"A few bats flit about you and into a vertical shaft ahead leading up and down. Far more bats are visible in the shaft and one starts speaking to you..."
Underdark encounters for D&D 2014. Also a D&D 2024 version.
Tables for Underdark Encounters (levels 1-4, 5-10 and 11+) plus Beasts, Humanoids, Duergar & Deep Gnomes, Fungi & Oozes, Mind Flayers and Monsters
Encs by terrains - arctic | coastal | desert | feywild | forest | grassland | hill | jungle | mountain | road | ruins | sea | shadowfell | swamp | underdark | underwater | urban | all dnd 2014 encs
[Photo by Bryce Evans on Unsplash]. Updated from original article in 2018.
Underdark Encounters
The Underdark is a place of twisting tunnels, constant darkness and strange magic. Encounters might occur in a forest of fungi, amid giant stalactites or by the side of a gaping chasm.
The Underdark is it's own world away from the surface civilisations, a place of elemental earth and gates to far realms. They are home to fungi creatures, the dark elves and aberrations from the Far Realms
There is a 5e underdark random encounter generator at ChaosGen. And also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Table Rolls - Underdark Encounters.
Underdark - encs (2024) | encs (2014) | locs | noncombat | extras | all underdark
Underdark Encounters Table (Levels 1-4)
| 1d8+1d12 | Underdark Levels 1-4 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 intellect devourer as host in a drow or 1d2 nothics |
| 3 | 2d4 grimlocks or roll on Humanoid Encounters |
| 4 | 1d3 gargoyles or roll on Planar Creatures lvl 1-4 |
| 5 | 1d2 grells or roll on Underdark Monsters lvl 1-4 |
| 6 | 2d4 drow with 1d4 goblin slaves or 2d4 deep gnomes |
| 7 | 1d3 carrion crawlers or roll on Underdark Monsters lvl 1-4 |
| 8 | 2d6 kuo-toa led by a kuo-toa whip or roll on Humanoid Encounters |
| 9 | 1d6+1 darkmantles or roll on Underdark Monsters lvl 1-4 |
| 10 | 2d6 troglodytes or roll on Humanoid Encounters |
| 11 | 1d4 giant bats and 1 swarm of bats or roll on Underdark Beasts |
| 12 | 1d6 gas spores or roll on Fungi and Ooze Encounters |
| 13 | 2d6 giant fire beetles or roll on Underdark Beasts |
| 14 | 1d3 quaggoths or 2d6 flumphs |
| 15 | 2d4+2 giant centipedes or roll on Underdark Beasts |
| 16 | 1d3 minotaur skeletons or roll on Undead Encounters lvl 1-4 |
| 17 | 1d4 giant spiders or roll on Underdark Beasts |
| 18 | 1d3 duergar and 1d3 orc slaves or roll on Duergar & Deep Gnomes |
| 19 | 2d4 myconid sprouts and 1d4 myconid adults or roll on Fungi and Ooze Encounters |
| 20 | 1 beholder zombie or 1 roper |
Underdark Levels 5-10
| 1d8+1d12 | Underdark Levels 5-10 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 spirit naga or roll on Underdark Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 3 | 1d2 yuan-ti abominations or roll on Yuan-ti lvl 5-10 |
| 4 | 2d4 hook horrors or roll on Underdark Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 5 | 1d4 salamanders or roll on Planar Encounters lvl 5-10 |
| 6 | 1d4+1 chuuls or roll on Underdark Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 7 | 1d3 driders and 2d6 giant spiders or 2d4 duergar kavalrachni (MToF) on steeders (MToF) |
| 8 | 1d4 umber hulks or roll on Underdark Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 9 | 1d4+2 quaggoths led by a quaggoth thonot or 1 elder oblex (MToF) |
| 10 | 1d2 ropers with 2d4 piercers or roll on Underdark Monsters lvl 5-10 |
| 11 | Roll on Underdark Levels 1-4 or 1 deathkiss (VGtM) |
| 12 | 1 fomorian or roll on Underdark Giants lvl 5-10 |
| 13 | 1 drow mage with 2d6 drow or roll on Drow Encounters lvl 5-10 |
| 14 | 1d2 mind flayers and 2d6 quaggoths or roll on Mind Flayers lvl 5-10 |
| 15 | 1 aboleth with 2d4 kuo-toa or 2d4+2 chitines (VGtM) led by 1 choldrith (VGtM) |
| 16 | 1d4 drow elite warriors or roll on Drow Encounters lvl 5-10 |
| 17 | 1 beholder zombie and 2d4 ogre zombies or roll on Undead lvl 5-10 |
| 18 | 1d3 stone giants or roll on Underdark Giants lvl 5-10 |
| 19 | 3d6 orcs led by 1d2 minotaurs or roll on Orc Encounters lvl 5-10 |
| 20 | 3d6 kuo-toa and 1d4 kuo-toa whips led by 1 kuo-toa archpriest or 2d4 duergar led by a duergar warlord (MToF) |
Underdark Levels 11+
| 1d8+1d12 | Underdark Levels 11+ |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 death tyrant or 1 mind flayer lich (VGtM) |
| 3 | 1d4+1 cloakers or 1 sibriex (MToF) |
| 4 | 2d4 umber hulks or 1 fire giant dreadnought with 1d2 fire giants |
| 5 | 1d2 drow mages with 1d4 xorns or roll on Drow Encounters lvl 11+ |
| 6 | 2d4 salamanders or 1 fire giant dreadnought |
| 7 | 1d3 aboleth with 1d4 chuul or 1 soul monger (MToF) |
| 8 | 1 beholder or 1d4+1 howlers (MToF) |
| 9 | 1d3+1 fomorians or 1 devourer (VGtM) |
| 10 | 1 drow priestess of Lolth with 1d2 yochlols or roll on Drow Encounters lvl 11+ |
| 11 | Roll on Underdark Levels 5-10 or 1 neothelid (VGtM) |
| 12 | 1 purple worm or 1 spirit troll (MToF) |
| 13 | 2d4 stone giants or 1 blackguard (VGtM) with 1d3 driders |
| 14 | 1d3 mind flayers and 1 mind flayer arcanist or 1 duergar despot (MToF) with 2d6 duergar stone guards (MToF) |
| 15 | 1 dao with 1d3 earth elementals or 1 yuan-ti anathema (VGtM) |
| 16 | 1 behir or 1 gloom weaver (MToF) and 1d2 shadow dancers (MToF) |
| 17 | 2d4 xorns or 1d4 of the hungry (MToF) |
| 18 | 1d4+1 fire giants or 1 skull lord (MToF) |
| 19 | 1 beholder and 2d4 duergar or 1 dire troll (MToF) |
| 20 | 1 young red shadow dragon or 1 nightwalker (MToF) |
Underdark Beasts (Levels 1-4)
| 1d8+1d12 | Underdark Beasts Levels 1-4 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 mimic |
| 3 | 1d2+1 giant poisonous snakes |
| 4 | 1 giant constrictor snake or 1 swarm of rot grubs (VGtM) |
| 5 | 3d6 giant rats or 1 Gazer (VGtM) |
| 6 | 2d6 stirges or 1 female steeder (MToF) & 1d4 male steeders (MToF) |
| 7 | 2d4+2 giant centipedes |
| 8 | 2d4 giant bats |
| 9 | 1d2 bat swarms |
| 10 | 2d4 rothe (giant goat stats) |
| 11 | 2d6 giant fire beetles or 1 cave fisher (VGtM) |
| 12 | 2d4 giant lizards or 2d4 deep rothe (VGtM, Cow) |
| 13 | 1d4 giant spiders or 1 choker (MToF) |
| 14 | 1d4+1 darkmantles |
| 15 | 1d4 giant toads or 1d2 guard drakes (VGtM) |
| 16 | 1d2 insect swarms |
| 17 | 1d2 carrion crawler or 2d6+6 young kruthiks (MToF) |
| 18 | 1d3 rust monsters |
| 19 | 1d2 giant bats and 1d2 bat swarms |
| 20 | 1d2 cave bears or 1 swarm of cranium rats (VGtM) |
Underdark Humanoids (Levels 1-4)
| 1d8+1d12 | Underdark Humanoids Levels 1-4 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 intellect devourer in a host... (roll again on table) or 1d4 half-ogres |
| 3 | 1d4+1 bugbears or 2d6 goblins led by a nilbog (VGtM) |
| 4 | 1d2 scouts with... (roll on Underdark Beasts) or 1d2+1 duergar with 1 duergar stone guard (MToF) |
| 5 | 1d4+1 orcs led by an orog or roll on Orc Encounters lvl 1-4 |
| 6 | 1d3 quaggoths or 2d6 xvarts (VGtM) led by a xvart warlock of Raxivort (VGtM) |
| 7 | 1d6 kobolds with a pet carrion crawler or roll on Kobold Encounters |
| 8 | 2d6 escaped commoner slaves or roll on Underdark Slaves |
| 9 | 1d4 duergar or roll on Duergar and Deep Gnomes |
| 10 | 1d4 kuo-toa led by 1 kuo-toa monitor or 1d3 ogres |
| 11 | 2d4 drow with... (roll on Underdark Slaves) or 2d4 chitines (VGtM) |
| 12 | 2d6 grimlocks or 1d4 darklings (VGtM) led by 1 darkling elder (VGtM) |
| 13 | 2d6 troglodytes or 1d3 firenewts (VGtM) mounted on giant striders (VGtM) |
| 14 | 2d4 deep gnomes or roll on Duergar and Deep Gnomes |
| 15 | 2d6 goblins led by a goblin boss or 1d4+1 firenewts (VGtM) led by a firenewt warlock of Imix |
| 16 | 1d2 yuan-ti malisons or roll on Yuan-ti Encounters lvl 1-5 |
| 17 | 1d3+1 hobgoblins led by a hobgoblin captain or 2d6 derro (MToF) |
| 18 | 2d4 tribal warriors led by a veteran or 2d4 skulks (MToF) |
| 19 | 1 druid with 1d2 giant lizards or 1 meazel (MToF) |
| 20 | 1 doppelganger among... (roll again on table) or 2d4 boggles (VGtM) |
Duergar and Deep Gnomes (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Duergar and Deep Gnomes Levels 1-4 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 duergar with 1 minotaur slave or 1 duergar hammerer (MToF) with 1d2 duergar |
| 3 | 1d2 duergar with 1 ogre carrying empty cages or 1 duergar screamer (MToF) |
| 4 | 1d2 duergar mounted on giant lizards or 1d2 duergar hammerers (MToF) |
| 5 | 1d4 duergar or 1 duergar xarrorn (MToF) with 1d2 duergar |
| 6 | 1d4+1 deep gnomes or 1 duergar stone guard (MToF) with 1d2 duergar |
| 7 | 1d4+1 duergar with... (roll on Underdark Slaves) or 1d4 duergar led by 1 duergar soulblade (MToF) |
| 8 | 1d3 deep gnomes with 1d3 gargoyles or 1d2 duergar mind masters (MToF) |
| 9 | 1d3+1 duergar with 1d4 orc slaves |
| 10 | 1 deep gnome with 1 xorn or 1d2 duergar kavalrachni (MToF) mounted on female steeders (MToF) |
Fungi and Ooze Encounters (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Fungi and Ooze Encounters Levels 1-4 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 black pudding or 1 adult oblex (MToF) |
| 3 | 1 ochre jelly |
| 4 | 1d3 gray oozes |
| 5 | 1d3 shrieker or 1 slithering tracker (VGtM) |
| 6 | 2d6 gas spores |
| 7 | 2d6 violet fungi or 2d4 oblex spawn (MToF) |
| 8 | 2d4 myconid sprouts and 1d4 myconid adults |
| 9 | 1 gelatinous cube |
| 10 | 1d4 myconid adults and 1d2 quaggoth spore servants |
Mind Flayer Encounters (Levels 5-10)
| 1d4+1d6 | Mind Flayer Encounters Levels 5-10 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1d4+4 intellect devourers inhabiting...(roll on Underdark Slaves) |
| 3 | 1d2 mind flayers with 1d4 troglodytes |
| 4 | 1d3 mind flayers with... (roll on Underdark Slaves) |
| 5 | 1 mind flayer and 2d6 quaggoths or 1 mindwitness (VGtM) with 1d2 mind flayers |
| 6 | 1 mind flayer with 2d4 grimlocks |
| 7 | 1 mind flayer arcanist or 1 ulitharid (VGtM) with 2d4 bugbear slaves |
| 8 | 1 mind flayer and 1d3 intellect devourers or 1 alhoon (VGtM) |
| 9 | 1 mind flayer with 1d6 ogres |
| 10 | 1 mind flayer arcanist with... (roll on Underdark Slaves) |
Underdark Monsters (Levels 1-4)
| 1d4+1d6 | Underdark Monsters Levels 1-4 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1d2 grells or 1 mindwitness (VGtM) |
| 3 | 1 minotaur |
| 4 | 1d2 hook horrors or 1d3 rust monsters |
| 5 | 1d3 gricks or 2d6 stirges |
| 6 | 1d4+2 darkmantles or 1d2 spectators |
| 7 | 1d3 carrion crawlers |
| 8 | 1d6+1 piercers or 1d2 trappers (VGtM) |
| 9 | 1d2 nothics |
| 10 | 1 otyugh |
Underdark Monsters (Levels 5-10)
| 1d4+1d6 | Underdark Monsters Levels 5-10 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1d4 earth elementals or roll on Planar Creatures lvl 5-10 |
| 3 | 2d4 phase spiders or 2d4 adult kruthiks (MToF) and 2d6 young kruthiks (MToF) |
| 4 | 1d4+2 gricks led by a grick alpha or 1 froghemoth (VGtM) |
| 5 | 1d4 umber hulks or 1 warlock of the fiend (VGtM) with 1d4 spectators |
| 6 | 1d2 ropers with 2d4 piercers or 1d2 gauths (VGtM) |
| 7 | 1d6 chuuls or 1d4 neogi adults (VGtM) and 2d6 neogi hatchlings (VGtM) |
| 8 | 2d4 hook horrors or 1d4 adult oblexes (MToF) |
| 9 | 2d4 grells or 1 neogi master (VGtM) with 1 charmed minotaur and 1d4 neogi adults (VGtM) |
| 10 | 1 spirit naga or 1 balhannoth (MToF) |
More Encounters
There is a 5e underdark random encounter generator at ChaosGen. And also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Table Rolls - Underdark Encounters.
If you liked these there are D&D Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.
