D&D 5e · 100 scenarios · Roll d100 → roll D1
A complete D&D 5e random encounter table for cave scenes. Roll a d100 to pick a set, then roll a D1 to pick a scenario within that set — 100 unique D&D encounter scenarios in total. Every scenario is system-neutral and runs on either the 2014 Player's Handbook or the 2024 D&D revision. Pair each scenario with a stat block from our D&D monsters catalogue and you have a session-ready encounter in under a minute.
In an alcove dimly lit by an unnatural, green radiance, an ancient, foreboding statue dominates the scene. 1d8 gargoyles serve as guardians, poised to strike intruders. Standing before the statue, Miriel, a cursed paladin seeks atonement, believing it to hold her redemption. Players can aid her in deciphering runes to unveil the secrets of the statue, facing the combative gargoyles, or opt to leave her to her fate, displacing a powerful curse within the cave.
The light from a candle flickers near a pit of bubbling tar where 1d6 ogres sit grumbling over their next meal. Players can choose to help brew a concoction or sneak away—risking not only loss of the opportune moment but possible retaliation.
Players come across a group of 3d6 kobolds who are searching for food in the caves.
High relief-embellishment exuding silver sanctification harboring vine-metissery into nocturnal love wishes woven against dusk-coupled bounty marksmen shadows.
A group of 1d4 hunters (dwarves) are hunting for goblins or kobolds. They will join the players if they fight the same enemies.
You spot small, colorful salamanders clinging to the damp walls.
A narrow corridor opens to a glassy, cold beach of an underground sea. Out of the waves, 3d4 deep ones slither, their eyes glinting with intelligence and ancient malice. Venomous ichor drips from their fangs. Choices narrow quickly: infiltrate their ranks using clever disguise or overpower their elders to gain vital intel on undersea currents and submerged lands.
Strange twilight light filters into a vast cavern, littered with the colossal bones of ancient beasts. Silent guardians arise from the mists—1d4 skeletal wyverns, bound to this subterranean crypt. Whether to brave combat or solve the riddle of their unlife is a choice laden with peril; beneath the bones lie secrets of primeval power or hidden, treasure-laden passageways.
Near a seemingly ordinary stalagmite, they find 2d6 mimics disguised. The air is musty, with an underlying rot. Defeating the creatures reveals a cache of secrets regarding surface raids they've facilitated.
A group of 3d8 kobolds led by a red dragon named 'Beeslayer' are trying to lure the party into a cave filled with beehives.
A charming gnoll trader named Gruff Scruffles operates a black market from a shadowy alcove, offering scandalous deals for unusual artifacts (or swindles for amusement).
A group of goblins sitting around a campfire singing songs about how much they hate their leader, Grod the Mighty, and how he treats them like slaves and how they'd love to rise up against him and get rid of him but they're too afraid of him to do it...
A small, harmless bat flutters past your head before disappearing into the darkness.
2d4 enchanted sentry statues block your path as they protect a vault filled with ancient spell-scrolls from would-be thieves. The air hums with arcane energy, challenging every spellcaster. Whether you choose to decipher the protection spells, engage in combat, or find a hidden route will set the stage for either ruin or riches.
A group of 1d4 humans are hunting for a lost treasure. They will ask the players to help them. They will be very grateful if players do.
A group of 3d4 manes (gargoyles) are sitting around a camp fire. They are not enemies, but will fight the players if they attack.
A phantasmal thief and their 1d6 spirit minions are trying to steal a caged phoenix in the caves. The cave is bathed in the eerie, flickering light of the phoenix's containment aura. Each decision—to ally, trick, or outmaneuver—unleashes potential side effects, including wildfires or unforeseen resurrection magic.
Deep within a darkened cavern, the party encounters a reclusive wizard named Elnorin, who is on a "sabbatical" from society. He specialized in light-based magic and offers to light the party's way—for a price. His pet glowing mushrooms also seem to have peculiar effects on people who touch them.
D6+2 giant centipedes with venom.
1d6 sorcerers casting unstable spells to extract mana-rich crystals while avoiding cave collapses. The cave's walls are run through with mana veins sparking dangerously. Aid, interruption, or sabotage will determine not just immediate fate but the mana flow of surrounding lands.
You find remnants of an old, broken lantern kicked to the side.
Spectral wails mark a cave filled with maddening phantasms. The party meets a desperate father who sacrificed his soul to trap 3d6 banshees. Their wails drown out his pleas as he shows secret escape routes in return for their help banishing the creatures and reuniting with his forsaken family in afterlife.
The flickering light of a distant fire beckons you forward, revealing 2d8 fire beetles patrolling their territory. Sneaking around could yield fireproof treasure; confronting faces doom.
A group of 2d4 goblins are fighting each other, and they don't seem to notice the players.
The players see a group of three humans arguing about the best way to deal with a group of kobolds. They are dressed in leather armor, and have swords and shields. One wants to attack. One wants to talk to them. The third wants to run away.
The steady beat of a miner's pick resonates, leading to a mine occupied by 2d6 Earth Elementals. The air churning with dust and grit. They are defending a rare gem - possessing the gem offers immense geo-magic, facing their wrath provides grim prospects.
A group of 1d4+4 traders are on their way to a nearby city with their goods. They will offer to buy and sell with any players who approach.
Estranged from his clan, a half-orc named Brutus is found making traps. He offers his skills to the party for food and company, explaining that he left his clan after a philosophical disagreement—he believes in creating traps that “surprise but not kill.”
Intense penetrating rock breakthroughs reminiscent fully nuanced forbidding passage starkly indulgent attainments effused schooling contradictory calm reflect emotional evolutions musing adventured desperation.
A worn and dusty book lies solitary in a dark nook, guarded by 2d6 ethereal monks for thieves. Negotiating keeps the book safe while unraveling enigmatic teachings.
Amidst the rumble of distant waterfalls, 3d6 thieves disguised as simple spelunkers lure you into a subterranean lagoon to rob you. Bioluminescent plants light the water in a mesmerizing glow. Their ruse may lead to an ambush, drowning, or an unexpected alliance to plunder an even greater treasure. Waterborne threats lurk just beneath the surface.
The echoing cadences preceding them reveal a knight-captain lost to 2d8 shadows commanding troops. The air resonant with silent courage. Finding relics’ rightful place or dishonoring losing battles invokes ageless fury.
Following a series of eerie red crystals, the players face 2d4 hell hounds. The air is hot with sulfur and brimstone. The crystals can grant infernal visions or open fiery portals, compelling and cursed alike.
2d4 enchanted sentry statues block your path as they protect a vault filled with ancient spell-scrolls from would-be thieves. The air hums with arcane energy, challenging every spellcaster. Whether you choose to decipher the protection spells, engage in combat, or find a hidden route will set the stage for either ruin or riches.
An unusually civil drow named Zira is found tending to bioluminescent fungi. She claims the fungi have magical properties and is willing to trade. Be careful, though; some of them might have... unexpected side effects.
The party hears distant footsteps coming from behind them. They turn around and see it's a group of 2d6 orcs, who are walking down the tunnel towards them with weapons drawn!
A jumble of rocks precariously hangs above as an echo of distant thunder echoes through the cave. Players face 2d4 cave trolls who are upset about being disturbed. Stealth or diplomacy could lead to an uneasy truce, while combat risks triggering a rockslide.
Players find a small group of 2d6 bandits who have made camp in the cavern. If the players approach, the bandits will attack.
Enchantment illuminating altar entangled by tarnished mosaics guiding empathetic dire wolves through life-bound fables, chained and mold deranged subterranean peril.
The cave walls are covered in a strange, ancient script you can't decipher.
A group of 1d4+2 kobolds with bows and arrows have invaded the cave and are hunting something.
Players find a group of 2d4 hobgoblins. The hobgoblins will attack the players if they get too close.
Subterranean fungi provide dim, eerie light in a mushroom forest where 2d6 myconids dwell. They force intruders to join their fungal network. If the players delicately balance negotiation and combat, they can gain access to potent fungi-based magic.
In a cavern where the walls ooze strange, bioluminescent liquid, the players encounter 1d4 shambling mounds. These creatures guard a pathway to an ancient forest spirit who offers insight into a grand druid conspiracy but demands one of the party becomes its protector.
The corridor widens to reveal several glowing pools, each swirling with vibrant colors. An ethereal figure emerges from the depths, daring you to touch the waters. You may gain lucky insights into the cave’s hidden dangers—or fall prey to unexpected curses.
Leading deeper into the cave, the adventurers come across an enormous subterranean lake where two kuo-toa factions engage in a ritual battle for leadership. Each faction believes the players are divine messengers sent to decide their fate. The adventurers must choose a side, navigate the murky waters of these slimy politics, or find a way to escape unscathed.
Players find a group of 1d20+10 orcs who are drinking and celebrating their recent victories in battle against the humans living nearby. If they are disturbed, they will attack the players then continue their celebrations.
An overwhelming sense of loss arises in a desolate chamber filled with shattered statues. 2d8 wraiths drift through the air seeking closure. With careful words, you might calm their unrest or provoke their rage into a frantic encounter.
Accidental vibrations from the players' passage awaken a clutch of 2d4 basilisks. These stone-gazing creatures, angered by the disturbance, seek to petrify any intruders. It becomes a tense combat of avoiding direct eye contact while eradicating the threat before anyone is turned to stone forever.
Patters of tiny feet echo briefly and then silence.
Down spiraling to more off-limits depths, the air grows stale and oppressive with 3d6 cursed miners deeply hypnotized. At the helm, Elerian, a mind-weaver attempts to unravel the spell cursing the miners. Assisting him explores intricate details of the curse while facing alternative risks leading to battling the spell-infused miners granting interaction into complex magic nature.
Leading deeper into the cave, the adventurers come across an enormous subterranean lake where two kuo-toa factions engage in a ritual battle for leadership. Each faction believes the players are divine messengers sent to decide their fate. The adventurers must choose a side, navigate the murky waters of these slimy politics, or find a way to escape unscathed.
A group of 4 dwarves are exploring the cave, looking for treasure. They're drunk and will attack anyone they meet.
A master illusionist and their 1d4 shadowy constructs are planning an elaborate heist on a magically hidden vault. The twisting, lightless passages blur the lines between reality and trickery. As you navigate the illusions, you must use wits, magic, or brute force to survive. Hidden glyphs reveal a looming, larger conspiracy.
Two tribal leaders are arguing about the direction to the "other tribe".
A pit covered in skeletal remains, guarded by bone-numbing cold from 2d6 ice golems. Breaking through contrasts raw survival against deeper stillness.
The players find an underground river that can heal wounds but only after first absorbing the life energy from a nearby sacred tree, the heart of the cave's ecosystem. Using the river would doom the tree and throw the ecosystem into chaos.
As tension rises, you’re confronted by 2d4 chaotic imps attempting to steal a precious item. Diplomacy or fight could turn the situation advantageous or destructive.
Hovering near still water pools, ghostly fish swim through 1d6 kelpie domains. Entangled solutions reveal the dualities of allure, loss, and mourning submerged terrains.
You encounter a series of natural rock steps leading downward.
Players come across a small pond in the cave. When they investigate they discover a group of 3d6 giant frogs. If they attack the frogs, they will be jumped by 3d6 giant toads.
Deep chants resonate from an underground temple. Reciting ancient rites increases your natural proficiency in strategy, but draws the attention of celestial enforcers.
As the adventurers navigate through narrow tunnels, they encounter a traveling troupe of underdark performers deeply embroiled in a scandal over stolen scripts that contain incantations of destructive power. The players become unwilling participants in a perilous game of cat-and-mouse among playwrights, actors, and jealous rivals desperate to control the arcane knowledge hidden within the arts.
The players come across a group of 2d4+4 goblins arguing over whether or not to attack a nearby cave entrance. They will attack the players if they get too close.
A crack in the wall reveals a sliver of daylight.
They discover 1d4 stone guardians hiding in plain sight, their carvings depicting a significant forewarning for a coming invasion. The earthy scent tinges with age. Solving their riddle might stop the invasion or be cursed, complicating crises above.
Enchantment illuminating altar entangled by tarnished mosaics guiding empathetic dire wolves through life-bound fables, chained and mold deranged subterranean peril.
A foolish kobold inventor named Krixxer fiddles with a malfunctioning "trap-o-matic." He will gift the schematics for bizarre but effective traps for assistance in fixing his device (or hilariously suggests which malfunctioning traps to avoid).
Emerging into a grand underground cavern, the adventurers find themselves on a ledge overlooking a chasm. Across the gap, mechanical constructs are reassembling an ancient war machine aimed at the surface. The players must create a combination of magic, machine sabotage, and physical prowess to disable the constructs and prevent the assembly. It involves coordinating spells, distracting constructs, and using sabotage skills.
A deserted altar holding a single, timeless rose. This empowers the user with heightened perception, though radiates an irresistible fragrance, alluring predatory creatures.
You find a partially buried treasure chest, long rusted shut.
The air is cool and refreshing, a welcome reprieve from the outside heat.
A group of 2d6 dwarves is walking down the tunnel. They are carrying a statue of a dwarf god. If the players attack, the dwarves will fight back with their axes. The statue will break if it takes any damage.
Two dwarves are arguing about whether or not they should go on patrol...one of them has been poisoned by a dark elven assassin and will die within the next few hours unless he receives help from a healer! The other says, 'Too bad. You gots to work!'
The players are attacked by a group of 4d6 gnolls. A group of 2d8 hobgoblins attacks the gnolls three rounds into combat.
A group of 2d6 gnolls are hunting in this area. They are led by a gnoll shaman that has a pack of 3d6 hyenas at his disposal.
The players encounter an orc brute and his gang. They are looting a dead troll. They are also looking for something that they think is under the troll.
You hear a faint buzzing sound somewhere nearby.
A group of 1d4 humans are hunting for a lost treasure. They will ask the players to help them. They will be very grateful if players do.
A cavern of eternal echo where voices of lost travelers persistently whisper advice. These uncanny whispers amplify wisdom for the day but sensitize you to petrifying sounds at night.
A group of 2d4 goblins attack the players with an onslaught of arrows.
Rusty shackles rattle, guarding emotions stirred by 1d4 chained spirits. Liberty revisions enforce a balance of deeper understanding and action.
A group of 3d6 men are working on repairing a section of the cave wall. If they are interrupted, they will attack.
Your footsteps disturb a small flock of ravenous cave birds that fly away.
The players come across a group of 2d6 skeletons in the cave. The skeletons are guarding a powerful magical artifact, and they will attack if the players try to take it.
A low growl precedes an encounter with 1d4 shadow mastiffs, immense beasts lurking in the darkness. Offering food might calm them but risking aggression could spell disaster.
In a stalactite-studded chamber, a failed mining technique has revealed 1d4 earth elementals, stuck in the rubble. Do you engage in friendly banter to help free them or prepare for a messy confrontation if they mistake you for hostile intruders?
The players come across a long abandoned village/town. There are still items and things that are left behind.
A colony of blind cave-dwelling humanoids offers to guide the players through dark, labyrinthine sections of the caves. However, in return, they request the players to sacrifice their sense of sight temporarily in a process that involves a painful ritual.
You find ancient machinery trying to dig deeper into the earth, seemingly operated by 1d4 clockwork creatures. They are malfunctioning and need repairs—or they will collapse, sealing off an entire section. If players invest time into fixing their mechanisms, they may unlock hidden knowledge or recover valuable mining equipment.
A group of 2d6 soldiers are on patrol in the area, making sure there are no signs of an approaching army or invasion. They will question the party, making them prove they are not enemies.
You come across an ancient altar, its sigils radiating malevolent energy. A dread chill grips your heart as 2d8 skeletal warriors rise from the ground. Bound to the altar's curse, they guard a long-buried secret. Will you dismantle their ranks to delve deeper into the cave, or uncover the ritual to soothe their restless souls, promising deeper lore?
The air in the cave becomes extremely cold and a cloud of white, fluffy stuff begins to fall from the ceiling. It is snow! If players are not wearing heavy clothing, they will start to freeze. If the players are wearing heavy clothing, they will start to sweat. The snow will last for 1d4 hours until it melts or changes into rain.
In a subterranean lake, the party meets Laria the Nixie, who sings hauntingly beautiful songs. She offers to enchant the party's weapons with water-based magic if they rid her lake of a troublesome water elemental named Splashthrax.
1d8 drow spies are attempting to hijack an ancient teleportation circle within the cave system. The marks on the walls tell tales of lost cities and forgotten realms. Your choice to either sabotage their efforts or negotiate affects the balance of power between surface and underdark civilizations.
A group of 2d4 dwarves are working on a nearby project that includes a giant boulder at one end of their work area.
Encountering a group of 2d6 bandits hiding from a relentless basilisk in an expansive cavern. The scent of fear and salt is strong. Bandits offer an uneasy truce; breaking it may give them away to the petrifying basilisk.
A low-hanging stalactite requires you to duck to avoid it.
The cave reeks of unseen poison, forcing characters to cover their mouths. Ethereal lights lead them astray until confronted by 2d4 ettercaps manipulating illusory web pathways. The scent of damp earth and the thick presence of mind-altering spores establish a dire tone. Chilling writings on tattered journals recount descendants bearing the ettin’s curse, leading players into deeper lore.
A group of 3d6 thugs are out looking for easy targets. If players look weak, they will attack. They are actually working for the king and are on patrol.
A random encounter scenario is just the start of a scene. Pair it with a creature from our D&D 5e monsters catalogue (3,000+ monsters with full stat blocks), an NPC from our pre-built D&D NPC roster, a spell from the D&D 5e spell list, and a reward from the D&D magic items catalogue — and you have a full one-page session ready to drop on your D&D 5e or 2024 party.
Other dice tiers for the cave: D4, D6, D8, D10.
Want a different setting? Browse all 41 D&D encounter locations — from arctic plains to elemental planes, every D&D 5e location has its own table on Doungim.