Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Couatl

Medium · Celestial · CR 4 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Monstrous Menagerie

85 (10d8+40)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Celestial

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 1100

Initiative Bonus +4

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Fly 90 ft (27.4 m)

Swim 15 ft (4.6 m)

Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Truesight 120 ft (36.6 m)

Passive Perception 17

Saving Throws

Constitution +6 Wisdom +7 Charisma +6

Skills

Perception +7 Persuasion +6 Religion +7

Languages

all, telepathy 120.0 ft (36.6 m).

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances

psychic, radiant; damage from nonmagical weapons

Traits

Innate Spellcasting

The couatls spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At Will: Detect Evil and Good, Detect Magic,
3/Day Each: Create Food and Water, Detect Thoughts, Lesser Restoration
1/Day Each: Dream, Greater Restoration, Scrying

Actions

Bite

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d6+4 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage and the target makes a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a failure it is poisoned for 24 hours. The target is unconscious until the poisoned condition ends or a creature uses an action to shake the target awake.

Constrict

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 3d6+4 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Medium or smaller creature. Hit: 14 (3d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage and the target is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends the target is restrained the couatl can't constrict other targets and the couatl has advantage on attacks against the target.

Heal

1/day

The couatl touches a creature magically healing 20 hit points of damage and ending the poisoned condition on that creature.

Shapeshift

The couatl magically changes its form to resemble that of a humanoid or beast or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. If its form is humanoid it is equipped with clothing and a weapon. While shapeshifted its statistics are the same except that it can't use Constrict and Shielding Wing and it may gain a swim speed of 60 or lose its fly speed if appropriate to its new form. If its a beast it can use its bite attack. If its a humanoid it may make a weapon attack which functions identically to its bite attack.

Reactions

Shielding Wing

When the couatl or a creature within 5 feet is attacked, the couatl can interpose a wing and impose disadvantage on the attack.

About Couatl

Couatl is a medium celestial with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 16 and possesses 85 hit points (derived from 10d8+40).

Couatl has communication capabilities including all, telepathy 120 ft.. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Couatl

2 tips available

When using Couatl 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.
Telepathic Communication: This creature can communicate telepathically, making it excellent for coordination with allies. Silence spells won't stop its communication. Consider 'Mind Blank' or abilities that block telepathy.

Player Guide: Facing Couatl

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.
Telepathy Awareness: This creature communicates telepathically! It can coordinate with allies silently. Silence won't stop it. Use 'Mind Blank' or abilities that block telepathy. Be cautious of mental attacks.

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 Couatl?: Couatl has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Couatl?: Couatl is a Medium Celestial, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Couatl speak?: Couatl can communicate in all, telepathy 120 ft..