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Vampire Patrician

Medium · Undead · CR 10 · Lawful Evil

Source. Creature Codex
Armor Class
16 (natural armor)
Hit Points and Hit Dice
119 (14d8+56)
Challenge Rating CR
10

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
15
+2
DEX
18
+4
CON
18
+4
INT
16
+3
WIS
13
+1
CHA
20
+5

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Medium
Type Undead
Alignment Lawful Evil
XP 5900
Initiative Bonus +4

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 120 ft (36.6 m)
Passive Perception 15

Saving Throws

Dexterity +8 Wisdom +5 Charisma +9

Skills

Deception +9 Intimidation +9 Perception +5 Persuasion +9

Languages

the languages it knew in life

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances
necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Traits

Cruel Combatant

A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage and an extra 3 (1d6) necrotic damage when the vampire patrician hits with it (included in the attack).

Misty Escape

When it drops to 0 hp outside its resting place, the vampire patrician transforms into a cloud of mist instead of falling unconscious, provided that it isn't in sunlight or running water. If it can't transform, it is destroyed. While it has 0 hp in mist form, it can't revert to its vampire form, and it must reach its resting place within 2 hours or be destroyed.

While in mist form it can't take any actions, speak, or manipulate objects. It is weightless, has a flying speed of 20 feet, can hover, and can enter a hostile creature's space and stop there. In addition, if air can pass through a space, the mist can do so without squeezing, and it can't pass through water. It has advantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws, and it is immune to all nonmagical damage, except the damage it takes from sunlight.

Once in its resting place, it reverts to vampire form. It is then paralyzed until it regains at least 1 hp. After spending 1 hour in its resting place with 0 hp, it regains 1 hp.

Noble Resilience (Recharges after a Long Rest)

The vampire patrician can ignore the effects of sunlight for up to 1 minute.

Regeneration

The patrician regains 15 hp at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hp and isn't in sunlight or running water. If it takes radiant damage or damage from holy water, this trait doesn't function at the start of its next turn.

Spider Climb

The vampire patrician can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Vampire Weaknesses

The vampire patrician has the following flaws:
Forbiddance. The patrician can't enter a residence without an invitation from one of the occupants.
Harmed by Running Water. The patrician takes 20 acid damage if it ends its turn in running water.
Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood is driven into the patrician's heart while the patrician is incapacitated in its resting place, the patrician is paralyzed until the stake is removed.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The patrician takes 20 radiant damage when it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

Actions

Bite

+8 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d6+4 plus 2d6 necrotic damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that is grappled by the vampire patrician, incapacitated, or restrained. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target's hp maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the patrician regains hp equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hp maximum to 0. A humanoid slain in this way and then buried in the ground rises the following night as a vampire spawn under the vampire patrician's control.

Bone-Chilling Gaze

The vampire patrician targets one humanoid it can see within 30 feet. If the target can see the patrician, the target must succeed on a DC 17 Charisma saving throw or become paralyzed with fear until the end of its next turn.

Multiattack

The vampire patrician can use its Bone-Chilling Gaze. It then makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite attack.

Rapier

+8 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d8+4 plus 1d6 necrotic damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) necrotic damage.

Release the Hounds!

1/day

The vampire patrician calls 4d6 hunting hounds (use mastiff statistics) to its side. While outdoors, the vampire patrician can call 4d6 hunting raptors (use blood hawk statistics) instead. These creatures arrive in 1d4 rounds, helping the patrician and obeying its spoken commands. The beasts remain for 1 hour, until the patrician dies, or until the patrician dismisses them as a bonus action.

About Vampire Patrician

Vampire Patrician is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 10. It has a lawful evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 16 and possesses 119 hit points (derived from 14d8+56).

Vampire Patrician has communication capabilities including the languages it knew in life. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Vampire Patrician

2 tips available

When using Vampire Patrician 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.
  • Regeneration Counterplay: This creature regenerates HP each turn! Players must deal enough damage to overcome regeneration. Certain damage types (acid, fire) may suppress regeneration. Plan sustained damage output.

Player Guide: Facing Vampire Patrician

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.
  • Counter Regeneration: This creature regenerates HP each turn! Deal enough damage to overcome regeneration. Use acid or fire damage if it suppresses regeneration. Plan sustained damage output.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 10.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 13 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

  • Medium: 11,000 XP
  • Hard: 16,500 XP
  • Deadly: 22,000 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 Vampire Patrician?
Vampire Patrician has a Challenge Rating of 10, making it appropriate for parties of level 10.0.
What type of creature is Vampire Patrician?
Vampire Patrician is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Vampire Patrician speak?
Vampire Patrician can communicate in the languages it knew in life.

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