in the 2014 SRD 5.1; this is its stat block from the SRD 5.2. For the 2014 version of its kin, see the Hobgoblin.
How many hobgoblin captains for a fight?
A hobgoblin captain is worth 700 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many hobgoblin captains 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 hobgoblin captain compares at CR 3
Against the 22 other challenge 3 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the hobgoblin captain has more hit points than 9 of them, which makes it a little frailer than most at its CR. See every CR 3 monster.
