November 30, 2025
Best Conjure Animals 5e
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Best Conjure Animals 5e

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In Dungeons & Dragons 5e,Conjure Animalsis one of the most powerful summoning spells available to druids and rangers. With the ability to summon beasts that can dramatically shift the balance of combat, this 3rd-level spell provides utility, damage output, and battlefield control all in one. However, not all beasts are created equal. Choosing the best creatures to summon withConjure Animalscan mean the difference between overwhelming your enemies or wasting a precious spell slot. Knowing what to summon based on the situation and understanding which beasts offer the best strategic advantages is essential for maximizing this spell’s effectiveness.

How Conjure Animals Works

Basic Spell Mechanics

Conjure Animalslets you summon fey spirits that take the form of beasts. You choose the number and Challenge Rating (CR) of the beasts:

  • 1 beast of CR 2 or lower
  • 2 beasts of CR 1 or lower
  • 4 beasts of CR 1/2 or lower
  • 8 beasts of CR 1/4 or lower

These beasts act on your initiative and obey your commands. They remain for up to 1 hour, making them excellent for prolonged fights or defensive positioning. Importantly, the DM has the final say on which beasts appear, though many tables allow players to suggest or choose within the rules.

Top Choices by Challenge Rating

CR 1/4 – The Power of Numbers

At this level, you can summon up to 8 creatures, which makes action economy your greatest weapon. The right beast can overwhelm enemies simply by sheer volume. Here are some of the best options:

  • Wolf– With Pack Tactics and the ability to knock enemies prone on a hit, wolves are a staple choice. Their synergy in a pack makes them incredibly effective when used to flank enemies.
  • Axe Beak– High mobility and a solid damage output make Axe Beaks a great offensive option. They have decent hit points and can hit hard for a CR 1/4 creature.
  • Giant Owl– While not as combat-focused, Giant Owls excel in mobility and battlefield control. Their flyby attack allows them to hit and move without provoking opportunity attacks, perfect for hit-and-run tactics or rescues.

CR 1/2 – Balance of Power and Durability

Summoning 4 beasts at CR 1/2 offers stronger individual creatures with better survivability and more impactful attacks. This tier balances durability and damage output well.

  • Giant Wolf Spider– With Stealth and a climb speed, these creatures can sneak, surprise, and poison enemies. They’re great for vertical environments and infiltration-focused play.
  • Giant Boar– Durable and dangerous, especially with their Charge ability. They’re tanky enough to absorb hits and deal decent damage.
  • Giant Elk– Surprisingly effective due to their Charge and high movement speed. They can trample lesser enemies with ease and reposition quickly.

CR 1 – Strong Hits, Less Swarm

Summoning only 2 creatures at CR 1 limits your action economy but gives you access to more individually powerful options. These beasts tend to have impactful abilities or strong stats.

  • Giant Eagle– Great for flying allies into or out of battle. With multiattack and keen senses, they’re effective scouts and skirmishers.
  • Dire Wolf– Larger and stronger than regular wolves, these beasts have Pack Tactics and deal more damage per hit. Best used when you have allies to trigger advantage consistently.
  • Giant Hyena– Known for their Rampage ability, they can chain attacks by killing enemies. Great for swarms of weaker foes.

CR 2 – Solo Strength

If you choose to summon just one creature, you want something that can tank, control, or inflict massive damage. A CR 2 creature needs to be self-sufficient and impactful.

  • Saber-Toothed Tiger– Extremely powerful in terms of raw damage. With Pounce, they can knock enemies prone and follow up with additional attacks.
  • Polar Bear– Two attacks per turn and a high HP pool. Excellent frontliner and consistent damage dealer.
  • Giant Constrictor Snake– Great for grappling and restraining enemies. Its constrict attack allows you to control large threats and neutralize them temporarily.

Best Situational Summons

For Stealth Missions

If you want quiet infiltration, Giant Owls and Giant Wolf Spiders shine due to their Stealth proficiency and movement options. They allow for silent takedowns or transportation over walls and other obstacles.

For Crowd Control

Summoning creatures that can knock enemies prone or apply status effects like wolves or saber-toothed tigers is ideal for managing large groups. These summons can disrupt enemy spellcasters and prevent them from escaping or casting effectively.

For Flying Combat

Flying creatures like Giant Eagles and Giant Owls dominate airspace and give you advantages when fighting ranged or spellcasting foes. Flyby attacks and quick repositioning help control vertical movement in open spaces.

Tactics and Strategy

Maximizing Action Economy

Choosing 8 beasts over 1 may seem risky, but more attacks mean more chances to hit, apply effects, and force concentration checks. Wolves, for example, become devastating with Pack Tactics and the prone condition they can inflict.

Protecting the Caster

Your summoned animals can also serve as bodyguards. Using larger beasts to physically block line-of-sight or create choke points can protect your squishier teammates. Giant Boars and Elk are excellent in this role due to their size and bulk.

Stacking Conditions

Summoned beasts that apply conditions (like prone, grappled, or poisoned) can combo well with your allies’ abilities. For instance, knocking an enemy prone gives melee attackers advantage, enhancing overall party synergy.

DM Considerations and Restrictions

Random Summons vs. Player Choice

According to the official rules, the DM chooses the beasts that appear, though many DMs allow players to select creatures within the CR range. It’s important to discuss expectations with your DM before relying too heavily on specific strategies involvingConjure Animals.

Combat Time Complexity

Summoning 8 creatures can slow combat significantly. Consider pre-rolling initiative and attack rolls or using identical stat blocks to keep the game flowing smoothly. Some DMs may limit the number of summoned creatures to maintain pacing.

Table Etiquette

Coordinate with your group and DM to make sure that your summon-heavy turns don’t dominate game time. It’s helpful to have stat blocks ready, use digital tools, or even control only a portion of the summoned beasts if needed.

Best Conjure Animals Choices

The bestConjure Animalschoices in 5e depend heavily on your goal in combat, your environment, and your party composition. For sheer damage and action economy, eight wolves are hard to beat. For utility and support, Giant Owls and Giant Eagles provide unmatched mobility. And if you need a bruiser, the Saber-Toothed Tiger or Polar Bear can hold the frontline with power. Whether you’re summoning a swarm or a solo powerhouse, this spell remains one of the most versatile and game-changing tools in the druid or ranger’s arsenal. With strategic planning and the right choices, your summoned beasts can become the MVPs of the encounter.