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Ostinato

Medium · Aberration · CR 4 · Chaotic Neutral

Source. Tome of Beasts
Armor Class
15
Hit Points and Hit Dice
39 (6d8+12)
Challenge Rating CR
4

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
1
-5
DEX
20
+5
CON
15
+2
INT
5
-3
WIS
12
+1
CHA
17
+3

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Medium
Type Aberration
Alignment Chaotic Neutral
XP 1100
Initiative Bonus +5

Movement

Fly 50 ft (15.2 m)
Hover Yes

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)
Passive Perception 13

Skills

Perception +3

Languages

telepathy 200.0 ft (61 m).

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities
poison
Damage Resistances
acid, cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Vulnerabilities
thunder
Condition Immunities
charmed, exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconscious

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

Incorporeal Movement

The ostinato can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Invisibility

The ostinato is invisible as per a greater invisibility spell.

Magic Resistance

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

Actions

Aural Symbiosis

1/day

One humanoid that the ostinato can see within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or the ostinato merges with it, becoming an enjoyable, repetitive tune in its host's mind. The ostinato can't be targeted by any attack, spell, or other effect. The target retains control of its body and is aware of the ostinato's presence only as a melody, not as a living entity. The target no longer needs to eat or drink, gains the ostinato's Magic Resistance trait, and has advantage on Charisma checks. It also has disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws and it can't maintain concentration on spells or other effects for more than a single turn. The target can make a DC 13 Wisdom (Insight) check once every 24 hours; on a success, it realizes that the music it hears comes from an external entity. The Aural Symbiosis lasts until the target drops to 0 hit points, the ostinato ends it as a bonus action, or the ostinato is forced out by a dispel evil and good spell or comparable magic. When the Aural Symbiosis ends, the ostinato bursts forth in a thunderous explosion of sound and reappears in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the target. All creatures within 60 feet, including the original target, take 21 (6d6) thunder damage, or half damage with a successful DC 13 Constitution saving throw. The target becomes immune to this ostinato's Aural Symbiosis for 24 hours if it succeeds on the saving throw or after the Aural Symbiosis ends.

Cacophony Ray

+7 to hit, range 60 ft (18.3 m). Hit: 3d6 thunder damage.

Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (3d6) thunder damage.

Multiattack

The ostinato makes two cacophony ray attacks.

Voracious Aura

1/day

While merged with a humanoid (see Aural Symbiosis), the ostinato feeds on nearby creatures. Up to nine creatures of the ostinato's choice within 60 feet of it can be targeted. Each target must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or take 3 (1d6) necrotic damage and have its hit point maximum reduced by the same amount until it finishes a long rest. The target dies if its maximum hit points are reduced to 0. Victims notice this damage immediately, but not its source.

About Ostinato

Ostinato is a medium aberration with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a chaotic neutral alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 39 hit points (derived from 6d8+12).

Ostinato has communication capabilities including telepathy 200 ft.. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Ostinato

3 tips available

When using Ostinato 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.
  • 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.
  • Incorporeal Movement: This creature can pass through objects and walls! Use 'Magic Circle', 'Forcecage', or other magical barriers. Physical obstacles are ineffective.

Player Guide: Facing Ostinato

3 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.
  • 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.
  • Hit Incorporeal Creature: This creature can pass through objects! Use magical weapons or spells. Physical attacks may not work. 'Magic Missile' or 'Spiritual Weapon' are effective.

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 Ostinato?
Ostinato has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Ostinato?
Ostinato is a Medium Aberration, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Ostinato speak?
Ostinato can communicate in telepathy 200 ft..

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