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Water Elemental

Large · Elemental · CR 5 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Black Flag SRD

14 (natural armor)

104

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-2

WIS

CHA

-1

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Large

Type Elemental

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 1800

Initiative Bonus +2

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Swim 90 ft (27.4 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

Strength +4 Dexterity +2 Constitution +4 Intelligence -2 Wisdom +0 Charisma -1

Languages

Aquan

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

acid,Elemental Resilience

Damage Resistances

Elemental Resilience

Traits

Elemental Nature

The elemental doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Elemental Resilience

The elemental is resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks. In addition, it is immune to poison damage, to exhaustion, and to the grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, and unconscious conditions.

Freeze

If the elemental takes cold damage, it partially freezes, and its speed is reduced by 20 feet until the end of its next turn.

Purify Water

If the water elemental sits in a body of slow-flowing or standing water, such as a spring, small creek, or lake, for at least 1 hour, the water becomes purified and rendered free of poison and disease. In slow-flowing water, this purification fades 1 hour after the elemental leaves the water. In standing water, this purification lasts until a contaminant enters the water while the elemental isn't in it.

Water Camouflage

The water elemental's Stealth is 17 while in a Medium or larger body of water.

Water Form

The elemental can enter a hostile creature's space and stop there. It can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

Actions

Multiattack

The water elemental makes two Water Tendril or Water Bolt attacks. If both Water Tendril attacks hit one creature, it can use Whelm on the target, if available.

Water Bolt

+5 to hit, range 30/120 ft (9.1/36.6 m). Hit: 4d6+2 bludgeoning damage.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (4d6+2) bludgeoning damage.

Water Tendril

+7 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 3d8+4 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (3d8+4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 15) if it is Large or smaller. The water elemental can have up to three targets grappled at a time.

Whelm

Recharge 4–6

The water elemental envelops one creature it is grappling, and the grapple ends. While enveloped, the target is restrained, unable to breathe unless it can breathe water, can't be hit by the elemental's Water Tendril, and it takes 9 (2d8) bludgeoning damage at the start of each of the elemental's turns.
When the elemental moves, the enveloped creature moves with it. The elemental can have only one creature enveloped at a time. A creature within 5 feet of the elemental, including the target, can take its action to free the target from the elemental by succeeding on a DC 15 STR check.

Bonus Actions

Purify Blood

3/day

The water elemental touches a willing creature that isn't a Construct or Undead. The target is cured of the poisoned condition and of any disease afflicting it.

About Water Elemental

Water Elemental is a large elemental with a Challenge Rating of 5. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 104 hit points (derived from None).

Water Elemental has communication capabilities including Aquan. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Water Elemental

1 tips available

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

Aquatic Combat: This creature can swim at 90 ft. It has advantage in water environments. Consider fighting on land or using water-based spells against it.

Player Guide: Facing Water Elemental

1 strategies available

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

Aquatic Combat Defense: This creature can swim at 90 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 5.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 7 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 3,000 XP
Hard: 4,500 XP
Deadly: 6,000 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 Water Elemental?: Water Elemental has a Challenge Rating of 5, making it appropriate for parties of level 5.0.
What type of creature is Water Elemental?: Water Elemental is a Large Elemental, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Water Elemental speak?: Water Elemental can communicate in Aquan.