bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages
—
Traits
Shapechanger. The wererat can use its action to polymorph into a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Keen Smell. The wererat has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with wererat lycanthropy.
How many wererats (rat form) for a fight?
A wererat (rat form) is worth 450 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many wererats (rat form) 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 wererat (rat form) compares at CR 2
Against the 42 other challenge 2 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the wererat (rat form) has more hit points than 6 of them, which makes it one of the frailest at its CR. See every CR 2 monster.
Statistic
Wererat, Rat Form
CR 2 average
Armor Class
12
13
Hit points
33
47
Best attack bonus
+4
+5
Wererat, Rat Form 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the wererat, rat form, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Its creature type changed from humanoid to monstrosity.
Armor Class: 12 → 13.
Hit points: 33 → 60.
Speed: 30 ft. → 30 ft., climb 30 ft..
Ability scores: DEX 15 → 16.
New in its stat block: Multiattack, Scratch and Shape-Shift.
Gone from it: Shapechanger and Keen Smell.
Armor Class
13
Hit Points
60 (11d8 + 11)
Speed
30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Challenge
2 (450 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
16 (+3)
12 (+1)
11 (+0)
10 (+0)
8 (-1)
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages
Common (can’t speak in rat form)
Gear
Hand Crossbow
Actions
Multiattack. The wererat makes two attacks, using Scratch or Hand Crossbow in any combination. It can replace one attack with a Bite attack.
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +5, reach 5 ft. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) Piercing damage. If the target is a Humanoid, it is subjected to the following effect. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 11. Failure: The target is cursed. If the cursed target drops to 0 Hit Points, it instead becomes a Wererat under the GM’s control and has 10 Hit Points. Success: The target is immune to this wererat’s curse for 24 hours.
Shape-Shift. The wererat shape-shifts into a Medium rat-humanoid hybrid or a Small rat, or it returns to its true humanoid form. Its game statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed.
