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Vampire Priestess

Medium · Undead · CR 8 · Lawful Evil

Source. Creature Codex
Armor Class
16 (chain mail)
Hit Points and Hit Dice
105 (14d8+42)
Challenge Rating CR
8

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
16
+3
DEX
12
+1
CON
16
+3
INT
13
+1
WIS
20
+5
CHA
15
+2

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Medium
Type Undead
Alignment Lawful Evil
XP 3900
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 18

Saving Throws

Dexterity +4 Wisdom +8 Charisma +5

Skills

Perception +8 Religion +4

Languages

the languages it knew in life

Resistances & Immunities

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

Traits

Misty Escape

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

While in mist form she can't take any actions, speak, or manipulate objects. She 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, she can do so without squeezing, and she can't pass through water. She has advantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws, and she is immune to all nonmagical damage, except the damage she takes from sunlight.

Once in her resting place, she reverts to her priestess form. She is then paralyzed until she regains at least 1 hp. After spending 1 hour in her resting place with 0 hp, she regains 1 hp. s

Regeneration

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

Spellcasting

The vampire priestess is a 9th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). She has the following cleric spells prepared:

  • Cantrips (at will): light, guidance, poison spray, thaumaturgy
  • 1st Level (4 slots): bane, command, inflict wounds, ray of sickness
  • 2nd Level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, silence, spiritual weapon
  • 3rd Level (3 slots): bestow curse, dispel magic, spirit guardians
  • 4th Level (3 slots): banishment, freedom of movement
  • 5th Level (1 slot): contagion, flame strike

Vampire Weaknesses

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

Actions

Bewitching Gaze

The vampire priestess targets one humanoid she can see within 30 feet. If the target can see her, the target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by the priestess for 1 minute. While charmed, the creature is incapacitated and has a speed of 0. Each time the vampire priestess or her allies do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success. The target can also repeat the saving throw if another creature uses an action to shake the target out of its stupor.

Bite

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d6+3 plus 2d6 necrotic damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that is grappled by the vampire priestess, incapacitated, or restrained. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) 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 priestess 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 priestess' control.

Multiattack

The vampire priestess can use her Bewitching Gaze. She then makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite attack.

Scourge

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d8+3 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, and the creature must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or bleed profusely from the wound. A bleeding creature takes 7 (2d6) slashing damage at the start of each of its turns. A creature can take an action to stanch the wound with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check. The wound also closes if the target receives magical healing.

About Vampire Priestess

Vampire Priestess is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 8. It has a lawful evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 16 and possesses 105 hit points (derived from 14d8+42).

Vampire Priestess 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 Priestess

2 tips available

When using Vampire Priestess 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 Priestess

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 8.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 11 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

  • Medium: 7,200 XP
  • Hard: 10,800 XP
  • Deadly: 14,400 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 Priestess?
Vampire Priestess has a Challenge Rating of 8, making it appropriate for parties of level 8.0.
What type of creature is Vampire Priestess?
Vampire Priestess is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Vampire Priestess speak?
Vampire Priestess can communicate in the languages it knew in life.

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