NPC Casters

[Laserlight]

The Monster Manual has NPC casters with lots of spells known and spell slots, but that seems rather cumbersome. When you make an NPC caster, or add caster levels to a monster, do you go through and add all the slots and spells known (If so, how do you handle them in combat--particularly if you have multiple casters)? Or do you use an abbreviated list of spells known; or pre allocate what spells they'll use; or just give them a couple of spells that have a chance to recharge?

[MrStabby]

I usually only worry about spell slots for the top two levels of spell a caster can cast.

Exceptions are if there will be some spells cast before a fight or out of combat spells. If I have a wizard with a simulacrum or a clone then these will be listed elsewhere. Likewise with hallow or forbiddance etc..

Lower level spells I worry about spells known, but don't track spell slots.

[Gastronomie]

I tend to give my NPC Casters innate spellcasting. Works much easier to understand.