d100 = 1
An abandoned armory contains a weapon of legendary status. However, wielding it binds the user to an ancient oath requiring dark deeds of valor.
D1 Dungeon Random Encounters
D&D 5e · 100 scenarios · Roll d100 → roll D1
A complete D&D 5e random encounter table for dungeon 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.
How to roll this table
- When the party enters a dungeon, roll a d100.
- The result (1–100) is your scenario. Read it out and run with it.
The D1 Dungeon encounter table
d100 = 2
The players find a bored imp trapped in a pentagram complaining about "pent-up energy." Freeing it with a joke offers its mischievous but useful services for a short time.
d100 = 3
The party comes across an abandoned campsite which contains a treasure chest and a dead orc warrior who has been savagely mutilated and left to rot on the ground. The chest contains 5d6 gp and 1d4 pieces of jewelry (worth up to 1d6 gp each).
d100 = 4
A merchant has set up shop here, he is selling magic items and gems. He is friendly, but will try to swindle players if he can.
d100 = 5
An ancient grove where time moves differently, allowing the adventurers to rest and heal in what seems like minutes to them but years to the outside world.
d100 = 6
A room containing an experimental magic mirror, speaking in cryptic rhymes. It swaps body parts with whoever looks into it, giving one player cat eyes, another scales on the arms, and so forth.
d100 = 7
An old, but well-maintained armory where weapons and armor seem to exist more for display than use. Soft, ambient light makes the polished metal gleam softly.
d100 = 8
An ancient waterway runs through the dungeon, reduced to a stagnant bog. Crossing it requires wading through leech-infested mire or dealing with carnivorous fish. If characters linger, they risk being pulled under by submerged, undead hands that claw at their legs in attempts to drag them into watery graves.
d100 = 9
Siren composedly requesting aspirant simply to uphold laughter invokes admiral parleys.
d100 = 10
The party encounters 3d4 fae butterflies flitting through the air. These beautiful creatures leave trails of sparkling dust that temporarily increase the party's charisma and charm.
d100 = 11
The players stumble into a large room filled with treasure and a small dragon who is sleeping on top of it all. He wakes up and attacks them.
d100 = 12
Water stains spell out faint shapes on the wall. A successful Intelligence (Investigation) check deciphers a secret map.
d100 = 13
An ancient throne room echoes with Gregorian chants, and the spectral form of Charlemagne demands fealty or death, only allowing passage if players answer questions about his reign correctly.
d100 = 14
A vine-covered statue starts to animate when approached. They have 12 rounds to manipulate runes into making the statue walk specific paths to a deactivation rune before it becomes hostile.
d100 = 15
Kittens!
d100 = 16
A banshee continues to sew a spectral wedding dress uncompleted from her past life, wailing softly.
d100 = 17
An enchanted corridor mirrors the best qualities of each adventurer, bolstering their confidence and granting temporary buffs.
d100 = 18
In a seemingly empty alcove, the walls feel odd. A successful Wisdom (Perception) check reveals small concealed holes where darts could fire from.
d100 = 19
A group of 2d4 men are hunting for food. They see the party and attack.
d100 = 20
A room filled with intricate mosaics on every wall depicts the history of a lost civilization. The craftsmanship is mesmerizing, and studying the art provides valuable insights into ancient lore.
d100 = 21
A giant constrictor snake snores quietly, coiled around a large decorative pillar.
d100 = 22
The party enters a hall where a forgotten fountain flows with crystal clear water. Drinking from the fountain restores hit points and removes any curses or poisons.
d100 = 23
The PCs hear a group of elves laughing. When they look, they see a group of elves playing a game of dice. The elves are excited to see the players and invite them to play with them. The elves' names are Ron and Sam, and they're brothers.
d100 = 24
A mysterious invisible barrier blocks the hallway. A successful Intelligence (Arcana) check identifies the nature of the barrier, and a successful Intelligence check allows players to dispel it.
d100 = 25
You see a chest full of gold coins on the floor in the middle of the room. The chest is actually an ooze that attacks anyone who touches it or gets too close to it.
d100 = 26
The entrance to the next room is blocked by a heavy curtain. A successful Wisdom (Perception) check allows a player to notice a hidden dagger within the curtain's folds.
d100 = 27
A hallway lined with glass tanks containing bizarre magical creatures; one laboratory-bound alchemist NPC is experimenting on them and will ask the players for rare ingredients.
d100 = 28
The adventurers discover a secret room where healers used to practice. It contains old but effective potions and bandages.
d100 = 29
A group of 6 goblins are playing a game of dice. They look up and see the players. They will attack.
d100 = 30
The party discovers an ancient mural depicting a great battle between dragons and a long-forgotten kingdom. Embedded within the mural is a hidden compartment containing a magical scroll that holds tactical secrets of the dragon war.
d100 = 31
An ancient stone circle is hidden within the dungeon, said to be a place of power. Meditating at its center grants players a single-use ability to cast a spell they do not ordinarily possess.
d100 = 32
A jester performs tricks and tells riddles. Winning his games can yield favors or safe passage.
d100 = 33
A group of 1d4 humans are sitting around a campfire. They have been in the tunnels hunting for food for the last three days. They are close to starving and will attack if pressed.
d100 = 34
A group of 5d6 goblins is in the hallway ahead. If players attack, they will fight until all are dead.
d100 = 35
The walls of this cavernous room are filled with eyes. They monitor the players and whisper secrets about hidden treasure if the players speak in a long-forgotten dialect.
d100 = 36
A group of 2d4 orcs are standing in the passage, arguing over who has the strongest claw. They will attack anyone who insults their claws.
d100 = 37
A chapel with stained glass windows depicting stories of valor and sacrifice, bathed in soft, multicolored light. An altar at the front holds a single, flickering candle.
d100 = 38
As players move deeper into the dungeon, they encounter a thick, choking fog that impairs vision and breathing. Constitution saving throws are required every 10 minutes to avoid taking 1d6 poison damage and becoming disoriented (-1 to all attacks and checks).
d100 = 39
A grand hall filled with transparent, gently glowing sculptures of past heroes and mythical creatures, offering both illumination and inspiration.
d100 = 40
The players find a small wooden box with a note on it. The note reads, 'Please return to the family of the man who died here. He was a good man.' Inside the box is a small bag of gold coins. 1d6 skeletons are waiting in ambush at the top of the stairs.
d100 = 41
The adventurers find a magical chess set that once belonged to a grandmaster strategist. Winning a game against the set provides strategic insights and reveals hidden lore.
d100 = 42
A lavishly decorated room with an odd recluse inside: a doppelganger that claims to be a clone of one of the players, seeking their help to become whole.
d100 = 43
In a hidden alcove, the adventurers discover a magical fountain with healing waters. The fountain's inscription tells of ancient healing arts and locations of other similar fountains.
d100 = 44
A roc eagle harasses a harried, but remarkably calm, tree ant, pecking at its bark gently.
d100 = 45
A group of 2d6 giant spiders are hiding in a small cave in the hopes of catching some prey.
d100 = 46
The players come across a large pool of green slime. If touched, it sticks to the players. A small tentacle will reach out of the pool and try to drag them underwater.
d100 = 47
A spectral figure hovers near a door, weeping softly. She can be approached for information about the dungeon, but will only respond to those who present a locket found elsewhere within.
d100 = 48
In a hidden alcove, the adventurers discover a magical fountain with healing waters. The fountain's inscription tells of ancient healing arts and locations of other similar fountains.
d100 = 49
A group of 2d6 skeletons attack the party.
d100 = 50
A sudden temperature change occurs in the hallway. A successful Wisdom (Survival) check identifies it as a cave-in threat.
d100 = 51
A group of 2d6 people of various races and classes are sitting around a campfire in the middle of the room. They are mercenaries looking for work, and they have 2d6 trained war dogs with them.
d100 = 52
A group of 2d6 hobgoblins are sitting around a fire in this room. They are playing cards and are drunk. As you approach, they yell to each other: 'Go ahead! Try it again!'
d100 = 53
An ogre, bored and lonely, is using pieces of broken furniture to construct a rudimentary tower. It ignores the players unless they interfere.
d100 = 54
The players come across an abandoned campsite with signs of recent struggle. In one of the tents, players find an injured woman who seems to be from another world. She speaks only in an ancient language, but it is possible that she was a slave because she's wearing shackles
d100 = 55
The party finds a cult conducting a ritual. They're sacrificing a young woman to their god. They say: 'I'm sorry, I didn't want to die like this.'
d100 = 56
Raptor's Lair - A large green dinosaur stands on two legs like a human and attacks with two giant claws. The green dinosaur is protecting its young in its nest in a nearby cave. Players can either help or hinder its efforts to protect its young.
d100 = 57
A roc egg lies unattended, guarded only by the innate defenses of the dungeon magic.
d100 = 58
A group of 2d6 kobolds are playing a game of chance. They have a large pile of gold coins in the middle of their table. They are betting on who can get the closest to the middle without touching the gold coins.
d100 = 59
Within the dungeon lies a chamber housing a small warren of kobolds protecting their young. They appear scared but won’t allow the players to pass without bloodshed, yet the kobolds' tactics hold a hint of sentience and desperate resolve.
d100 = 60
Deep within, a burial mound and roving pale flames resemble an ancient Anglo-Saxon barrow. Disturbing the mound releases restless wights defending a horde of ancient treasures.
d100 = 61
An ancient planetarium within the dungeon marks Galileo’s celestial discoveries. Misaligned astrological instruments animate, causing effects related to the stars themselves such as sudden gravity shifts.
d100 = 62
An ogre mage conjures simple illusions for its own amusement, swatting at them delightedly.
d100 = 63
The party finds a cult conducting a ritual. They're sacrificing a young woman to their god. They say: 'I'm sorry, I didn't want to die like this.'
d100 = 64
An ettin argues with itself over a riddle written on a scroll, each head claiming to know the answer.
d100 = 65
Dusty floor shifts minutely under step. A successful Dexterity (Acrobatics) check prevents falling into concealed gaps underneath.
d100 = 66
A group of gnomes are arguing with a merchant. The merchant is trying to sell them an item at an extremely high price. The gnomes want to buy it for a low price.
d100 = 67
A narrow, twisting corridor is filled with thick, viscous slime that makes movement excruciatingly slow. The slime is mildly acidic, dealing 1d4 damage every minute, and occasionally spawns small, aggressive oozes that will attack the party. The slime can only be neutralized by fire, but setting it ablaze risks igniting pockets of flammable gas.
d100 = 68
A faint glow ahead leads the party to a group of 2d8 drifting ghost lights, known as Wisp Wisps. These gently floating lights cause no harm and seem to guide the party toward safer paths.
d100 = 69
A mind flayer meditates on a floating cushion, occasionally floating objects with its telekinesis absentmindedly.
d100 = 70
Adventurers confront a room consecrated to the sacrificial rites of Mesoamerican cultures. Disturbing the arrangements awakens the spectral high priest of Tezcatlipoca who demands appeasement or blood.
d100 = 71
In a dark, enchanted forest, the path splits. One way leads to a bridge guarded by a wise, riddling troll who demands personal sacrifices; the other path has dire beasts sacred to a local cult.
d100 = 72
A recently-buried treasure chest with needing a pat on the proverbial shoulder to say "thanks."
d100 = 73
The party finds an ancient, sealed sarcophagus. Upon opening it, they awaken an old lich who, instead of attacking, offers knowledge of ancient magic in exchange for release from their curse.
d100 = 74
Pile of rubble and debris. 10% chance of finding a treasure chest.
d100 = 75
A gargoyle guards a treasure but loves riddles more than gold. Answering his riddles grants safe passage or treasure.
d100 = 76
The players find a group of 1d4+4 dwarves who are on their way to destroy a nearby dragon's lair. They will ask the players to join them in their quest to destroy the dragon's lair and kill the dragon.
d100 = 77
Wandering further, the party encounters an alcove with 1d8 cooing doves of radiant plumage. These birds are enchanting and their presence brings a sense of tranquility.
d100 = 78
The party comes across a horse with saddlebags. If they search the saddlebags, they will find a jar of tingling ointment. If they use the ointment on the horse's saddle, it will be able to fly up to 60 ft in the air for one hour.
d100 = 79
An enchanted sewing room where needles and thread move of their own accord, creating beautiful tapestries and garments without any intervention.
d100 = 80
A group of 2d8+2 orcs are torturing a group of 2d6 humans. If players intervene, they will attack them and try to capture them and bring them back to their warren as prisoners.
d100 = 81
In a dusty corner, an ancient, half-buried cloth hides something. A successful Wisdom (Perception) check reveals a hidden stash beneath.
d100 = 82
A group of 2d6+2 human mercenaries are in the room. They are guarding the treasure in this room. They will not attack the players unless the players attack them first.
d100 = 83
The group stumbles upon a grove filled with spirit animals. Spending time here grants temporary animal-like reflexes and senses.
d100 = 84
A series of thorny vines blocks a doorway. A successful Dexterity check avoids the thorns while cutting through the vines.
d100 = 85
A chamber filled with floating, glowing lanterns. The soft light they cast creates a serene and magical atmosphere.
d100 = 86
A group of lizardfolk is holding a religious ceremony and view the party as intruders. Showing respect may earn the party their favor.
d100 = 87
An alchemists' workshop filled with ingredients and tools to craft one legendary potion, giving players the option to mess up or produce greatness.
d100 = 88
The players see a group of 1d6+2 Kobolds. If the players approach, the Kobolds will try to sell them a copper bracelet with a silver dragon set in it. It is worth 1 copper piece.
d100 = 89
The players hear a noise coming from a nearby cave entrance. They will see 2d4+2 kobolds throwing rocks at the entrance with hopes of breaking it down and getting inside.
d100 = 90
A hidden garden blooms with an array of vibrant and rare flowers. An enchanted gatekeeper offers the party rare herbs with healing properties in exchange for tales of their adventures.
d100 = 91
The group hears the sound of a sword cutting through something. When they investigate, they find a group of 1d4+2 goblins practicing sword fighting in the dark. They will attack if the players try to interfere with their game.
d100 = 92
Players hear a man singing loudly and drunkenly. When players open the door, they see a half-orc, drunk and sleeping on a table with a bottle of wine next to him. If players wake him up, he will tell them he is looking for his lost brother and was attacked by orcs along the way.
d100 = 93
Players see a group of orcs and goblins fighting with each other over something in an open area. Their weapons are broken and they are using their fists to fight each other. Players can choose to get involved in the fight or stand back and let them kill each other (DM's choice).
d100 = 94
Hordes of goblins carrying loot back to their camp. They are carrying their loot with them, it's not good to leave it behind.
d100 = 95
The air within a series of winding tunnels is saturated with toxic spores released by bioluminescent fungi. Breathing these spores without a protective mask means suffering from ongoing poison effects that cause hallucinations and progressively worsening damage unless antidotes or magical means are used.
d100 = 96
A group of 2d6 halflings are celebrating their latest harvest by drinking and singing songs about their adventures. They will invite the players to join them.
d100 = 97
A group of 1d4 ogres are fighting over a bag of coins. They will attack the party if they get in the way.
d100 = 98
The party enters a library filled with enchanted books that provide wisdom, increasing intelligence for a limited period.
d100 = 99
The party comes across a small cave that has been converted into a small chapel. Inside, they see an old man praying to a statue of a goddess. If the party disturbs him, he will attack them with magic spells until he runs out of magic points or is killed.
d100 = 100
The adventurers find a tapestry depicting a celestial event. Closely studying it reveals patterns that point to rare astrological secrets and hidden celestial sites.
Use this table with the rest of Doungim's D&D 5e toolkit
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 dungeon: 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.