| Hit Dice: | 1d8+2 (6 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 |
| Speed: | 30 ft. (6 squares) |
| Armor Class: | 15 (+1 Dex, +3 studded leather, +1 light shield), touch 11, flat-footed 14 |
| Base Attack/Grapple: | +1/+2 |
| Attack: | Longsword +2 melee (1d8+1/19–20) or javelin +2 ranged (1d6+1) |
| Full Attack: | Longsword +2 melee (1d8+1/19–20) or javelin +2 ranged (1d6+1) |
| Space/Reach: | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | — |
| Special Qualities: | Darkvision 60 ft. |
| Saves: | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will –1 |
| Abilities: | Str 13, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8 |
| Skills: | Hide +3, Listen +2, Move Silently +3, Spot +2; racial bonuses |
| Feats: | Alertness |
| Environment: | Warm hills |
| Organization: | Gang (4–9), band (10–100 plus 50 noncombatants plus 1 3rd-level sergeant per 20 adults and 1 leader of 4th–6th level), warband (10–24), or tribe (30–300 plus 50 noncombatants plus 1 3rd-level sergeant per 20 adults, 1 or 2 lieutenants of 4th or 5th level, 1 leader of 6th–8th level, 2–4 dire wolves, and 1–4 ogres or 1–2 trolls) |
| Challenge Rating: | ½ |
| Treasure: | Standard |
| Alignment: | Usually lawful evil |
| Advancement: | By character class |
| Level Adjustment: | +1 |
This burly humanoid stands about 6½ feet tall. It has hairy skin, feral eyes, and a flat nose and chin.
Hobgoblins are larger cousins of goblins. They are far more aggressive and organized than their smaller relatives and wage a perpetual war with other humanoids, particularly elves.
Hobgoblins’ hair color ranges from dark reddish-brown to dark gray. They have dark orange or red-orange skin. Large males have blue or red noses. Hobgoblins’ eyes are yellowish or dark brown, while their teeth are yellow. Their garments tend to be brightly colored, often blood red with black-tinted leather. Their weaponry is kept polished and in good repair.
Hobgoblins speak Goblin and Common.
Most hobgoblins encountered outside their homes are warriors; the information in the statistics block is for one of 1st level with the following ability scores before racial adjustments: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
These creatures have a strong grasp of strategy and tactics and are capable of carrying out sophisticated battle plans. Under the leadership of a skilled strategist or tactician, their discipline can prove a deciding factor. Hobgoblins hate elves and attack them first, in preference to other opponents.
Skills: Hobgoblins have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks.
Hobgoblins are a military breed: they live for war and believe strongly in strength and martial prowess as the most desirable qualities for individuals and leaders alike. A hobgoblin leader is likely to be the biggest and strongest in the group, maintaining authority by enforcing strict discipline. Hobgoblins are often leaders among tribes of goblins and orcs, whom they bully and treat as inferiors. Hobgoblin mercenaries sometimes enter the service of wealthy evil humanoids.
Hobgoblin society is organized into tribal bands, each intensely jealous of its reputation and status. Meetings between rival bands are likely to erupt in violence if the troops are not restrained. Only an exceptionally powerful leader can force them to cooperate for any length of time. Each band has a distinctive battle standard that it carries into combat to inspire, rally, and signal the troops. Hobgoblin gangs and warbands are almost exclusively male. Bands and tribes include females who help with defense. Noncombatant hobgoblins are children too young to fight effectively.
These creatures usually make lairs in places that either boast natural defenses or can be fortified. Cavern complexes, dungeons, ruins, and forests are among their favorites. Typical lair defenses include ditches, fences, gates, guard towers, pit traps, and crude catapults or ballistas.
Most hobgoblins revere Maglubiyet, who is also the patron deity of goblins.
Hobgoblin leaders tend to be fighters or fighter/rogues. Hobgoblin clerics worship Maglubiyet. A hobgoblin cleric has access to two of the following domains: Evil, Destruction, or Trickery. Most hobgoblin spellcasters, however, are adepts. Hobgoblin adepts favor spells that deal damage.
Hobgoblin characters possess the following racial traits.
Source: Monster Manual (version 3.5), page 154.