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Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton

Medium · Undead · CR 3 · Lawful Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts 2

14 (natural armor)

78 (12d8+24)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-2

WIS

-1

CHA

-3

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Undead

Alignment Lawful Evil

XP 700

Initiative Bonus +1

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 9

Languages

understands all languages it knew in life but can't speak

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

poison

Damage Resistances

piercing, slashing

Damage Vulnerabilities

thunder

Condition Immunities

exhaustion, petrified, poisoned

Traits

Fossilized Bones

Any nonmagical slashing or piercing weapon made of metal or wood that hits the swordbreaker skeleton cracks. After dealing damage, the weapon takes a permanent and cumulative -1 penalty to damage rolls. If its penalty drops to -5, the weapon is destroyed. Nonmagical ammunition made of metal or wood that hits the swordbreaker skeleton is destroyed after dealing damage.

Actions

Heavy Crossbow

+3 to hit, range 100/400 ft (30.5/121.9 m). Hit: 1d10+1 piercing damage.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d10 + 1) piercing damage.

Longsword

+5 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d8+3 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage if used with two hands.

Multiattack

The veteran swordbreaker skeleton makes two longsword attacks. If it has a shortsword drawn, it can also make a shortsword attack.

Shortsword

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

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

About Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton

Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 3. It has a lawful evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 78 hit points (derived from 12d8+24).

Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton has communication capabilities including understands all languages it knew in life but can't speak. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton

2 tips available

When using Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton 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 Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton

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 3.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 5 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 1,200 XP
Hard: 1,800 XP
Deadly: 2,400 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 Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton?: Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton has a Challenge Rating of 3, making it appropriate for parties of level 3.0.
What type of creature is Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton?: Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton speak?: Veteran Swordbreaker Skeleton can communicate in understands all languages it knew in life but can't speak.