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Mordant Snare

Gargantuan · Aberration · CR 15 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts

18 (natural armor)

264 (16d20+96)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Gargantuan

Type Aberration

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 13000

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 10 ft (3 m)

Swim 5 ft (1.5 m)

Climb 5 ft (1.5 m)

Burrow 20 ft (6.1 m)

Crawl 5 ft (1.5 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Tremorsense 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 12

Skills

Deception +8

Languages

Common, Primordial

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

acid

Damage Resistances

bludgeoning from nonmagical attacks

Condition Immunities

prone

Environments

Caves Ruins Underworld

Traits

Absorb Channeled Energy

If a mordant snare is in the area of effect of a turn undead attempt, it gains temporary hit points. For each mordant puppet that would have been affected by the turning if it were a zombie, the mordant snare gains 10 temporary hit points, to a maximum of 60.

Buried

Until it does something to reveal its presence, a buried mordant snare is treated as if it's invisible.

Magic Resistance

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

Mordant Puppets

A mordant snare can control up to four bodies per tentacle. These "puppets"look and move like zombies. Treat each one as a zombie, but limited in movement to the 30-foot-by-30-foot area above the buried snare. Unlike normal zombies, any creature within 5 feet of a mordant puppet when the puppet takes piercing or slashing damage takes 3 (1d6) acid damage (spray from the wound). All puppets attached to a particular tentacle are destroyed if the mordant snare attacks with that tentacle; this does 9 (2d8) acid damage per puppet to all creatures within 5 feet of any of those puppets, or half damage with a successful DC 16 Dexterity saving throw. Damage done to puppet zombies doesn't affect the mordant snare. If the snare is killed, all of its puppets die immediately without causing any acid damage.

Actions

Filaments

+11 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 3d10 acid damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6) acid damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 16) and restrained.

Multiattack

The mordant snare makes four melee attacks, using any combination of tentacle attacks, spike attacks, and filament attacks. No creature can be targeted by more than one filament attack per turn.

Spike

+8 to hit, range 20/60 ft (6.1/18.3 m). Hit: 2d8 acid damage.

Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) acid damage.

Tentacle

+11 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d10 acid damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage.

About Mordant Snare

Mordant Snare is a gargantuan aberration with a Challenge Rating of 15. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 18 and possesses 264 hit points (derived from 16d20+96).

Mordant Snare has communication capabilities including Common, Primordial. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Mordant Snare

1 tips available

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

Burrowing Tactics: This creature can burrow at 20 ft. It can ambush from underground or escape combat by digging. Use 'Earthbind' or create difficult terrain to limit burrowing. Consider fighting in areas without soft ground.

Player Guide: Facing Mordant Snare

1 strategies available

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

Burrowing Defense: This creature can burrow at 20 ft! It can ambush from underground. Use 'Earthbind', create difficult terrain, or fight on hard surfaces. 'Stone Shape' can seal burrows.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 15.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 19 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 24,000 XP
Hard: 36,000 XP
Deadly: 48,000 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 Mordant Snare?: Mordant Snare has a Challenge Rating of 15, making it appropriate for parties of level 15.0.
What type of creature is Mordant Snare?: Mordant Snare is a Gargantuan Aberration, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Mordant Snare speak?: Mordant Snare can communicate in Common, Primordial.