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Shoggoth

Huge · Aberration · CR 19 · Chaotic Neutral

Source. Tome of Beasts

18 (natural armor)

387 (25d12+225)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Huge

Type Aberration

Alignment Chaotic Neutral

XP 22000

Initiative Bonus +2

Movement

Walk 50 ft (15.2 m)

Swim 30 ft (9.1 m)

Climb 30 ft (9.1 m)

Crawl 25 ft (7.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 120 ft (36.6 m)

Tremorsense 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 19

Skills

Perception +9

Languages

Void Speech

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

cold, thunder, slashing

Damage Resistances

fire, bludgeoning, piercing

Condition Immunities

blinded, deafened, prone, stunned, 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

Absorb Flesh

The body of a creature that dies while grappled by a shoggoth is completely absorbed into the shoggoth's mass. No portion of it remains to be used in raise dead, reincarnate, and comparable spells that require touching the dead person's body.

Amorphous

A shoggoth can move through a space as small as 1 foot wide. It must spend 1 extra foot of movement for every foot it moves through a space smaller than itself, but it isn't subject to any other penalties for squeezing.

Anaerobic

A shoggoth doesn't need oxygen to live. It can exist with equal comfort at the bottom of the ocean or in the vacuum of outer space.

Hideous Piping

The fluting noises made by a shoggoth are otherworldly and mind-shattering. A creature that can hear this cacophony at the start of its turn and is within 120 feet of a shoggoth must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be confused (as the spell confusion) for 1d4 rounds. Creatures that roll a natural 20 on this saving throw become immune to the Hideous Piping for 24 hours. Otherwise, characters who meet the conditions must repeat the saving throw every round.

Keen Senses

A shoggoth has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Rolling Charge

If the shoggoth moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and hits it with a slam attack on the same turn, that creature must succeed on a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone. If the creature is knocked prone, the shoggoth immediately moves into the creature's space as a bonus action and crushes the creature beneath its bulk. The crushed creature can't breathe, is restrained, and takes 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage at the start of each of the shoggoth's turns. A crushed creature remains in its space and does not move with the shoggoth. A crushed creature can escape by using an action and making a successful DC 19 Strength check. On a success, the creature crawls into an empty space within 5 feet of the shoggoth.

Actions

Multiattack

The shoggoth makes 1d4 + 1 slam attacks. Reroll the number of attacks at the start of each of the shoggoth's turns.

Slam

+14 to hit, reach 15 ft (4.6 m). Hit: 4d10 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 30 (4d10 + 8) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 18) and restrained. The shoggoth can grapple any number of creatures simultaneously, and this has no effect on its number of attacks.

About Shoggoth

Shoggoth is a huge aberration with a Challenge Rating of 19. It has a chaotic neutral alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 18 and possesses 387 hit points (derived from 25d12+225).

Shoggoth has communication capabilities including Void Speech. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Shoggoth

3 tips available

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

Climbing Advantage: This creature can climb at 30 ft. It can use walls and ceilings for tactical positioning. Consider using 'Spider Climb' negation or fighting in open areas without vertical surfaces.
Aquatic Combat: This creature can swim at 30 ft. It has advantage in water environments. Consider fighting on land or using water-based spells against it.
Amorphous Movement: This creature can squeeze through spaces as small as 1 inch! Traditional barriers are ineffective. Use 'Wall of Force', 'Forcecage', or magical barriers to contain it.

Player Guide: Facing Shoggoth

3 strategies available

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

Climbing Defense: This creature can climb at 30 ft! It can use walls and ceilings for surprise attacks. Fight in open areas without vertical surfaces. 'Spider Climb' negation spells can help.
Aquatic Combat Defense: This creature can swim at 30 ft! It has advantage in water. Fight on land if possible. Use 'Control Water' or drain water sources to limit its mobility.
Contain Amorphous Creature: This creature can squeeze through tiny spaces! Traditional barriers won't work. Use 'Wall of Force', 'Forcecage', or magical barriers. 'Create Bonfire' can block movement.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 19.

High-Level Solo Encounter:

This creature is too powerful for a single level-20 character. You need 2.0 character(s) at maximum level (20) to face this creature.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 38,000 XP
Hard: 57,000 XP
Deadly: 76,000 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 Shoggoth?: Shoggoth has a Challenge Rating of 19, making it appropriate for parties of level 19.0.
What type of creature is Shoggoth?: Shoggoth is a Huge Aberration, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Shoggoth speak?: Shoggoth can communicate in Void Speech.