D&D 5E (2014) How is the Giant Badger CR1/4?

[Yunru]

As the title says. Look at it! Now look at the DMG, nothing about it fits into the CR 1/4 category. In fact, it's basically the poster-child for CR 1/8. So why's it CR 1/4?

 

[l0lzero]

Burrow 10', multi-attack, and keen smell?

Yeah, giant badger is not great...

 

[Yunru]

Burrow 10', multi-attack, and keen smell?

Yeah, giant badger is not great...

Subpar damage, subpar health and it's only method of evasion leaves it vulnerable to just... walking away. Yeah, it's really not.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Short answer: Multiattack.

Longer answer:
10 DPR @ +3 to hit = Offensive CR 1
13 hp @ 10 AC = Defensive CR 1/8 (or maybe 0)

Average CR = about 1/2. Possibly dropped down one level due to that lower-end hp with the bargain basement AC

Haven't seen one in play, but seems legit on paper.

 

[Yunru]

Yeah, it's the two extra points of average damage multiattack adds that pushes it to CR 1 offensively, which pushes it to CR 1/2 on average.

 

[l0lzero]

it's only method of evasion leaves it vulnerable to just... walking away. Yeah, it's really not.

I'm sorry, I lol'd in real life because of this...

"You're walking through the forest when all of a sudden, a GIANT badger lunges at you from behind a tree! It attacks! One hit, one miss, you take 4 damage from the bite and as suddenly as it appeared, it burrows into the ground!"

"I walk thattaway..."

"You... you don't want to take your reaction attack?"

"No, I'm good. I walk thattaway."

"But..."

"Yeah, no, I'm good, I walk away."

 

[pukunui]

I think you'll find that many creatures in the MM have CRs that don't add up using the DMG guidelines. It's more art than science, after all.

 

[LordEntrails]

Who cares? It's a 1/4CR creature. After first level is a DM going to throw a pack of 20 feral giant badgers at you?

 

[Yunru]

I once threw 105 goblins at a party of five level 11 characters so... maybe?

 

[LordEntrails]

Packs of goblins are expected. Giant badgers are not. Besides, CR is only an approximation and when the quantity of creatures is more than 3 times the number of the party, the formulas are... very unreliable. It more depends upon the party make-up, abilities, resources and the players tactical skills.

You can throw an encounter that has an adjusted CR three times the party level at them and it's can be a simple fight for the party, if things are just so. Or you can walk away with a 1:1 encounter giving you a TPK.