Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Banshee

Medium · Undead · CR 4 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Monstrous Menagerie

58 (13d8)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

-1

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Undead

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 1100

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Fly 40 ft (12.2 m)

Swim 15 ft (4.6 m)

Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 10

Saving Throws

Wisdom +2

Languages

the languages it spoke in life

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

cold, necrotic, poison

Damage Resistances

acid, fire, lightning, thunder; damage from nonmagical weapons

Condition Immunities

charmed, exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained

Traits

Death Howl

When reduced to 0 hit points, the banshee uses Baleful Wail.

Detect Life

The banshee magically senses the general direction of living creatures up to 5 miles away.

Incorporeal Movement

The banshee can move through creatures and objects. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Undead Nature

A banshee doesnt require air, sustenance, or sleep.

Unquiet Spirit

If defeated in combat, the banshee returns on the anniversary of its death. It can be permanently put to rest only by finding and casting Remove Curse on its grave or by righting whatever wrong was done to it.

Actions

Baleful Wail

The banshee shrieks. All living creatures within 30 feet of it that can hear it make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a failure a creature takes 11 (2d6 + 4) psychic damage. If the creature is cursed by the banshee it drops to 0 hit points instead.

Presage Death

The banshee targets a creature within 60 feet that can hear it predicting its doom. The target makes a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure the target takes 11 (2d6 + 4) psychic damage and is magically cursed for 1 hour. While cursed in this way the target has disadvantage on saving throws against the banshees Baleful Wail.

Reactions

Wounded Warning

When the banshee takes damage from a creature within 60 feet, it uses Presage Death on the attacker.

About Banshee

Banshee is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 13 and possesses 58 hit points (derived from 13d8).

Banshee has communication capabilities including the languages it spoke in life. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Banshee

2 tips available

When using Banshee in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Flight Control Strategy: Target flying creatures with spells like 'Hold Person', 'Web', or 'Grease' to ground them. Without flight restriction, they can escape melee range easily. Consider area denial spells below their flight altitude to force them into disadvantageous positions.
Incorporeal Movement: This creature can pass through objects and walls! Use 'Magic Circle', 'Forcecage', or other magical barriers. Physical obstacles are ineffective.

Player Guide: Facing Banshee

2 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

Counter Flight Advantage: This creature can fly! Use ranged attacks, reach weapons, or spells like 'Thunderwave' to push it away. Consider 'Gust of Wind' or 'Earthbind' to ground it. Melee characters need fly speed or flight magic to engage.
Hit Incorporeal Creature: This creature can pass through objects! Use magical weapons or spells. Physical attacks may not work. 'Magic Missile' or 'Spiritual Weapon' are effective.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 4.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 6 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 2,000 XP
Hard: 3,000 XP
Deadly: 4,000 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Banshee?: Banshee has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Banshee?: Banshee is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Banshee speak?: Banshee can communicate in the languages it spoke in life.