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Death Butterfly Swarm

Large · Beast · CR 4 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts

15 (natural armor)

60 (11d10)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

-5

DEX

CON

INT

-5

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Large

Type Beast

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 1100

Initiative Bonus +1

Movement

Walk 5 ft (1.5 m)

Fly 40 ft (12.2 m)

Swim 2 ft (0.6 m)

Climb 2 ft (0.6 m)

Crawl 2 ft (0.6 m)

Hover Yes

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 11

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances

bludgeoning, piercing, slashing

Damage Vulnerabilities

cold, fire

Condition Immunities

charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, petrified

Environments

Forest or Jungle Grassland or Plains

Traits

Potent Poison

The death butterfly swarm's poison affects corporeal undead who are otherwise immune to poison.

Swarm

The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny insect. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Weight of Wings

A creature in a space occupied by the death butterfly swarm has its speed reduced by half, and must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or become blinded. Both effects end when the creature doesn't share a space with the swarm at the end of the creature's turn. If a creature succeeds on the saving throw, it is immune to the swarm's blindness (but not the speed reduction) for 24 hours.

Actions

Bites

+3 to hit. Hit: 6d6 poison damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 0 ft., every target in the swarm's space. Hit: 22 (6d6 + 1) piercing damage, or 11 (3d6 + 1) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer. The target also takes 10 (3d6) poison damage and becomes poisoned for 1d4 rounds; a successful DC 13 Constitution saving throw reduces poison damage by half and prevents the poisoned condition.

Multiattack

The swarm makes a Bite attack against every target in its spaces.

About Death Butterfly Swarm

Death Butterfly Swarm is a large beast with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 60 hit points (derived from 11d10).

GM Tips: Using Death Butterfly Swarm

1 tips available

When using Death Butterfly Swarm in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Flight Control Strategy: Target flying creatures with spells like 'Hold Person', 'Web', or 'Grease' to ground them. Without flight restriction, they can escape melee range easily. Consider area denial spells below their flight altitude to force them into disadvantageous positions.

Player Guide: Facing Death Butterfly Swarm

1 strategies available

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

Counter Flight Advantage: This creature can fly! Use ranged attacks, reach weapons, or spells like 'Thunderwave' to push it away. Consider 'Gust of Wind' or 'Earthbind' to ground it. Melee characters need fly speed or flight magic to engage.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

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

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 6 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 2,000 XP
Hard: 3,000 XP
Deadly: 4,000 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 Death Butterfly Swarm?: Death Butterfly Swarm has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Death Butterfly Swarm?: Death Butterfly Swarm is a Large Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.