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Stirge

Tiny · Beast · CR 1/8 · Unaligned

Source. 5e 2014 Rules

14 (natural armor)

2 (1d4)

1/8

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

-3

DEX

CON

INT

-4

WIS

-1

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Tiny

Type Beast

Alignment Unaligned

XP 25

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 10 ft (3 m)

Fly 40 ft (12.2 m)

Swim 5 ft (1.5 m)

Climb 5 ft (1.5 m)

Crawl 5 ft (1.5 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 9

Environments

Caves Coast Desert Forest or Jungle Grassland or Plains Hills Mountain Swamp or Marsh Underworld Urban

Actions

Blood Drain

Cost 1

+5 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d4 thunder damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the stirge attaches to the target. While attached, the stirge doesn't attack. Instead, at the start of each of the stirge's turns, the target loses 5 (1d4 + 3) hit points due to blood loss.
The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement. It does so after it drains 10 hit points of blood from the target or the target dies. A creature, including the target, can use its action to detach the stirge.

About Stirge

Stirge is a tiny beast with a Challenge Rating of 1/8. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 2 hit points (derived from 1d4).

GM Tips: Using Stirge

1 tips available

When using Stirge 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.

Player Guide: Facing Stirge

1 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.

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: 14 XP
Hard: 21 XP
Deadly: 28 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 Stirge?: Stirge has a Challenge Rating of 1/8, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.125.
What type of creature is Stirge?: Stirge is a Tiny Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.