Hell Hound
Medium Fiend · · CR 3
- Fiend
- Medium
- Tier 1
Hell Hound at CR 3 is logged as a medium fiend; alignment lawful evil. Habitat: mountain and underground. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 3
- Type
- Fiend
- Size
- Medium
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Mountain, Underground
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Hell hounds dwell in the Nine Hells, particularly Avernus and Phlegethos, where they serve as hunting hounds for devils and infernal nobles. They feed on damned souls and occasional fiends, with their fire breath cooked in infernal furnaces from birth. They reproduce in small litters, with pups exposed to lava as a hardening rite. On the Material Plane, they accompany summoners or escape into volcanic regions. They live for centuries unless slain in service. Their pelts are fireproof and prized.
Behaviour
Hell hounds hunt in packs, communicating via growls and infernal barks. They are loyal to whoever feeds them, betraying former masters easily for new ones. They take pleasure in fire, lava, and burning prey, often herding victims into flames. They have low cunning but strong pack instincts, coordinating without verbal command. They despise water and avoid swimming when possible. They mate for life within infernal litters, and the death of a mate triggers prolonged mourning howls.
Origin
Hell hounds were bred by devils as hunting beasts during the early infernal wars against demons. Some scholars claim they descend from primordial fire-spirits captured and twisted into canid form. Others argue they are mortal wolves enslaved and transformed in the Hells, retaining vestigial canine instincts. They are summoned by mortal cultists via specific runes, often in sets of three. Their breath weapon is the result of infernal heart-furnaces, organs that distill rage into fire.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Hell Hound
- What is the challenge rating of Hell Hound?
- On the bestiary CR scale, Hell Hound sits at 3. It suits an early or mid tier-1 group.
- What type of creature is Hell Hound?
- The bestiary type for Hell Hound is fiend, medium size.
- Where does Hell Hound live?
- The bestiary places Hell Hound in Mountain, Underground.