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Bouda

Medium · Fiend · CR 5 · Neutral Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts

15 (natural armor)

93 (11d8+44)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Fiend

Alignment Neutral Evil

XP 1800

Initiative Bonus +2

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 120 ft (36.6 m)

Passive Perception 14

Saving Throws

Dexterity +5 Constitution +7 Intelligence +4 Charisma +6

Skills

Athletics +7 Deception +5 Intimidation +5 Perception +4 Stealth +5

Languages

Common, Celestial, Infernal, Nurian; telepathy 100.0 ft (30.5 m).

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

fire, poison

Damage Resistances

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

Condition Immunities

charmed, exhaustion, poisoned

Environments

Arctic or Tundra Caves Coast Desert Forest or Jungle Grassland or Plains Hills Laboratory Lake Mountain Ocean Ruins Sewer Shadowfell The Abyss Astral Plane Elysium Ethereal Plane Feywild Hell Material Plane Plane of Air Plane of Earth Plane of Fire Plane of Water Swamp or Marsh Temple Badlands Tomb Underworld Urban

Traits

Defiling Smear (1/Day)

The bouda can secrete a disgusting whitish-yellow substance with the viscosity of tar to mark food and territory. As a bonus action, the bouda marks a single adjacent 5-foot space, object, or helpless creature. Any living creature within 30 feet of the smear at the start of its turn must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw against poison or be poisoned for 1d6 rounds. A creature that makes a successful saving throw is immune to that particular bouda's defiling smear for 24 hours. The stench of a smear remains potent for one week.

Innate Spellcasting

the bouda's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It can cast the following spells, requiring no material components: Constant: detect evil and good, detect magic

at will: thaumaturgy

3/day: darkness, expeditious retreat

1/day: contagion

Shapechanger

The bouda can use its action to polymorph into a human, a hyena, or its true form, which is a hyena-humanoid hybrid. Its statistics, other than its Mephitic Claw attack, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if destroyed, before turning to dust.

Actions

Bite

+7 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d8 poison damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.

Mephitic Claw

+7 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d6 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage, and the target must make a successful DC 15 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 round by the visible cloud of vermin swarming around the bouda's forearms.

Multiattack

The bouda makes one bite attack and one mephitic claw attack.

Ravenous Gorge

The bouda consumes the organs of a corpse in a space it occupies. It gains temporary hit points equal to the dead creature's HD that last 1 hour. Organs consumed by this ability are gone, and the creature can't be restored to life through spells and magical effects that require a mostly intact corpse.

About Bouda

Bouda is a medium fiend with a Challenge Rating of 5. It has a neutral evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 93 hit points (derived from 11d8+44).

Bouda has communication capabilities including Common, Celestial, Infernal, Nurian; telepathy 100 ft.. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Bouda

2 tips available

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

Telepathic Communication: This creature can communicate telepathically, making it excellent for coordination with allies. Silence spells won't stop its communication. Consider 'Mind Blank' or abilities that block telepathy.
Shapechanging Tactics: This creature can change form, potentially gaining new abilities or escaping. Use 'True Seeing' or abilities that reveal true form. Consider finishing blows before it transforms.

Player Guide: Facing Bouda

2 strategies available

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

Telepathy Awareness: This creature communicates telepathically! It can coordinate with allies silently. Silence won't stop it. Use 'Mind Blank' or abilities that block telepathy. Be cautious of mental attacks.
Counter Shapechanging: This creature can change form! Use 'True Seeing' to see its true form. Finish it quickly before it transforms. 'Dispel Magic' might prevent transformation.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 5.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 7 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 3,000 XP
Hard: 4,500 XP
Deadly: 6,000 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 Bouda?: Bouda has a Challenge Rating of 5, making it appropriate for parties of level 5.0.
What type of creature is Bouda?: Bouda is a Medium Fiend, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Bouda speak?: Bouda can communicate in Common, Celestial, Infernal, Nurian; telepathy 100 ft..