Death Burst. When the mephit dies, it explodes in a cloud of steam. Each creature within 5 ft. of the mephit must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or take 4 (1d8) fire damage.
Innate Spellcasting (1/Day). The mephit can innately cast blur, requiring no material components. Its innate spellcasting ability is Charisma.
Actions
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 2 (1d4) slashing damage plus 2 (1d4) fire damage.
Steam Breath (Recharge 6). The mephit exhales a 15-foot cone of scalding steam. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4 (1d8) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
How many steam mephits for a fight?
A steam mephit is worth 50 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many steam 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
4
6
8
2nd
8
12
12+
3rd
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 steam mephit compares at CR 1/4
Against the 31 other challenge 1/4 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the steam mephit has more hit points than 25 of them, which makes it one of the toughest at its CR. See every CR 1/4 monster.
Statistic
Steam Mephit
CR 1/4 average
Armor Class
10
11.8
Hit points
21
15
Best attack bonus
+2
+4
Best save DC
10
11
Steam Mephit 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the steam mephit, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Blurred Form. Attack rolls against the mephit are made with Disadvantage unless the mephit has the Incapacitated condition.
Death Burst. The mephit explodes when it dies. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 10, each creature in a 5-foot Emanation originating from the mephit. Failure: 5 (2d4) Fire damage. Success: Half damage.
Actions
Claw. Melee Attack Roll: +2, reach 5 ft. Hit: 2 (1d4) Slashing damage plus 2 (1d4) Fire damage.
Steam Breath (Recharge 6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 10, each creature in a 15-foot Cone. Failure: 5 (2d4) Fire damage, and the target’s Speed decreases by 10 feet until the end of the mephit’s next turn. Success: Half damage only. Failure or Success: Being underwater doesn’t grant Resistance to this Fire damage.
