Pathfinder 2e Encounter Calculator
Balance your encounters with precision using the official XP budget system
Calculate Encounter Difficulty
Monsters
How the Pathfinder 2e XP Budget System Works
This calculator implements the official Pathfinder 2nd Edition XP budget system from the Core Rulebook. Each party level has specific XP thresholds for different difficulty categories, and monster XP is adjusted based on level differences from the party.
XP Budget by Difficulty (4-Player Party)
| Party Level | Trivial | Low | Moderate | Severe | Extreme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | 60 | 80 | 120 | 160 |
| 5 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 480 | 640 |
| 10 | 960 | 1280 | 1920 | 2880 | 3840 |
| 15 | 5120 | 7680 | 10240 | 15360 | 20480 |
| 20 | 30720 | 40960 | 61440 | 92160 | 122880 |
Monster XP Values by Level Difference
Trivial threats, basic animals
Weak opponents, minions
Equal challenge
Elite opponents
Boss-level threats
šÆ Accurate Calculations
Based on official Pathfinder 2e encounter building rules from Archives of Nethys
āļø Multiple Monsters
Add multiple monsters of different levels to calculate complex encounters with minions and bosses
ā” Instant Results
Get immediate feedback on encounter difficulty as you adjust party size and monster composition
Example Encounters
Here are some balanced encounter examples using our calculator:
š”ļø Boss Fight (Severe)
Party: 4 Level 5 characters
Monster: 1 Level 7 creature
XP: 120 (Severe difficulty)
Perfect for climactic encounters
āļø Balanced Fight (Moderate)
Party: 4 Level 3 characters
Monsters: 2 Level 3 creatures
XP: 90 (Moderate difficulty)
Standard encounter for regular play
š¹ Minion Swarm (Low)
Party: 4 Level 8 characters
Monsters: 6 Level 6 creatures
XP: 240 (Low difficulty)
Great for feeling heroic
Pro Tips for Encounter Building
š Plan Your Adventure Day
The Pathfinder Core Rulebook suggests 6-8 moderate encounters per day. Mix difficulties based on story beats.
š Consider Party Composition
Optimized parties can handle +10-20 XP above normal. New players might need -10-20 XP reduction.
š Environmental Factors
Terrain, hazards, and positioning can increase effective difficulty. Factor these into your planning.
š Track Resources
Monitor spell slots, focus points, and consumables. Exhausted parties struggle with normal encounters.