Combat
Threat Tiers
Baseline stats for the four NPC threat tiers. Use these to read encounter weight at a glance and to scratch-build NPCs in seconds.
| Tier | HP | Pool | Defense | Mettle | AR | XP Value | Encounter Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minion | 6–8 | 3–4 | 7–9 | 0 | 0–1 | 1 | Fodder. Two Minions per PC is a fair fight; three is dangerous. |
| Soldier | 8–10 | 5 | 8–10 | 0–1 | 1 | 2 | Backbone. One Soldier per PC is standard. They use tactics. |
| Elite | 10–14 | 6–7 | 9–11 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3 | Threats. One Elite can anchor a Minion squad. Two Elites stress a party. |
| Boss | 18–24 | 8–10 | 10–12 | 3–5 | 2–3 | 5 | Climax. One Boss is a session-defining encounter. Add Minions for drama. |
Tiers are shorthand for combat weight — they tell you how many of something it takes to threaten a party. Don’t mix the tier baseline with creature quirks; a Stormcaller is technically a Boss, but it’s also a localized extinction event.