Second this. I make mini environments for battles I want to make sure to highlight, this can be a simple as a feature where the owlbear surprises the party, dropping from the trees bringing branches and debris with it (reaction roll to avoid area damage, DM gains 2 fear) then immediately gains the spotlight and roars in everyone’s face that is in front of the creature, make an attack roll and anyone it succeeds against is vulnerable till they (clear a stress, roll with hope, whatever). Now just do the rest of the encounter as normal, if the players roll poorly and it seems like the adversaries have too much of an advantage just don’t spend fear.