Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Swamp Adder

Small · Beast · CR 1/4 · Unaligned

Source. Tome of Beasts 1 (2023 Edition)

18 (4d6 + 4)

1/4

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

-3

DEX

CON

INT

-5

WIS

CHA

-3

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Small

Type Beast

Alignment Unaligned

XP 50

Initiative Bonus +3

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

Blindsight 10 ft (3 m)

Passive Perception 10

Traits

Swamp Camouflage

The swamp adder has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in swampy terrain.

Actions

Bite

+5 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m).

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the target takes 5 (2d4) poison damage and is paralyzed for 1 minute. On a success, a target takes half the damage and isn't paralyzed. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

About Swamp Adder

Swamp Adder is a small beast with a Challenge Rating of 1/4. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 13 and possesses 18 hit points (derived from 4d6 + 4).

GM Tips: Using Swamp Adder

2 tips available

When using Swamp Adder in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Minion Strategy: Use as scouts or minions for larger threats
Group Tactics: Group 3-4 together to pose a moderate threat

Player Guide: Facing Swamp Adder

2 strategies available

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

Easy Target: This creature is weak - focus on other threats
Group Threat: Multiple can be dangerous - use area attacks

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: 31 XP
Hard: 46 XP
Deadly: 62 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 Swamp Adder?: Swamp Adder has a Challenge Rating of 1/4, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.25.
What type of creature is Swamp Adder?: Swamp Adder is a Small Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.