Monster Flavor

Sometimes you can’t find a creature that fits the environment or setting that your players are exploring. Monster flavor can help adjust a monster to what you need.

Instead of making a new creature, you can re-flavor one that you’ve already found. The goblins the characters fought on their way into the dungeon might have received the blessing of a necromancer and the zombified version is looking for revenge.

The description of the creature’s appearance, behavior, and actions are as important as the added trait. Use the tables below for examples.

Aquatic

Natural Swimmer. The creature gains a swimming speed equal to its walking speed and it can breathe air and water.

Amphibious Characteristic

d6	Characteristic
1	Fish scales cover exposed skin or hide.
2	A large fin protrudes from the creature’s back.
3	The creature has gills.
4	The creature’s eyes are further back towards the sides of its head.
5	Skin or hide appears glossy and wet.
6	The creature has a faint bioluminescent glow.

Devilish

Hell Scarred. The creature gains resistance to fire damage and magical darkness doesn’t impede its vision.

Devil Characteristic

d6	Characteristic
1	A pair of dark red horns protrude from the creature’s head.
2	The creature’s limbs are covered with long spikes.
3	The creature’s feet are replaced by hooves.
4	Broken bat-like wings extend from the creature’s back.
5	The creature has a beard of tentacles.
6	The creature’s bones bulge from beneath pale ivory skin.

Plant

False Appearance. While the creature remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary plant.

Plant Characteristic

d6	Characteristic
1	Native flowers grow randomly on the creature.
2	Leaves replace hair, fur, scales, or similar features.
3	Exposed skin or hide has a bark-like appearance.
4	The creature’s blood is amber colored and slowly seeps out of wounds.
5	The creature’s physical features have green and brown hues to them.
6	The end of appendages have a gnarled root-like appearance.

Skeletal

Skeleton Structure. The creature gains immunity to poison damage and the poisoned condition and gains vulnerability to bludgeoning damage.

Skeletal Characteristic

d6	Characteristic
1	Eyes have a slight green glow to them.
2	The creature lacks skin, hide, muscles, and organs.
3	Clothing and equipment is tattered.
4	Arrows and bolts stick out of the creature’s exposed skeleton.
5	The creatures skin or hide is pulled tight over its skeletal frame.
6	The creature’s skeleton glows through its skin.

Zombie

Walking Dead. The creature’s movement speeds are reduced by 10 feet. If damage reduces the creature to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the creature drops to 1 hit point instead.

Zombie Characteristic

d6	Characteristic
1	The creature’s skin is pale and flakes away easily.
2	The creature has seemingly deadly wounds that have turned purple and black.
3	The creature vocalizes in mostly groans.
4	Hair, fur, and scales are patchy.
5	Bones are exposed through tears in the skin and internal organs are visible.
6	Eyes appear hazy and white.