Death Burst. When the mephit dies, it explodes in a burst of jagged ice. Each creature within 5 ft. of it must make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4 (1d8) slashing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
False Appearance. While the mephit remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary shard of ice.
Innate Spellcasting (1/Day). The mephit can innately cast fog cloud, requiring no material components. Its innate spellcasting ability is Charisma.
Actions
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) slashing damage plus 2 (1d4) cold damage.
Frost Breath (Recharge 6). The mephit exhales a 15-foot cone of cold air. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw, taking 5 (2d4) cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
How many ice mephits for a fight?
An ice mephit is worth 100 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many ice mephits 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
2
3
4
2nd
4
6
8
3rd
6
9
12+
4th
10
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 ice mephit compares at CR 1/2
Against the 32 other challenge 1/2 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the ice mephit has more hit points than 14 of them, which makes it a little frailer than most at its CR. See every CR 1/2 monster.
Statistic
Ice Mephit
CR 1/2 average
Armor Class
11
12.5
Hit points
21
20
Best attack bonus
+3
+4
Ice Mephit 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the ice mephit, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
New in its stat block: Claw and Fog Cloud.
Gone from it: False Appearance, Innate Spellcasting and Claws.
Death Burst. The mephit explodes when it dies. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 10, each creature in a 5-foot Emanation originating from the mephit. Failure: 5 (2d4) Cold damage. Success: Half damage.
Actions
Claw. Melee Attack Roll: +3, reach 5 ft. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) Slashing damage plus 2 (1d4) Cold damage.
Fog Cloud (1/Day). The mephit casts Fog Cloud, requiring no spell components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability.
Frost Breath (Recharge 6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 10, each creature in a 15-foot Cone. Failure: 7 (3d4) Cold damage. Success: Half damage.
