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Shroud

Medium · Undead · CR 1/8 · Neutral Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts

13 (natural armor)

9 (2d8)

1/8

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

-3

DEX

CON

INT

-4

WIS

CHA

-1

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Undead

Alignment Neutral Evil

XP 25

Initiative Bonus +1

Movement

Fly 30 ft (9.1 m)

Hover Yes

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 10

Skills

Stealth +3

Languages

Common

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

necrotic, poison

Damage Resistances

acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons

Damage Vulnerabilities

radiant

Condition Immunities

exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained

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

Amorphous

The shroud can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

Shadow Evolution

Shrouds instantly become shadows once they cause a total of 12 damage. Any damage they've suffered is subtracted from the shadow's total hit points or abilities.

Shroud Stealth

When in dim light or darkness, the shroud can take the Hide action as a bonus action.

Sunlight Weakness

While in sunlight, the shroud has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.

Actions

Strength Drain

+3 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d4 necrotic damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) necrotic damage, and the target's Strength score is reduced by one-half that amount. The target dies if this reduces its Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest. If a non-evil humanoid dies from this attack, a new shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.

About Shroud

Shroud is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 1/8. It has a neutral evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 13 and possesses 9 hit points (derived from 2d8).

Shroud has communication capabilities including Common. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Shroud

2 tips available

When using Shroud 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.
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 Shroud

2 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.
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 1.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 2 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 14 XP
Hard: 21 XP
Deadly: 28 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 Shroud?: Shroud has a Challenge Rating of 1/8, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.125.
What type of creature is Shroud?: Shroud is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Shroud speak?: Shroud can communicate in Common.