Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Death Butterfly Swarm

Large · Beast · CR 4 · Unaligned

Source. Tome of Beasts 1 (2023 Edition)

15 (natural armor)

60 (11d10)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

-5

DEX

CON

INT

-5

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Large

Type Beast

Alignment Unaligned

XP 1100

Initiative Bonus +2

Movement

Walk 40 ft (12.2 m)

Fly 5 ft (1.5 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 11

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances

bludgeoning, piercing, slashing

Damage Vulnerabilities

cold, fire

Condition Immunities

charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned

Traits

Potent Poison

Undead with resistance or immunity to poison damage or the poisoned condition can be affected by the swarm’s poison.

Swarm

The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny insect. The swarm can’t regain hp or gain temporary hp.

Weight of Wings

A creature that starts its turn in the swarm’s space has its speed halved and must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or become blinded. Both effects end when the creature ends its turn outside the swarm’s space. On a successful saving throw, the creature is immune to the blinding effect of Weight of Wings for the next 24 hours.

Actions

Bites

+4 to hit. Hit: 6d6 poison damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm's space. Hit: 21 (6d6) piercing damage, or 10 (3d6) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hp or fewer. The target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, it takes 10 (3d6) poison damage and is poisoned until the end of its next turn. On a success, it takes half the damage and isn't poisoned.

About Death Butterfly Swarm

Death Butterfly Swarm is a large beast with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 60 hit points (derived from 11d10).

GM Tips: Using Death Butterfly Swarm

1 tips available

When using Death Butterfly Swarm 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 Death Butterfly Swarm

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 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 Death Butterfly Swarm?: Death Butterfly Swarm has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Death Butterfly Swarm?: Death Butterfly Swarm is a Large Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.