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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

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NPC Core / Introduction / Adjusting Creatures

Combat Power

Source NPC Core pg. 5
In many cases, you can make relatively minor adjustments to a creature's statistics, called elite and weak adjustments, to raise or lower its level by 1. Elite and weak adjustments work best with creatures that focus on physical combat.

These adjustments overstate the normal numerical gains the creature would make from increasing its level to make up for the lack of new special abilities. Creatures that cast spells or rely on noncombat abilities typically need specific adjustments. Applying the elite or weak more than once to a creature should be avoided. For major changes, see the Pathfinder GM Core guidance on building creatures.

Specialist Levels

The level on an NPC's stat block is their level for a combat encounter. But many of these NPCs are primarily noncombatants much more skilled in their occupation than in combat. Specialist NPCs' stat blocks include an entry noting that they have a higher level when the PCs have to compete against them in their area of expertise.

Elite Adjustments

Source NPC Core pg. 5
Sometimes you'll want a creature that's just a bit more powerful than normal so that you can present a challenge that would otherwise be trivial or show that one enemy is stronger than its kin. To do this quickly and easily, apply the elite adjustments to its statistics as follows:
  • Increase the creature's level by 1; if the creature is level –1 or 0, instead increase its level by 2.
  • Increase the creature's AC, attack modifiers, DCs, saving throws, Perception, and skill modifiers by 2.
  • Increase the damage of its Strikes and other offensive abilities by 2. If the creature has limits on how many times or how often it can use an ability (such as a spellcaster's spells or a dragon's breath), increase the damage by 4 instead.
  • Increase the creature's Hit Points based on its starting level (see table below).

Elite Adjustment

Starting LevelHP Increase
1 or lower10
2-415
5-1920
20+30

Weak Adjustments

Source NPC Core pg. 5
Sometimes you'll want a creature that's weaker than normal so you can use a creature that would otherwise be too challenging or show that one enemy is weaker than its kin. To do this quickly and easily, apply the weak adjustments to its statistics as follows.
  • Decrease the creature's level by 1; if the creature is level 1, instead decrease its level by 2.
  • Decrease the creature's AC, attack modifiers, DCs, saving throws, Perception, and skill modifiers by 2.
  • Decrease the damage of its Strikes and other offensive abilities by 2. If the creature has limits on how many times or how often it can use an ability (such as a spellcaster's spells or a dragon's breath), decrease the damage by 4 instead.
  • Decrease the creature's HP based on its starting level.

Weak Adjustment

Starting LevelHP Decrease
1-2-10
3-5-15
6-20-20
21+-30