Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Combat Encounter Ideas For Expert Players
Summary
- Expert-level D&D encounters feature tough battles tailored for seasoned players at various levels.
- From pirates attacking at sea to facing a Tarrasque, these encounters are balanced for a near-lethal experience.
- Encounters like the Haunting Revenant and Gory Goristro pose unique challenges with special abilities and strategies.
While we all love a good roleplay or shopping session, everyone knows that combat is one of the most fun elements of any good Dungeons & Dragons game. If you're a high-level, expert player though, sometimes it's easy to feel like you've seen it all. And, as a DM, how do you cater to seasoned players who aren't surprised by anything?
RelatedDungeons & Dragons: 10 Tips For DM-ing Expert Players
Are you planning to DM for a handful of expert-level players? Here are some tips and tricks you need to know.
PostsWe've created this list for exactly that reason. For this list, we've created a handful of extremely tough combat encounters. If you're trying to keep your players on their toes, you'll want to use one of these D&D battle scenarios.
While this list assumes that your players are veterans of D&D, these encounters include options at all levels of play, since many expert players will start campaigns at lower levels. All of these encounters are balanced to prove near-lethal.
10 Pirates, Attack!
Pirates by Alexandre HonoreEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
3-5
Party Level
13-15
Creatures Used
10 Pirates, 3 Pirate Captains, 1 Pirate Admiral
For this encounter, assume that your party is sailing the high seas, and has a vessel of their own. One night, as the party is traveling across the ocean, they are suddenly surrounded by three separate pirate ships, each manned by their captain, and commanded by a Pirate Admiral.
For this encounter, you can use siege weapons and cannons to fire on the party's ship. Additionally, you can have the party use hand-to-hand combat to fight against the pirate crews for the respective ships. What makes this encounter so difficult is that it's not only an encounter that relies on vehicle combat, but also person-to-person combat. Plus, if the party fails, they're likely to meet a watery grave.
9 In The Lair Of An Aboleth
Aboleth by Kev WalkerEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
3-5
Party Level
8-10
Creatures Used
Aboleth
Aboleths are terrifying and mysterious creatures that can speak to the party through telepathy. For this encounter, have the party explore a subterranean abyss, before accidentally discovering the lair of an Aboleth. The Aboleth may serve as the antagonist for a larger campaign arc, whose machinations have led the party to this point.
The abyss serves as the Aboleth's lair in this encounter, potentially inflicting the poison condition on party members (DC 15 Con Save). One element that makes Aboleths so tough to fight against is the creature's Dominate Mind feature, which it can use twice a day. On a failed DC 16 Wisdom saving throw, the creature can charm its target, which lasts for 24 hours unless the creature takes damage or moves 1 mile away from the Aboleth. Turning one powerful member of the party, or even two, on the others is sure to make for a deadly encounter.
8 Wither And Bloom
Violet Fungus Necrohulk by Viktor TitovEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
3-4
Party Level
7-9
Creatures Used
3 Violet Fungus Necrohulks
In a necrotic-shrouded forest, the party discovers that the lifeblood of the foliage seems to be human flesh. After investigating a particularly foul stench, the party stumbles across a trio of Violet Fungus Necrohulks, who all instantly attack. The creatures can inflict deadly poisons on the party and also have decent melee attack damage.
RelatedDungeons & Dragons: Every Creature Type In The 2025 MM, Ranked
There are 14 different creature types available for DM's to choose from in the 2025 Monster Manual. We ranked them all.
PostsWhat makes encounters with Necrohulks so deadly however is their Absorb Body feature. On a failed Strength save (DC 15), any creature within five feet of the Necrohulk is absorbed into the creature's space and becomes grafted to the body. They are restrained and have disadvantage on Constituion saving throws. This can completely take somebody off the field, and, if the grafted creature dies, then the Necrohulk regains ten hit points.
7 Frozen Tundra Ambush
Ancient White Dragon by Vance KovacsEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
4-6
Party Level
14-16
Creatures Used
Ancient White Dragon, White Dragon Wyrmlings
Ancient Dragons will always prove to be a formidable foe, but if you set an encounter with one of these creatures in an unforgiving tundra, the encounter may prove even tougher. For this battle, place the players in an icy fortress or cavern, the lair of an Ancient White Dragon, surrounded by at least ten of its children, White Dragon Wyrmlings.
An Ancient White Dragon is tough enough on its own, but combine this creature with its lair, which grants the creature extra Legendary Actions and Resistances, and the fight may prove near impossible. For any spell-saving magic to work on the dragon, the party will first have to burn through five Legendary Resistances. Plus, the White Dragon can use one of its Legendary Actions to freeze players in place with its icy, cold breath, which is great for crowd control against a larger party.
6 Roc And Roll
Roc by Alejandro PachecoEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
3
Party Level
4-8
Creatures Used
Roc
Set this encounter in a wide open space; either an open prairie or ocean. From there, inform the player in the party with the highest passive perception that they hear the sound of large, beating wings. An enormous avian figure, a Roc, is swooping down to attack the party, its talons massive and poised to strike.
The reason you'll want to set this encounter in an open space is because you don't want to give your party chances to escape. On a recharge roll of five or six, the Roc can take creatures it's grappled with and drop them from extraordinary heights. This can force players to have to think more defensively rather than offensively, and can even prove lethal for some squishier characters.
5 The Haunted House
Haunting Revenant by Cristi BalanescuEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
6-8
Party Level
3-5
Creatures Used
Haunting Revenant
This next encounter is perfect for a horror-themed campaign. For this encounter, have the party explore a haunted house or manor of some kind. They may start to notice strange things about the house, like the sound of low rumbling or creaking wood. Eventually, they may come to discover the horrible truth, namely, that the entire house is alive!
RelatedDungeons & Dragons: 10 Best Long Range Spells
Is that bad guy just a bit out of range of your attacks? Not anymore with these amazing long-range spells in Dungeons & Dragons.
PostsA Haunting Revenant is the spirit of a forsaken being that has inhabited a large physical object like a house or fortress. These creatures can swallow enemies whole, preventing them from attacking or moving. Plus, players inside the house must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution save to cast a spell, meaning players will first have to move outside the house before making any meaningful magic attacks against the creature.
4 Gory Goristro
Goristro by Ben WoottenEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
3-5
Party Level
13-15
Creatures Used
Goristro
Goristros are terrifying creatures that are often summoned from the Abyss to do others' dirty work. For this encounter, have the party defend a village from one of these creatures, summoned by a demon to defile a sacred temple. Goristros prove to be powerful encounters for expert players for a handful of reasons.
One, they have resistance against spells and other magical effects, which is a huge boon. Plus, they're great for siege encounters, as they can do double damage to houses and structures, which can cause collateral damage for the players. Plus, players might have to prioritize saving those inside structures before attacking the creatures, unless they're willing to sacrifice beloved NPCs and allies of the party.
3 The Walking Dead
Zombie Hoard by Andrey KuzinskiyEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
3-4
Party Level
8-10
Creatures Used
3 Beholder Zombies, 5 Ogre Zombies, 20 Zombies
In a post-apocalyptic landscape, the party must defend a large fortress, the last bastion of civilization, from an onslaught of zombies and undead. For this encounter, you can also use mob combat rules to make running the battle a bit more streamlined. Most zombies on their own aren't much of a threat, but combine these zombies with Ogres and Beholders, and your players will have to think strategically to win.
Like most Beholders, Beholder Zombies have access to several Eye Ray abilities that can paralyze and disintegrate players. So, while the above party size, level, and stats are technically balanced, be wary of using too many paralyzing effects on the party at once, or the encounter can quickly turn into a TPK. If you want to err on the side of caution, use just one Beholder Zombie.
2 The Sphinx And His Riddles
Sphinx of Valor Hazem AmeenEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
3-5
Party Level
12-14
Creatures Used
Sphinx of Valor
While an encounter with a Sphinx is usually best suited for puzzle-solving or roleplay, should the party attack a Spinx of Valor, they'll be in for a tough combat encounter. Set this encounter outside of an object, treasure, or beloved NPC the party is trying to extricate, with the Sphinx of Valor serving as its guard.
Related11 Scariest Monsters In Dungeons & Dragons
Ready to face off against the most terrifying creatures in Dungeons & Dragons? Check out this list.
Posts 1These creatures are incredibly powerful thanks to their cycle of roar-based attacks, which can cause the frightened, paralyzed, or prone condition in sequence. These types of crowd control abilities can prove incredibly tough in battle. Plus, the Spinx has innate spellcasting, Legendary Resistances and Actions when in their lair, and much more that makes them incredibly formidable.
1 The Terrible Tarrasque
Tarrasque by Chris RahnEncounter Stats
Details
Party Size
6-8
Party Level
19-20
Creatures Used
Tarrasque
It's worth noting as always that the Tarrasque is a joke amongst high-level Dungeon Masters. This encounter is almost not designed to be won. But, if your party is insisting on a real challenge, bringing a Tarrasque to a level 19 or level 20 party can prove incredibly fun, if not taxing.
Tarrasques have six Legendary Resistances, the ability to reflect ranged spell attacks at players, and can even swallow other creatures whole. To top it all off, it has nearly 700 hit points. Truthfully, for an encounter of this scale, use a Tarrasque as part of a war-like encounter in which the party might have the support of a soldier or other powerful NPCs to back them up unless you are truly trying to TPK your party.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedDungeons and Dragons
9.0/10 Franchise Dungeons & Dragons Original Release Date 1974 Publisher Wizards of the Coast Designer E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson Player Count 2+ Expand Collapse
