D&D 5E Frequency of Saves in the Monster Manual

[Thaumaturge]

Ok. I'm one of the happy few who has a Monster Manual. I know some of you are really interested in all sorts of monster math, so I figured I would provide people some numbers to tide you over.

My Methods
I went through the MM page by page. I counted every time a monster had an ability that forced a save. I counted every ability in every stat-block, so I counted all abilities for each dragon or beholder type.

I didn't count skill or ability checks mentioned.

I didn't count templates (except the half-dragon's breath), because the abilities with saves were the original creature's abilities.

I didn't count spells for spellcasting monsters. Spells are their own thing.

Edit: I stopped at zombie, and didn't check the appendices.

Accuracy
I almost certainly missed some things or mis counted some things. I think my numbers provide a general direction, but not an exact accounting.

One Oddity
One oddity that jumped out at me: if a Dao hits you, you make a "strength check" to not fall prone. This exact thing, in every other monster, is a Strength save, so I counted it as such.

My Results
Monsters call for

Strength saves 34 times,
Dexterity saves 87 times,
Constitution saves 120 times,
Intelligence saves 3 times, (bonus if you guess which 2 monsters)
Wisdom saves 57 times,
Charisma saves 4 times.

Notes
Almost (all?) of the strength saves were of the "or be knocked prone" or "be pulled" variety.
Dexterity saves seemed to be of the "or take damage" variety.
Intelligence saves are bad to fail.
Wisdom saves are often fear-based effects.
Charisma saves are of the "or reveal certain information" kind.

I'm certain I missed some things.

Thaumaturge.

 

[GX.Sigma]

Intelligence saves 3 times, (bonus if you guess which 2 monsters)

Mind Flayer and Intellect Devourer?

 

[Thaumaturge]

Mind Flayer and Intellect Devourer?

I was hoping at least one person would guess something else. Not that I can think of what else would make sense.

Maybe: Hill giants tell really bad riddles, Int save DC 10 or be stunned.

Thaumaturge.

 

[the Jester]

Must spread it around, etc etc.

Thamauturge deserves some xp for community service- could someone cover for me, please? Thanks in advance!

 

[Crothian]

Maybe: Hill giants tell really bad riddles, Int save DC 10 or be stunned.

Thaumaturge.

Vogon Poetry!

 

[Agamon]

I was hoping at least one person would guess something else. Not that I can think of what else would make sense.

Those ethereal skeletal duck-thingy Thought Eaters from the 1e MM, maybe.

Hey, if we have Flumphs and Modrons, I'm not sure there's a "WTF" line to be crossed...

 

[KarinsDad]

Constitution saves 120 times,

So, I take it that undead often fall into this category?

 

[Remathilis]

Must spread it around, etc etc.

Thamauturge deserves some xp for community service- could someone cover for me, please? Thanks in advance!

Done

 

[Thaumaturge]

So, I take it that undead often fall into this category?

It felt like everything fell into this category. It felt like if a monster had 2 abilities that called for saves, one was Con and one was Wis or Dex. I know that's not true, but it's how things felt.

I'd say undead were lots of Con and Wis (fear) saves.

Dragons were a big mix of Dex, Con, Dex, Str, and Dex saves.

I can say about halfway through Dex, Con, and Wis were all about equal (Dex actually led), so the latter half of the MM is weighted heavily in favor of Con.

Thaumaturge.

 

[jgsugden]

Frequency is one thing... importance is another. A 'save or pushed 5' is different than 'save or die'. There is a wide spectrum between these extremes, and I'd be interested to see where things end up falling long term.

I think the 'Int' save #s will skyrocket when the Psionics materials are released.