Warhorse
Large Beast · · CR 1/2
- Beast
- Large
- Tier 1
CR 1/2 large beast, unaligned — that's Warhorse. Native to urban. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 1/2
- Type
- Beast
- Size
- Large
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Urban
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Warhorses are bred from heavy draft and hunting stock over generations to combine strength, speed, and combat training. They thrive in cultivated environments with regular exercise and rich grain. Stables specialize in their care, and master trainers command high fees. In the wild, retired warhorses rarely survive long; their training makes them aggressive toward predators but their combat injuries leave them lame. Knightly orders maintain breeding lines for centuries.
Behaviour
Warhorses bond intensely with their primary rider, refusing commands from strangers without trust-building rituals. They are calm under expected combat conditions but spooked by fire, screaming, and unfamiliar magic. A trained warhorse continues fighting after its rider falls, attempting to defend the body until exhausted. They communicate through ear position, tail flicks, and body posture, and skilled riders read these cues like spoken language.
Origin
The first warhorses were said to be wild stallions blessed by a knightly god who descended to earth to find a worthy mount. Generations of breeding refined the stock, producing the modern warhorse. Some elven traditions claim their fey-touched mounts predate human warhorses by centuries. Centaur communities have a complicated relationship with warhorse breeding, viewing the practice as both kin to and corruption of natural equine existence.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Warhorse
- What is the challenge rating of Warhorse?
- Warhorse has a challenge rating of 1/2. It fits a tier-1 party (levels 1-4).
- What type of creature is Warhorse?
- Warhorse is classified as a beast in D&D 5e, large size.
- Where does Warhorse live?
- In the bestiary, Warhorse appears in Urban.