D&D 5e Encounter Ideas

Random D&D encounters can be the life’s blood of the game. That’s why I love random tables.

Not only do random encounter tables cut down GM prep, they provide a variety of situations that game masters may not have thought of at all.

Below are some 1D20 tables that provide game masters with options when their players take unexpected paths. They can also serve as creative sparks for game masters to think of their own D&D encounters.

If you need even more options, here are the 1D100 random tables I create.

D&D Random Combat Encounters

Whether your characters are traveling in the wilderness or through a city, random combat encounters provide fun complications.

1D20 Random Wilderness Combat Encounters

Nothing Wolf Nothing Brown Bear Nothing Giant Boar Nothing Kobolds (1D4) Nothing Goblin Nothing Orc Nothing Bandit Nothing Goblins (1D8) Nothing Bandits (1D6) Nothing Owlbear

1D20 Random Dungeon Combat Encounters

Nothing Kobolds (1D4) Nothing Goblins (1D4) Nothing Kobolds (1D8) Nothing Goblins (1D8) Nothing Orcs (1D4) Nothing Gnoll Pack Lord Nothing Goblins (1D12) Nothing Orcs (1D8) Nothing Bugbear Nothing Displacer Beast

1D20 Random Hunting Encounters

Nothing Squirrel Nothing Rabbit Nothing Pheasant Nothing Boar Nothing Deer Hind Nothing Deer Stag Nothing Elk Hind Nothing Elk Stag Nothing White Hind Nothing White Stag

D&D Random Non-Combat Encounters

Sometimes combat is not what you want. A dungeon master wants his players to think or to use other abilities. In those cases, non-combat encounter tables come in handy.

1D20 Random Non-Combat Strange Encounters

1D20 Random Non-Combat Wilderness Encounters

Nothing Orphaned child Nothing Pregnant Woman Nothing Con man Nothing Dead body (High Elf) Nothing Burned Wagon Nothing Injured Dwarf Nothing Blind Wanderer Nothing Traveling Merchant Nothing Adventuring Party (1D8) Nothing Merchant Caravan (1D12 wagons)

1D20 Random Non-Combat Dungeon Encounters

Nothing Ghost Nothing Dead Body (Lightfoot Halfling) Nothing Prisoner Nothing Lost Adventurer Nothing Dead Orcs (1D4) Nothing Dead Goblins (1D6) Nothing Lost Child Nothing Holy Man Nothing Adventuring Party (1D8) Nothing Talking Tree

D&D Encounters

Use random encounters for extra action or to create improvised situations that can lead to full campaigns. Never stress over GM prep. Relax and let your players take the story places. Then use random tables to fill in the details and to add adventure.

D&D Random Terrain-Based Encounters

Dungeon masters and game masters can also use the terrain to create interesting and engaging encounters. I’ve created several free resources for terrain types. Yes, they are free.

Forests – A gamemaster’s guide with ideas to use them in RPG campaigns. Swamps – A gamemaster’s guide covering wetlands, swamps, bogs, marshes, and fens. Plently of useful tips and encounter ideas. Mountains – A terrain guide for gamemasters. Mountain Encounters – A 1D100 list of random mountain encounters.

Bonus – D&D 5e Character Sheets

Check out my collection of 5e character sheets, if you need one. There are fillable sheets, PDFs, and even a couple character generators.