Keen Smell. The bear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Actions
Multiattack. The bear makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
How many polar bears for a fight?
A polar bear is worth 450 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many polar bears 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
1
3rd
1
2
3
4th
2
3
4
5th
4
6
9
6th
5
8
12
7th
6
11
12+
8th
8
12+
12+
9th
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 polar bear compares at CR 2
Against the 42 other challenge 2 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the polar bear has more hit points than 17 of them, which makes it a little frailer than most at its CR. See every CR 2 monster.
Statistic
Polar Bear
CR 2 average
Armor Class
12
13
Hit points
42
47
Best attack bonus
+7
+5
Polar Bear 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the polar bear, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
