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Vine Lord

Medium · Plant · CR 9 · Lawful Neutral

Source. Tome of Beasts 1 (2023 Edition)

16 (natural armor)

105 (14d8 + 42)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Plant

Alignment Lawful Neutral

XP 5000

Initiative Bonus +5

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 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 13

Saving Throws

Constitution +7 Wisdom +7 Charisma +8

Languages

Common, Sylvan

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Vulnerabilities

fire

Condition Immunities

blinded, deafened

Traits

Green Regeneration

While in a forest, the vine lord regains 10 hp at the start of its turn if it hast at least 1 hp.

Magic Resistance

The vine lord has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Root Mind

The vine lord and the tendril puppets it has created are connected via a hive mind. The vine lord and its puppets can telepathically communicate with each other, provided the communicating creatures are within 1 mile of each other. In addition, while in a forest, the vine lord can’t be surprised.

Vine Seed

A creature infected with a vine lord’s vine seed suffers near-constant pain as the seed takes root and spreads tendrils throughout its body. For the first 24 hours after infection, the creature has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks, as the pain from the spreading roots distracts it. Then, the seed becomes a disease, devouring the creature from the inside as it grows vines throughout the creature’s body. Until the disease is cured, the infected creature can’t regain hp, and its hp maximum decreases by 7 (2d6) for every 24 hours that elapse. This reduction lasts until the disease is cured. The creature dies if this disease reduces its hp maximum to 0.

Woodland Walk

Difficult terrain composed of plants doesn’t cost the vine lord extra movement. In addition, it can pass through plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines, or a similar hazard.

Actions

Forest Protectors

1/day

The vine lord magically calls 1d4 awakened trees or tendril puppets, or it calls 1 Plant with a challenge rating of 4 or lower. The called creatures arrive in 1d4 rounds, acting as allies of the vine lord and obeying its spoken commands. The Plants remain for 1 hour, until the vine lord dies, or until the vine lord dismisses them as a bonus action.

Multiattack

The vine lord makes one Tendril attack and two Thorned Slam attacks.

Tendril

+9 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 1d4+5 plus 2d6 poison damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d4 + 5) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or become infected with a vine seed (see the Vine Seed trait).

Thorned Slam

+9 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d8+5 plus 4d4 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (4d4) piercing damage.

About Vine Lord

Vine Lord is a medium plant with a Challenge Rating of 9. It has a lawful neutral alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 16 and possesses 105 hit points (derived from 14d8 + 42).

Vine Lord has communication capabilities including Common, Sylvan. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Vine Lord

1 tips available

When using Vine Lord in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Regeneration Counterplay: This creature regenerates HP each turn! Players must deal enough damage to overcome regeneration. Certain damage types (acid, fire) may suppress regeneration. Plan sustained damage output.

Player Guide: Facing Vine Lord

1 strategies available

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

Counter Regeneration: This creature regenerates HP each turn! Deal enough damage to overcome regeneration. Use acid or fire damage if it suppresses regeneration. Plan sustained damage output.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 9.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 12 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 9,000 XP
Hard: 13,500 XP
Deadly: 18,000 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 Vine Lord?: Vine Lord has a Challenge Rating of 9, making it appropriate for parties of level 9.0.
What type of creature is Vine Lord?: Vine Lord is a Medium Plant, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Vine Lord speak?: Vine Lord can communicate in Common, Sylvan.