Giants
Primal Titans and Living Bones of the Earth
Giant Statblocks
Below are fully scalable, flavorful 5E Giant statblocks built with the Foe Foundry Monster Generator.
| Creature | CR Range | Tagline | Variants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogres | 2–7 | ravenous and destructive hulks | Ogre, Ogre Wallsmasha, Ogre Burnbelcha, Ogre Chaincrakka, Ogre Big Brainz |
| Frost Giants | 8–16 | frozen reavers of blood and battle | Frost Giant Reaver, Frost Giant Challenger, Frost Giant Rimepriest, Frost Giant Thane |
What Are Giants?
Giants are towering humanoids steeped in ancient myth and raw elemental power. In many cultures, they are seen as living relics of a primal and ancient world. While some giants live in isolation atop storm-swept peaks or among frozen fjords, others roam the wildlands as clans of reavers and raiders.
From the savage hunger of ogres to the martial pride of frost giants, these creatures share a deep connection with the natural world and a belief that might makes right. They don't always seek conquest, but when roused to anger they can topple fortresses and reshape entire regions with their passing. In a giant's eyes, mortals are fleeting and small. Best to prove them wrong.
Common Traits and Tactics
Giants thrive in close combat, relishing contests of strength and raw brutality. They boast, brawl, and challenge worthy foes, but aren't above hurling boulders or setting ambushes in narrow mountain passes. Their immense size should shape the battlefield—crushing terrain, tossing enemies, or breaking through walls like paper. If your players don’t feel small, you’re doing it wrong.
Giant Encounters and Adventures
How to Run Giants In Your 5E Campaign
Giants aren't subtle, but they aren't fools either (well, maybe the ogres). They have deep ties to the land—shaped by mountains, glaciers, and ancestral spirits—and their conflicts often reflect ancient grudges or primal themes. Giant-vs-dragon, giant-vs-dwarf, or giant-vs-civilization are classic dynamics worth exploring.
Giant Encounter Ideas
Bring the thunder with these ready-to-run 5E giant encounters. Each one is an open-ended situation to shake up your next session:
- The party stumbles into a sunken glade where an Ogre Burnbelcha sleeps under a mound of hides, with one meaty arm splayed out over the corpse of a crushed traveler. The corpse still clutches a valuable scroll or magic item.
- Three Ogres (an Ogre Burnbelcha, Ogre Chaincrakka, and Ogre Wallsmasha) have set up camp overlooking the only road through a treacherous pass. They argue over who gets the first bite of a stew they plan to make of a group of tied up dwarves.
- A lone Frost Giant Reaver howls in triumph over the corpse of a slain Remorhaz. It offers a toast to the party and demands they trade tales of slain foes.
- A Frost Giant Challenger is preparing to hunt a nearby Young White Dragon and considers whether the party will be help or hindrance.
More Encounter Ideas
See individual monster pages (Ogres, Frost Giants) for additional encounter ideas
Giant Adventure Ideas
These Giant adventure hooks are perfect for building entire arcs around mythic might and primal conflict or for running a 5E giant one-shot:
- An Orc Warchief has sent emissaries to all the scattered Ogre clans in the hinterland hills to recruit them to his cause, promising vast spoils of war. The PCs must win over the ogres or prevent their recruitment lest the entire kingdom be overrun. A particularly cunning Ogre Big Brainz seeks to play both sides against each other for his benefit.
- A Priest hires the party to investigate what happened to all the villagers of a nearby hamlet who haven't been seen since the last feast day. Unfortunately, an Ogre crashed the feast, ate all the food, and the townsfolk as well.
- An aging Frost Giant Reaver seeks a glorious death in battle, but refuses to fall to an unworthy foe. The giant, hearing of the party's reputation, begins tracking the PCs down in search of worthy foes.
- A Frost Giant Rimepriest has foreseen that an ancient evil (Balor Dreadlord) bound deep beneath a frozen glacier will soon break free. Only the PCs, the prophesied heroes of legend, have a chance to stop the imminent calamity.
More Adventure Ideas
See individual monster pages (Ogres, Frost Giants) for additional adventure ideas
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FAQ
What types of giants exist in D&D 5E?
D&D 5E includes six core types of giants: Hill, Stone, Frost, Fire, Cloud, and Storm. Each has distinct elemental themes, cultures, and combat styles. Ogres and Ettins are giant-kin, often included in giant-themed encounters despite not being "true" giants.
What CR are giants in 5E?
Giants range from CR 2 to CR 16 in most campaigns. Hill Giants are CR 5, Stone Giants CR 7, Frost Giants CR 8–16 depending on variant, Fire Giants CR 9, Cloud Giants CR 11, and Storm Giants CR 13. Ogres range from CR 2 to CR 7 depending on the version used.
Are there homebrew or variant giant statblocks for 5E?
Yes! Foe Foundry offers fully scalable, homebrew-friendly statblocks like the Frost Giant Reaver, Ogre Chaincrakka, and Frost Giant Rimepriest. These variants add unique powers, flavorful tactics, and encounter-ready abilities not found in the SRD.
What are good tactics for using giants in 5E encounters?
Giants should shape the battlefield. Use terrain-smashing brawls, boulder throws, or massive AoE strikes to emphasize their scale. Frost Giants may freeze terrain, while Ogres can charge or grab PCs. Run them like living siege engines, not just big bags of hit points.
What size are giants in D&D 5E?
Most true giants are Huge (15–20 feet tall), taking up a 3x3 space on the grid. Ogres and Ettins are Large.
Where can I find 5E giant statblocks with unique abilities?
Right here. Foe Foundry features original giant statblocks with evocative powers and CR scaling. See our Ogre and Frost Giant pages for full writeups, tactics, and ready-to-run encounters.
How do I build a custom or homebrew giant in 5E?
Start with a base CR and giant type, then layer in unique traits like terrain control, spiritual ties, or mythic roles. The Foe Foundry Monster Generator makes this super easy - you can quickly create fully balanced, lore-rich giants tailored to your campaign.
Can I run a 5E one-shot featuring giants?
Absolutely. Giants are ideal for one-shots thanks to their mythic stature and combat weight. Try a siege defense, an ogre uprising, or a doomed duel with a Frost Giant warlord to anchor a powerful one-shot adventure. In fact, you can check out Frost Giant Adventure Ideas and Ogre Adventure Ideas for lots of great inspiration.