Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Wharfling Swarm

Large · Beast · CR 4 · Unaligned

Source. Tome of Beasts

14 (natural armor)

63 (14d10 - 14)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

-1

INT

-4

WIS

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Large

Type Beast

Alignment Unaligned

XP 1100

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Swim 20 ft (6.1 m)

Climb 30 ft (9.1 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 13

Skills

Perception +3

Languages

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances

bludgeoning, piercing, slashing

Condition Immunities

charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned

Environments

Ocean

Traits

Swarm

The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a tiny wharfling. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Actions

Bites

+5 to hit. Hit: 6d6 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm's space. Hit: 21 (6d6) piercing damage, or 10 (3d6) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.

Locking Bite

When a creature leaves a wharfling swarm's space, 1d3 wharflings remain grappled to them (escape DC 10). Each wharfling inflicts 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage at the start of the creature's turns until it escapes from the grapples.

Pilfer

A wharfling swarm makes 1d6 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks each round against every creature in the swarm's space. The DC for each check equals 10 plus the target creature's Dexterity modifier. For each successful check, the wharflings steal some small metallic object from the target, and the theft is unnoticed if the same result equals or exceeds the target's passive Perception.

About Wharfling Swarm

Wharfling Swarm is a large beast with a Challenge Rating of 4. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 14 and possesses 63 hit points (derived from 14d10 - 14).

Wharfling Swarm has communication capabilities including -. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Wharfling Swarm

2 tips available

When using Wharfling Swarm 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 20 ft. It has advantage in water environments. Consider fighting on land or using water-based spells against it.

Player Guide: Facing Wharfling Swarm

2 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 20 ft! It has advantage in water. Fight on land if possible. Use 'Control Water' or drain water sources to limit its mobility.

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 Wharfling Swarm?: Wharfling Swarm has a Challenge Rating of 4, making it appropriate for parties of level 4.0.
What type of creature is Wharfling Swarm?: Wharfling Swarm is a Large Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Wharfling Swarm speak?: Wharfling Swarm can communicate in -.