Rat
Tiny Beast · · CR 0
- Beast
- Tiny
- Tier 1
As a tiny beast (unaligned), Rat carries CR 0. Common in swamp and urban environments. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 0
- Type
- Beast
- Size
- Tiny
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Swamp, Urban
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Rats infest cities, ports, sewers, granaries, and ships across every settled region of Toril. Omnivorous and incredibly fecund: a single pair produces 60+ descendants per year. They carry plague (Filth Fever) and other diseases, making them the chief vector of urban disease. Wild rats live in colonies with hierarchy and territory; sewer rats can grow unusually large from magical runoff.
Behaviour
Cautious, clever, deeply social. Rats teach each other which foods are poisoned by 'sentinel' eating. They navigate dark tunnels by whisker and smell. They communicate through ultrasonic chitter and scent. As individuals they flee humanoids; in mass swarms (the Swarm of Rats statblock) they overwhelm by tide.
Origin
The **Wererats of Waterdeep** maintain a thieves' guild beneath the Dock Ward, and any single rat in the city may be a wererat scout. Sune's clergy pity rats; Talona's clergy weaponize them. The legendary **Plague of Vargol** in DR 1268 was started by rats from a Sembian merchant ship, killing thousands across the Heartlands.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Rat
- What is the challenge rating of Rat?
- Rat is rated CR 0. The rating suits early-tier-1 encounters.
- What type of creature is Rat?
- By creature type, Rat is a beast, tiny size.
- Where does Rat live?
- Habitats for Rat: Swamp, Urban.