Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Zombie

Medium · Undead · CR 1/4 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Black Flag SRD

1/4

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

-2

CON

INT

-4

WIS

CHA

-3

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Undead

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 50

Initiative Bonus -2

Movement

Walk 20 ft (6.1 m)

Swim 10 ft (3 m)

Climb 10 ft (3 m)

Crawl 10 ft (3 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 10

Saving Throws

Strength +2 Dexterity -2 Constitution +3 Intelligence -4 Wisdom +0 Charisma -3

Languages

understands the languages it knew in life but can't speak

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

Undead Resilience

Traits

Undead Fortitude

If damage reduces the zombie to 0 HP, it must make a CON save with a DC equal to 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 HP instead.

Undead Nature

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

Undead Resilience

The zombie is immune to poison damage, to exhaustion, and to the poisoned condition.

Actions

Slam

+4 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d6+2 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) bludgeoning damage. The target is grappled (escape DC 12) if it is a Medium or smaller creature, and the zombie doesn't already have a creature grappled.

Bonus Actions

Rotten Hold

The zombie gnaws idly on the creature grappled by it. The target must succeed on a DC 12 CON save or take 2 (1d4) poison damage. A Humanoid slain by this bonus action rises 24 hours later as a zombie, unless the Humanoid is restored to life or its body is destroyed.

About Zombie

Zombie is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 1/4. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 8 and possesses 16 hit points (derived from None).

Zombie has communication capabilities including understands the languages it knew in life but can't speak. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Zombie

2 tips available

When using Zombie 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 Zombie

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: 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 Zombie?: Zombie has a Challenge Rating of 1/4, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.25.
What type of creature is Zombie?: Zombie is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Zombie speak?: Zombie can communicate in understands the languages it knew in life but can't speak.