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Bloated Ghoul

Medium · Undead · CR 6 · Neutral Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts 2

14 (natural armor)

142 (19d8+57)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Undead

Alignment Neutral Evil

XP 2300

Initiative Bonus +0

Movement

Walk 20 ft (6.1 m)

Swim 10 ft (3 m)

Climb 10 ft (3 m)

Crawl 10 ft (3 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 11

Languages

Common, Darakhul, Undercommon

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

poison

Damage Resistances

necrotic, slashing

Condition Immunities

charmed, exhaustion, poisoned

Traits

Turning Defiance

The bloated ghoul and any ghouls within 30 feet of it have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead.

Unholy Stench

When the bloated ghoul takes piercing or slashing damage, noxious vapors burst from its distended stomach. Each creature within 10 feet of it must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) poison damage and be poisoned until the end of its next turn.

Actions

Bite

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 3d8+3 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d8 + 3) piercing damage, and, if the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or contract darakhul fever.

Claw

+6 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 3d6+3 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) slashing damage. If the target is a creature other than an undead, it must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or have its speed halved and have disadvantage on Dexterity-based checks and saving throws for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Hideous Feast

The bloated ghoul feeds on a corpse within 5 feet of it that is less than 1 week old. It regains 1d8 hit points per size category of the creature it consumes. For example, the ghoul regains 1d8 hit points when consuming a Tiny creature or 4d8 hit points when consuming a Large creature. The bloated ghoul can't use Hideous Feast on a corpse if it or another bloated ghoul has already used Hideous Feast on the corpse.

Multiattack

The bloated ghoul makes one bite attack and one claw attack.

About Bloated Ghoul

Bloated Ghoul is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 6. It has a neutral evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 142 hit points (derived from 19d8+57).

Bloated Ghoul has communication capabilities including Common, Darakhul, Undercommon. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Bloated Ghoul

2 tips available

When using Bloated Ghoul in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Significant Threat: Challenging for parties of levels 5-10
Epic Potential: Consider legendary actions for memorable battles

Player Guide: Facing Bloated Ghoul

2 strategies available

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

Significant Threat: Prepare spells and resources
Team Coordination: Coordinate attacks and defenses

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 6.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 9 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 4,200 XP
Hard: 6,300 XP
Deadly: 8,400 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 Bloated Ghoul?: Bloated Ghoul has a Challenge Rating of 6, making it appropriate for parties of level 6.0.
What type of creature is Bloated Ghoul?: Bloated Ghoul is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Bloated Ghoul speak?: Bloated Ghoul can communicate in Common, Darakhul, Undercommon.