Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Rat, Swarm of Rats

Medium · Beast · CR 1/4 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Black Flag SRD

1/4

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

-1

DEX

CON

-1

INT

-4

WIS

CHA

-4

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Beast

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 50

Initiative Bonus +0

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Swim 30 ft (9.1 m)

Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 30 ft (9.1 m)

Passive Perception 10

Saving Throws

Strength -1 Dexterity +0 Constitution -1 Intelligence -4 Wisdom +0 Charisma -4

Languages

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

Swarm Resilience

Damage Resistances

Swarm Resilience

Traits

Accustomed to Filth

The swarm has advantage on saves against contracting diseases.

Heightened Smell

The swarm's Perception is 15 when perceiving by smell.

Swarm

The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny rat. The swarm can't regain HP or gain temporary HP.

Swarm Resilience

The swarm is resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, and it is immune to the charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, and stunned conditions.

Actions

Bites

+2 to hit. Hit: 2d6 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm's space. Hit: 7 (2d6) piercing damage, or 3 (1d6) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its HP or fewer. If the target is a creature, it must make a DC 9 CON save. On a failure, the target contracts the rat plague disease (see Diseased Rats sidebar) or is poisoned until the end of its next turn (the GM's choice).

About Rat, Swarm of Rats

Rat, Swarm of Rats is a medium beast with a Challenge Rating of 1/4. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 10 and possesses 14 hit points (derived from None).

Rat, Swarm of Rats has communication capabilities including -. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Rat, Swarm of Rats

1 tips available

When using Rat, Swarm of Rats in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Aquatic Combat: This creature can swim at 30 ft. It has advantage in water environments. Consider fighting on land or using water-based spells against it.

Player Guide: Facing Rat, Swarm of Rats

1 strategies available

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

Aquatic Combat Defense: This creature can swim at 30 ft! It has advantage in water. Fight on land if possible. Use 'Control Water' or drain water sources to limit its mobility.

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: 31 XP
Hard: 46 XP
Deadly: 62 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 Rat, Swarm of Rats?: Rat, Swarm of Rats has a Challenge Rating of 1/4, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.25.
What type of creature is Rat, Swarm of Rats?: Rat, Swarm of Rats is a Medium Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Rat, Swarm of Rats speak?: Rat, Swarm of Rats can communicate in -.