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Death Dog

Medium · Monstrosity · CR 1 · Neutral Evil

Source. 5e 2014 Rules

39 (6d8+12)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-4

WIS

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Monstrosity

Alignment Neutral Evil

XP 200

Initiative Bonus +2

Movement

Walk 40 ft (12.2 m)

Swim 20 ft (6.1 m)

Climb 20 ft (6.1 m)

Crawl 20 ft (6.1 m)

Senses

Darkvision 120 ft (36.6 m)

Passive Perception 15

Skills

Perception +5 Stealth +4

Environments

Desert Grassland or Plains Shadowfell The Abyss Hell

Traits

Two-Headed

The dog has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks and on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.

Actions

Bite

Cost 1

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

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw against disease or become poisoned until the disease is cured. Every 24 hours that elapse, the creature must repeat the saving throw, reducing its hit point maximum by 5 (1d10) on a failure. This reduction lasts until the disease is cured. The creature dies if the disease reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

Multiattack

Cost 1

The dog makes two bite attacks.

About Death Dog

Death Dog is a medium monstrosity with a Challenge Rating of 1. It has a neutral evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 12 and possesses 39 hit points (derived from 6d8+12).

GM Tips: Using Death Dog

2 tips available

When using Death Dog in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Mid-level Encounter: Ideal for parties levels 3-8 as solo or small groups
Terrain Advantage: Use terrain to offset moderate combat abilities

Player Guide: Facing Death Dog

2 strategies available

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

Moderate Threat: Prepare standard combat tactics
Tactical Advantage: Use terrain and positioning

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 3 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 200 XP
Hard: 300 XP
Deadly: 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 Death Dog?: Death Dog has a Challenge Rating of 1, making it appropriate for parties of level 1.0.
What type of creature is Death Dog?: Death Dog is a Medium Monstrosity, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.