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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 6989894" data-attributes="member: 20323">A *very* rough rule-of-thumb (see my caveat below) is that:1/3 of non-caster level = CR1/2 of caster level = CRHowever, if you're familiar with 3e's level-based CR for NPCs you need to jettison that thinking in 5e. Calculating a monster's CR in 5e requires determining a defensive CR and an offensive CR, then averaging the two. This involves DPR calculations. What this means is you could design a caster with great utility/exploration magic but who is lacking in defensive & offensive magic and so wouldn't follow my rule-of-thumb at all. Similarly, you could optimize a non-caster with feats, high ability scores, and magic items and it wouldn't follow my rule-of-thumb at all.My approach for adding "class abilities" to monsters is a lot looser than what someone familiar with 3e might be used to.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I determine the rough level of the monster's class, revising its HD/HP accordingly.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I look through any especially fiddly class abilities and cut them out entirely. As DM I've got enough on my plate so I don't want monsters to involve nitty details like Second Wind or Arcane Recovery.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I then recalculate the monster's CR from the ground up as if it were a new monster entirely.</li> </ul>Anything else is IMO guesstimating.</blockquote>