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Kobold Trapsmith

Small · Humanoid · CR 1 · Lawful Neutral

Source. Tome of Beasts
Armor Class
14 (leather)
Hit Points and Hit Dice
36 (8d6+8)
Challenge Rating CR
1

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
7
-2
DEX
16
+3
CON
12
+1
INT
16
+3
WIS
13
+1
CHA
8
-1

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Small
Type Humanoid
Alignment Lawful Neutral
XP 200
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 11

Skills

Stealth +5

Languages

Common, Draconic

Environments

Caves Ruins Underworld Urban

Traits

Choke Bomb

This small incendiary device burns rapidly and releases choking smoke in a 20-foot sphere. The area is heavily obscured. Any breathing creature that's in the affected area when the cloud is created or that starts its turn in the cloud is poisoned. Once a poisoned creature leaves the cloud, it makes a DC 13 Constitution saving throw at the end of its turns, ending the poisoned condition on a success. The smoke dissipates after 10 minutes, or after 1 round in a strong wind.

Pack Tactics

The kobold trapsmith has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of the trapsmith's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Poisoned Sliver

A poisoned sliver or needle can be hidden almost anywhere: inside a lock or a box, in a carpeted floor, on the underside of a door handle, in a cup of liquid or a bowl of gems. When someone meets the conditions for being jabbed by the sliver, the trap makes a melee weapon attack with advantage: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target; Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) poison damage, or one-half poison damage with a successful DC 13 Constitution saving throw.

Skullpopper

This trap consists of either a heavy weight, a spike, or a blade, set to fall or swing into a victim. When triggered, a skullpopper makes a melee weapon attack against the first target in its path: +5 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target; Hit: 11 (2d10) damage. The type of damage depends on how the skullpopper is built: a stone or heavy log does bludgeoning damage, a spiked log does piercing damage, a scything blade does slashing damage, etc.

Slingsnare

A concealed loop of rope or wire is affixed to a counterweight. When a creature steps into the snare, it must make a successful DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be yanked into the air and suspended, upside down, 5 feet above the ground. The snared creature is restrained (escape DC 13). The cord is AC 10 and has 5 hit points.

Sunlight Sensitivity

While in sunlight, the kobold trapsmith has disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Thief's Tools

The kobold trapsmith has proficiency with thief's tools and is seldom without them. If its tools are taken away or lost, it can cobble together a new set from wire, bits of metal, and other junk in 30 minutes.

Traps and Snares

The kobold trapsmith excels at setting mechanical traps. Detecting, disarming, avoiding, or mitigating its traps require successful DC 13 checks or saving throws, and the traps have +5 attack bonuses. With thief's tools and basic construction materials, a trapsmith can set up one of the simple but effective traps listed below in 5 minutes. Triggers involve pressure plates, tripwires, small catches in a lock, or other simple mechanisms.

Actions

Dagger

+5 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d4 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.

Light Crossbow

+5 to hit, range 80/320 ft (24.4/97.5 m). Hit: 1d8 poison damage.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage, or one-half poison damage with a successful DC 13 Constitution saving throw.

Shredder

Recharge 6

The kobold trapsmith primes and throws a device at a point within 30 feet. The device explodes when it hits something solid, flinging razor-sharp spikes in a 15-foot-radius sphere. Every creature in the area takes 14 (4d6) piercing damage, or half damage with a successful DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. The ground inside the spherical area is littered with spikes; it becomes difficult terrain, and a creature that falls prone in the area takes 7 (2d6) piercing damage.

Stunner

1/day

+5 to hit, range 20/60 ft (6.1/18.3 m). Hit: 1d4 lightning damage.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is restrained (escape DC 13). While restrained, the target takes 7 (2d6) lightning damage at the start of its turn and falls prone. The trapsmith has advantage on the attack roll if the target is wearing metal armor. A stunner is a bola made of metal wire, magnets, and static electricity capacitors. A kobold trapsmith can recharge it during a long rest.

About Kobold Trapsmith

Kobold Trapsmith is a small humanoid with a Challenge Rating of 1. It has a lawful neutral alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 36 hit points (derived from 8d6+8).

Kobold Trapsmith has communication capabilities including Common, Draconic. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Kobold Trapsmith

2 tips available

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

  • Lightning Damage Awareness: Lightning attacks often have long range and high speed. Advise players to use cover and avoid metal armor/weapons. Water surfaces amplify lightning damage - avoid fighting near water.
  • Pack Tactics Advantage: This creature has advantage on attack rolls when an ally is within 5 feet! Separate it from its pack or use 'Fear' spells to scatter allies. Single-target encounters reduce its effectiveness.

Player Guide: Facing Kobold Trapsmith

2 strategies available

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

  • Lightning Damage Protection: This creature deals lightning damage! Avoid metal armor and weapons. Use cover and avoid water surfaces. 'Iron Skin' or 'Protection from Energy' can help.
  • Counter Pack Tactics: This creature has advantage when allies are nearby! Separate it from its pack. Use 'Fear' spells to scatter allies. Single-target encounters reduce its effectiveness.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 1.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 3 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

  • Medium: 200 XP
  • Hard: 300 XP
  • Deadly: 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 Kobold Trapsmith?
Kobold Trapsmith has a Challenge Rating of 1, making it appropriate for parties of level 1.0.
What type of creature is Kobold Trapsmith?
Kobold Trapsmith is a Small Humanoid, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Kobold Trapsmith speak?
Kobold Trapsmith can communicate in Common, Draconic.

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