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Arboreal Grappler

Medium · Aberration · CR 4 · Neutral Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts 1 (2023 Edition)

14 (natural armor)

90 (12d8 + 36)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-2

WIS

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Aberration

Alignment Neutral Evil

XP 1100

Initiative Bonus +3

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 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 10

Skills

Acrobatics +5 Stealth +5

Traits

Boscage Brachiation

The arboreal grappler doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it climbs out of an enemy’s reach.

Mobile Grappler

The arboreal grappler can move at its full speed when dragging a Medium or smaller creature it has grappled.

Spider Climb

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

Actions

Bite

+5 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d6+3 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Multiattack

The arboreal grappler makes one Bite attack and two Tentacle attacks.

Tentacle

+5 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 2d6+3 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained. The arboreal grappler has two tentacles, each of which can grapple only one target.

About Arboreal Grappler

Arboreal Grappler is a medium aberration with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a neutral evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 90 hit points (derived from 12d8 + 36).

GM Tips: Using Arboreal Grappler

2 tips available

When using Arboreal Grappler 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 Arboreal Grappler

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 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 Arboreal Grappler?: Arboreal Grappler has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Arboreal Grappler?: Arboreal Grappler is a Medium Aberration, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.