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Water Horse

Medium · Fey · CR 4 · Neutral Evil

Source. Creature Codex
Armor Class
12 (in humanoid form, 14 (natural armor) in horse or hybrid form)
Hit Points and Hit Dice
77 (14d8+14)
Challenge Rating CR
4

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
16
+3
DEX
14
+2
CON
13
+1
INT
10
+0
WIS
12
+1
CHA
15
+2

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Medium
Type Fey
Alignment Neutral Evil
XP 1100
Initiative Bonus +2

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 11

Skills

Deception +4 Persuasion +4

Languages

Common, Sylvan

Traits

Amphibious

The water horse can breathe air and water.

Shapechanger

The water horse can use its action to polymorph into a Medium humanoid, a horse, or its true horse-humanoid hybrid form. Its statistics, other than its size, speed, and AC, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Actions

Bite

+5 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d6+3 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Charming Gaze

The water horse targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed, the target is incapacitated and can only move toward the water horse. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. The target has advantage on the saving throw if it has taken damage since the end of its last turn. If the target successfully saves or if the effect ends for it, the target is immune to this water horse's Charming Gaze for the next 24 hours.

Longbow

+4 to hit, range 150/600 ft (45.7/182.9 m). Hit: 1d8+2 piercing damage.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Longsword

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

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage if used with two hands.

Multiattack

The water horse can use its Charming Gaze. In horse form, it then makes two bite attacks. In humanoid form, it then makes two longsword attacks. In hybrid form, it then makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its longsword.

About Water Horse

Water Horse is a medium fey with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a neutral evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 12 and possesses 77 hit points (derived from 14d8+14).

Water Horse has communication capabilities including Common, Sylvan. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Water Horse

1 tips available

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

  • Shapechanging Tactics: This creature can change form, potentially gaining new abilities or escaping. Use 'True Seeing' or abilities that reveal true form. Consider finishing blows before it transforms.

Player Guide: Facing Water Horse

1 strategies available

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

  • Counter Shapechanging: This creature can change form! Use 'True Seeing' to see its true form. Finish it quickly before it transforms. 'Dispel Magic' might prevent transformation.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

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

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 6 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

  • Medium: 2,000 XP
  • Hard: 3,000 XP
  • Deadly: 4,000 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 Horse?
Water Horse has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Water Horse?
Water Horse is a Medium Fey, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Water Horse speak?
Water Horse can communicate in Common, Sylvan.

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