Awaken and its affect on CR

[Tiberius]

Hi, all.

I was looking at the Awaken spell, and wondering how the +2 HD given to a creature would affect its CR. Would it be affected as though using the animal's advancement scheme, as class levels, or in some other fashion? Thanks!

 

[frankthedm]

A wotc source suggested the 2 HD with the Int boost was about the same as 3 hit die/+1 CR for an animal.

That source also suggested that those HD are seperate from the animal's normal advancment routine. Thus an awakened hyena, has 4 HD, but remains medium. It's CR goes up a point to CR 2. If it was a really big hyena 5 HD & CR 3 [+3 HD & size increase] it would now have 7 HD and a CR 4.

Advancement: 3 HD (Medium); 4–5 HD (Large)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Thanks for the question and the answer- I was wondering just that myself!