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Tree Skinner

Medium · Fiend · CR 2 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts 2

38 (7d8+7)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Fiend

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 450

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

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 14

Skills

Perception +4 Stealth +7

Languages

Abyssal, Elvish, Infernal, Sylvan

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances

bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons

Condition Immunities

charmed

Traits

False Appearance (Tree Form Only)

While the skinner remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal tree.

Inhabit Tree

As a bonus action, the skinner touches a Medium or larger tree that is not a creature and disappears inside it. While inside the tree, the skinner has tremorsense with a radius of 30 feet, has an AC of 15, has a speed of 0, and has vulnerability to fire damage. When the skinner is reduced to 15 hp, the tree dies and the skinner appears within 5 feet of the dead tree or in the nearest unoccupied space. The skinner can exit the tree as a bonus action, appearing within 5 feet of the tree in the nearest unoccupied space, and the tree reverts to being an object. The skinner can inhabit a tree for only 3 days at most before the tree dies, requiring the skinner to seek another vessel.

Magic Resistance

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

Actions

Claw

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

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) poison damage and become poisoned until the end of its next turn.

Squeeze

The tree skinner makes one vine whip attack against a creature it is grappling. If the attack hits, the target is also unable to breathe or cast spells with verbal components until this grapple ends.

Vine Whip

+5 to hit, reach 20 ft (6.1 m). Hit: 2d6+3 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and if the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 13). The skinner can grapple up to two creatures at one time.

About Tree Skinner

Tree Skinner is a medium fiend with a Challenge Rating of 2. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 13 and possesses 38 hit points (derived from 7d8+7).

Tree Skinner has communication capabilities including Abyssal, Elvish, Infernal, Sylvan. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Tree Skinner

2 tips available

When using Tree Skinner 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 Tree Skinner

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 2.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 4 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 600 XP
Hard: 900 XP
Deadly: 1,200 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 Tree Skinner?: Tree Skinner has a Challenge Rating of 2, making it appropriate for parties of level 2.0.
What type of creature is Tree Skinner?: Tree Skinner is a Medium Fiend, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Tree Skinner speak?: Tree Skinner can communicate in Abyssal, Elvish, Infernal, Sylvan.