Spellcasting. The mage is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The mage has the following wizard spells prepared:
- Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, light, mage hand, prestidigitation
- 1st level (4 slots): detect magic, mage armor, magic missile, shield
- 2nd level (3 slots): misty step, suggestion
- 3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fireball, fly
- 4th level (3 slots): greater invisibility, ice storm
- 5th level (1 slot): cone of cold
Actions
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
How many mages for a fight?
A mage is worth 2,300 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many mages 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
5th
—
1
1
6th
1
1
2
7th
1
2
2
8th
1
2
3
9th
2
3
4
10th
2
4
5
11th
3
5
7
12th
3
6
8
13th
4
7
9
14th
5
8
10
15th
5
9
12+
16th
6
10
12+
17th
7
12
12+
18th
8
12+
12+
19th
9
12+
12+
20th
11
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 mage compares at CR 6
Against the 9 other challenge 6 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the mage has more hit points than 0 of them, which makes it one of the frailest at its CR. See every CR 6 monster.
Statistic
Mage
CR 6 average
Armor Class
12
15.2
Hit points
40
117
Best attack bonus
+5
+7
Mage 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the mage, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Armor Class: 12 → 15.
Hit points: 40 → 81.
New in its stat block: Multiattack, Arcane Burst, Misty Step and Protective Magic.
Gone from it: Dagger.
Armor Class
15
Hit Points
81 (18d8)
Speed
30 ft.
Challenge
6 (2,300 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
9 (-1)
14 (+2)
11 (+0)
17 (+3)
12 (+1)
11 (+0)
Senses
passive Perception 14
Languages
Common plus three other languages
Gear
Wand
Actions
Multiattack. The mage makes three Arcane Burst attacks.
Arcane Burst. Melee or Ranged Attack Roll: +6, reach 5 ft. or range 120 ft. Hit: 16 (3d8 + 3) Force damage.
Spellcasting. The mage casts one of the following spells, using Intelligence as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14):
At Will: Detect Magic, Light, Mage Armor (included in AC), Mage Hand, Prestidigitation
2/Day Each: Fireball (level 4 version), Invisibility
1/Day Each: Cone of Cold, Fly
Bonus actions
Misty Step (3/Day). The mage casts Misty Step, using the same spellcasting ability as Spellcasting.
Reactions
Protective Magic (3/Day). The mage casts Counterspell or Shield in response to the spell’s trigger, using the same spellcasting ability as Spellcasting.
