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Lion 5e: Stats, Pack Tactics and Running a Pride
A lion is a CR 1 Large Beast with AC 12, 50 feet of speed and Pack Tactics: it has Advantage on attacks against any creature that another lion (or any ally) is standing next to. That trait is why lions come in prides. The 2014 lion (26 HP) adds Pounce, a charge that can knock a target prone and set up a bonus-action bite. The 2024 lion (22 HP) drops Pounce for a two-attack Multiattack, can swap one attack for a frightening Roar, and gains 60-foot darkvision. Both can long-jump 25 feet with a 10-foot run.
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Lion Stat Block (2014)
Lion
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 26 (4d10+4)
Speed 50 ft.
STR
17 (+3)
DEX
15 (+2)
CON
13 (+1)
INT
3 (−4)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
8 (−1)
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 1 (XP 200; PB +2)
Traits
Keen Smell.The lion has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Pack Tactics.The lion has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the lion's allies is within 5 ft. of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Pounce.If the lion moves at least 20 ft. straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the lion can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.
Running Leap.With a 10-foot running start, the lion can long jump up to 25 ft..
Actions
Bite.Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Claw.Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Stat block from the SRD 5.1 (2014 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
The 2014 lion has a Bite (+5, 7 piercing) and a Claw (+5, 6 slashing) and uses one per turn as its action. Pounce is how it gets both: move at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and hit with a Claw, and the target makes a DC 13 Strength save or falls prone. If it's prone, the lion bites it as a bonus action. Running Leap lets it long-jump 25 feet after a 10-foot run, and Keen Smell gives Advantage on smell-based Perception checks.
The Lion in the 2024 Rules
Lion
Large Beast, Unaligned
Armor Class 12
Initiative +2 (12)
Hit Points 22 (4d10)
Speed 50 ft.
STR
17 (+3)save +3
DEX
15 (+2)save +2
CON
11 (+0)save +0
INT
3 (−4)save −4
WIS
12 (+1)save +1
CHA
8 (−1)save −1
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Passive Perception 13
Languages None
Challenge 1 (XP 200; PB +2)
Traits
Pack Tactics.The lion has Advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the lion’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition.
Running Leap.With a 10-foot running start, the lion can Long Jump up to 25 feet.
Actions
Multiattack.The lion makes two Rend attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of Roar.
Roar.Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 11, one creature within 15 feet. Failure: The target has the Frightened condition until the start of the lion’s next turn.
Stat block from the SRD 5.2.1 (2024 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
2014
2024
HP
26 (4d10 + 4)
22 (4d10)
Attacks
Bite or Claw, one per turn
Multiattack: two Rends (7 slashing each)
Pounce
Yes
Removed
Roar
No
Replaces one Rend: DC 11 Wisdom save, Frightened until the lion's next turn
Senses
Passive Perception 13
Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Stealth
+6
+4
Keen Smell
Yes
Removed
Pack Tactics and Running Leap are unchanged. The 2024 lion is simpler to run and roughly doubles its damage on turns it doesn't charge.
How Lions Fight
Two lions on one target. Pack Tactics needs an ally within 5 feet of the target, so a pride picks one character and surrounds them. Against AC 16, +5 hits on an 11 or higher (50%). With Advantage it's 75%.
Per lion, per turn vs AC 16
No ally adjacent
With Pack Tactics
2014, Bite
about 3.5
about 5.3
2014, Pounce turn (Claw, then Bite if prone)
about 3.9
about 5.9
2024, two Rends
7
about 10.5
The 2014 Pounce turn counts a fighter with a +5 Strength save, who stays on their feet 65% of the time. Against a wizard with Strength −1, the save fails 65% of the time instead of 35%, so the bonus Bite comes up nearly twice as often.
Pounce over things. Running Leap and Pounce combine. A 2014 lion can run 10 feet, leap a 25-foot gully or a barricade, and come down on a character it has been moving straight toward, using the leap as part of the 20 feet Pounce needs.
Roar the character who's about to hurt you (2024). Roar costs one Rend (about 5 damage with Pack Tactics). In exchange, a creature within 15 feet that fails a DC 11 Wisdom save is Frightened until the start of the lion's next turn: Disadvantage on attacks and ability checks while it can see the lion, and it can't move closer. Use it on the fighter or barbarian before their turn, not on the wizard.
Prides break. Lions are hunters, not guards. When two of a pride of four are down, the rest pull back. A wounded lion can cover 50 feet a turn and leap obstacles the party can't.
How Many Lions for Your Party?
A lion is 200 XP.
Party of 4 (2024 rules)
Low / Moderate / High
Lions
Level 2
400 / 600 / 800
2 is Low, 3 is Moderate, 4 is High
Level 3
600 / 900 / 1,600
3 is Low, 4 is Moderate
Under the 2014 guidelines in our encounter calculator, three lions are 600 XP ×2 = 1,200, Hard for four level 3 characters (Deadly starts at 1,600).
Pack Tactics makes three lions much more dangerous than one plus two other monsters. If you need a single big cat instead, see the tiger, which fights alone.
Wild Shape. Lions are CR 1 with no flying or swimming speed, so druids can take the form from level 8 in both editions. A druid lion next to the party's melee characters gets Pack Tactics on almost every attack, since any ally counts.
How Players Beat Lions
•Kill one fast. At 22 to 26 hit points, focusing fire drops a lion in a round or two, and each dead lion takes Pack Tactics away from another.
•Fight from a corner or a doorway. If only one lion can reach a character, nobody gets Pack Tactics against them.
•Wisdom saves (2024 Roar). DC 11 is low. Bless, a cleric's Wisdom, or Advantage on saves against being Frightened all help. See Frightened.
•Charm them.Animal Friendship charms a lion on a failed Wisdom save, and Dominate Beast turns one against its pride. Calm Emotions won't help: it only affects Humanoids.
Lion Encounter Ideas
The caravan at the waterhole. A trade caravan has stopped at the only water for a day's ride. A pride of four has been watching it since noon. The lions take the camels first, unless the party gets between them.
The arena. A gladiator pit sends three lions at the party. The arena's sand is open ground, perfect for Pounce. The pillars at the edges are the only cover.
The lion-shaped druid. A pride with five lions has one that doesn't act like the others: it watches the party's camp, then walks away. It's a druid in Wild Shape, using the pride to protect a sacred grove.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CR is a lion in 5e?
A lion is CR 1 (200 XP) in both the 2014 and 2024 rules, with AC 12. It has 26 hit points in 2014 and 22 in 2024.
How does Pack Tactics work for a lion?
The lion has Advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of its allies is within 5 feet of that creature and the ally isn't incapacitated. The ally doesn't have to be a lion.
Does the 2024 lion have Pounce?
No. The 2024 lion replaces Pounce with a Multiattack of two Rend attacks, one of which it can swap for a Roar that frightens a creature within 15 feet on a failed DC 11 Wisdom save.
Can a druid Wild Shape into a lion?
Yes, from druid level 8 in both editions, when Wild Shape allows CR 1 beasts.
Lion or tiger, which is stronger?
Alone, the tiger: it has more hit points (37 vs 26 in 2014, 30 vs 22 in 2024) and doesn't depend on allies. In a group, lions hit more often because of Pack Tactics.
Stat blocks: System Reference Document 5.1 (2014) and 5.2.1 (2024), Wizards of the Coast, CC-BY-4.0. Tactics, encounter math and ideas are Loreify's own.
This page includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Loreify is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.