Eternal, Wood-breaking Fiery Bird

Habitat: Desert, Forest, Planar (Feywild); Treasure: None

The rhythmic tapping of a woodpecker in the forest is a familiar sound—but when those knocks turn into booming cracks, it may signal the presence of a woodpecker phoenix. These fiery birds have reinforced skulls and beaks capable of shattering trees, demolishing wooden structures, and denting armor with rapid, relentless strikes.

Their phoenix lineage grants them an aura of searing heat, scorching nearby creatures and objects. When a woodpecker phoenix dies, it erupts in a fiery explosion, leaving behind a two-pound, burning-hot, egg-shaped cinder. After several days, the cinder hatches, and the phoenix is reborn, ready to continue its relentless pecking.

Woodpecker phoenixes are typically territorial and remain in familiar regions. However, they become a problem when they migrate to new areas or when civilization encroaches upon their habitat. Roll once on or choose a result from the Woodpecker Phoenix Arrival table to inspire how the creature arrived in its current location.

Woodpecker Phoenix Arrival

1d8	The Woodpecker Phoenix Arrived Due To …
1	A cultists summoning ritual.
2	Its cinder-egg’s relocation away from its habitat.
3	Its natural migration pattern.
4	Encroaching civilization.
5	The destruction of its habitat.
6	A villager seeking revenge.
7	Its cinder-egg rolling down a hill or mountain.
8	A natural event unearthing the cinder-egg.

Woodpecker Phoenix

Medium Elemental, Unaligned

Armor Class 14

Hit Points 142 (19d8 + 57)

Speed 10 ft., Fly 60 ft.

Initiative +4 (14)

		MOD	SAVE
STR	8	-1	-1
INT	3	-4	-4

		MOD	SAVE
DEX	19	+4	+8
WIS	14	+2	+6

		MOD	SAVE
CON	16	+3	+3
CHA	7	-2	-2

Skills Perception +6

Immunities Fire

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 16

Languages None

CR 9 (XP 5,000; PB +4)

Traits

Death Burst. The woodpecker explodes when it dies. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 16, each creature in a 15-foot Emanation originating from the woodpecker. Failure: 16 (3d10) Fire damage. Success: Half damage.

Fire Aura. At the end of each of the woodpecker’s turns, each creature in a 10-foot Emanation originating from the woodpecker takes 5 (1d10) Fire damage. Creatures and flammable objects in the Emanation start burning.

Illumination. The woodpecker sheds Bright Light in a 15-foot radius and Dim Light for an additional 15 feet.

Rebirth. When the woodpecker dies, it leaves behind an egg-shaped cinder, which weighs 2 pounds. The cinder deals 10 (3d6) fire damage to any creature that touches it, though no more than once per round. The cinder is immune to all damage, and after 1d10 days, it hatches a new woodpecker.