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Dryad

Medium · Fey · CR 1/2 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Monstrous Menagerie

22 (5d8)

1/2

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Fey

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 100

Initiative Bonus +1

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 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 14

Skills

Nature +3 Perception +5 Stealth +3 Survival +5

Languages

Elvish, Sylvan

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Vulnerabilities

fire

Traits

Magic Resistance

The dryad has advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects.

Speak with Nature

The dryad can communicate with beasts and plants.

Tree Stride

Once per turn, the dryad can use 10 feet of movement to enter a living tree and emerge from another living tree within 60 feet. Both trees must be at least Large.

Actions

Club

+4 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d8+2 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage.

Entangling Plants

Plants magically erupt from the ground in a 20-foot radius around a point up to 120 feet from the dryad. Each creature of the dryads choice in the area makes a DC 13 Strength saving throw. On a failure a creature is restrained for 1 minute. A creature can use its action to make a DC 12 Strength check freeing itself or a creature within 5 feet on a success. Additionally the area is difficult terrain for 1 minute.

Fey Charm

3/day

A humanoid or beast within 30 feet makes a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure it is magically charmed. While charmed in this way the target regards the dryad as a trusted ally and is disposed to interpret the dryads requests and actions favorably. The creature can repeat this saving throw if the dryad or the dryads allies harm it ending the effect on a success. Otherwise the effect lasts 24 hours. If the creature succeeds on a saving throw against Fey Charm or the effect ends for it it is immune to Fey Charm for 24 hours.

About Dryad

Dryad is a medium fey with a Challenge Rating of 1/2. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 22 hit points (derived from 5d8).

Dryad has communication capabilities including Elvish, Sylvan. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Dryad

2 tips available

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

Minion Strategy: Use as scouts or minions for larger threats
Group Tactics: Group 3-4 together to pose a moderate threat

Player Guide: Facing Dryad

2 strategies available

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

Easy Target: This creature is weak - focus on other threats
Group Threat: Multiple can be dangerous - use area attacks

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 1.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 2 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 75 XP
Hard: 112 XP
Deadly: 150 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 Dryad?: Dryad has a Challenge Rating of 1/2, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.5.
What type of creature is Dryad?: Dryad is a Medium Fey, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Dryad speak?: Dryad can communicate in Elvish, Sylvan.