Quick and dirty template to convert PF2e monsters into their 4e roles. This adds more tactical depth to encounters and allows encounters from 4e to work straight in PF2e.
| Role | Function | Traits | CR 10+ Example | Pathfinder 2e Role Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artillery | Ranged damage dealer | High damage at range, low AC/HP | Fire Archon Blazesteel (Level 20 Artillery) | • Increase ranged damage by ~25% • Reduce AC and HP slightly • Grant a powerful ranged Strike or area ranged ability • Weak in melee; may provoke or become flat-footed when adjacent |
| Brute | Heavy melee damage dealer with lots of HP | High HP, low AC, high damage per hit | Earth Titan (Level 20 Brute) | • Increase melee Strike damage by one die size or add extra damage dice • Boost HP by 25–50% • Reduce AC or Reflex by ~1–2 • Add a ‘Furious Blow’ ability that deals high single-target damage |
| Controller | Applies control effects across the battlefield | Daze, immobilize, slow, AoE attacks | Mind Flayer Mastermind (Level 14 Controller) | • Add 1–2 control spells or abilities (e.g. slow, immobilize, fear) • Grant an AoE ability with a condition (e.g. Dazzled, Stunned) • Moderate defenses; slightly lower damage • Emphasize battlefield denial or hazard creation |
| Lurker | Strikes hard from stealth or conditional advantage | High burst damage, uses stealth or phasing | Shadow Assassin (Level 14 Lurker) | • Add Stealth +10 and a reaction or ability to Hide or become Invisible • Add conditional damage (e.g. deals extra if hidden or unseen) • High movement speed or teleportation • Ambush trait or Surprise Attack feature |
| Skirmisher | Mobile melee attacker avoiding pin-downs | Moderate damage and AC, high mobility | Marilith (Level 24 Skirmisher) | • Add +10 ft. to Speed • Add ability to Stride as a free action after Strike (1/round) • May gain Nimble Dodge or Mobility-type reactions • Moderate damage, moderate defenses |
| Soldier | Front-line defense and lockdown | High AC, marks targets, punishes movement | War Devil (Level 22 Soldier) | • +2 AC • Gains Attack of Opportunity or similar reaction • Gains a Marking trait (e.g. foes are off-guard to others if they ignore the Soldier) • High Fortitude or Reflex; designed to pin down enemies |
| Minion | Swarm monster with 1 HP and full damage | Full damage, 1 HP, dies fast | Drow Blademaster Minion (Level 14 Minion Skirmisher) | • Reduce HP to 1 (or 5 for higher level minions) • Remove reactions and simplify abilities • Retain damage as normal; acts on shared initiative • Optional: dies automatically on failed save |
| Elite | Stronger than a standard monster (counts as two) | Double HP, extra actions or resistances | Efreet Flamestrider (Level 17 Elite Artillery) | • Increase HP by 50% • Add +2 to attack and save DCs • Add 1 additional action or reaction per round • Give 1 elite-level ability (e.g. burst, defensive stance) |
| Solo | Boss monster (equivalent to five monsters) | Multiple actions per turn, massive HP, resistances | Dracolich (Level 17 Solo Controller) | • 5× HP of normal monster • 3 actions per turn plus 1–2 reactions and legendary actions • Gains resistance to conditions or immunity to control • Multiple turns or phases per round; boss-style features |
| Leader (Tag) | Buffs/heals allies (not a formal role, often a tag) | May grant temp HP, bonuses, or action boosts | Hobgoblin Warcaster (Level 12 Controller/Leader) | • Add ability to grant temp HP or bonuses (e.g. +1 to attacks/saves) • Add an aura or action that buffs allies • Moderate personal power; high synergy with allies • Optionally grant Command or Rally actions |
