I've had this vague idea in mind for ages, but never sat down and tried to make it for 5e. I took the Clay golem as a base, and added some undead features. It is based on my understanding on the ReDead creature from the Zelda series, here treated as a humanoid made undead through turning them into a clay golem.
EDIT: Below this has been edited to instead be based on the Ghast to be a faster threat with less longevity.
ReDead Medium construct and undead, chaotic evil Armor Class 14 (Natural Armor) Hit Points 133 (14d10+56) Speed 20 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 20 (+5) 9 (-1) 18 (+4) 3 (-4) 6 (-2) 1 (-5) Damage Immunities Acid, Poison, Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing From Nonmagical Attacks That Aren't Adamantine Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned Senses Darkvision 60 Ft., passive Perception 9 Languages Understands The Languages Of Its Creator But Can't Speak Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Acid Absorption. Whenever the golem is subjected to acid damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit points equal to the acid damage dealt.
Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The golem's weapon attacks are magical.
Undead Fortitude - If damage reduces the zombie 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 zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions Multiattack. The golem makes two attacks between Choke and Strangle, or a Shriek and a Choke.
Choke. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grabbed.
Strangle. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target grabbed by ReDead. Hit: (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have its hit point maximum reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. The target dies if this attack reduces its hit point maximum to 0. The reduction lasts until removed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.
Shriek (Recharge 5-6). 30ft radius centered on ReDead. Each creature in the area who hears the sound is paralyzed for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns, the target can make Wisdom saving throw (DC 16). On a success, the target is no longer paralyzed.
I love the idea since ReDead are very different from other undead in D&D. However, I would say that using a clay golem as a template goes against what the ReDead are, which are somewhat weak, lurking monsters who use their gaze to paralyze. Get a few good hits in while avoiding the gaze and they go down real fast in the Zelda games. But, the paralyzation is terrifying and is what really should be dangerous about this creature, and using a golem just makes it super durable.
I would switch to using the ghast as a template, changing the paralyze to a separate action instead of attached to the claw attack, and the bite being a devastating attack against paralyzed creatures, say 2d8 + 3 normally, or 4d8 + 6 that crits on a 18-20 against creatures that are grappled, paralyzed, or restrained. You could also use the bodak for a bit of a beefier version that has all of its abilities plus the paralyze options.
I've adjusted the numbers to fit the Ghast. I like this better in the sense that ReDeads are low level enemies and could instead be implemented in higher numbers. Once the base model is down, I want to add in a vulnerability to sunlight of some kind, and perhaps also radiant.
ReDead Medium undead, chaotic evil Armor Class 13 Hit Points 36 (14d10+56) Speed 30 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 16 (+3) 17 (+3) 10 (+4) 11 (0) 10 (0) 8 (-1) Damage Resistances Necrotic Damage Immunities Poison Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned Senses Darkvision 60 Ft., passive Perception 10 Languages Understands The Languages Of Its Creator But Can't Speak Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Turn Defiance. The ghast and any ghouls within 30 ft. of it have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead.
Undead Fortitude - If damage reduces the zombie 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 zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
Choke. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (2d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grabbed.
Strangle. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target grabbed by ReDead. Hit: (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have its hit point maximum reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. The target falls unconscious indefinitely if this attack reduces its hit point maximum to 0. The reduction lasts until removed by the restoration spell or other magic.
Shriek (Recharge 5-6). 30ft radius centered on ReDead. Each creature in the area who hears the sound is paralyzed for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns, the target can make Wisdom saving throw (DC 13). On a success, the target is no longer paralyzed.
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I've had this vague idea in mind for ages, but never sat down and tried to make it for 5e. I took the Clay golem as a base, and added some undead features. It is based on my understanding on the ReDead creature from the Zelda series, here treated as a humanoid made undead through turning them into a clay golem.
EDIT: Below this has been edited to instead be based on the Ghast to be a faster threat with less longevity.
ReDead
Medium construct and undead, chaotic evil
Armor Class 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 133 (14d10+56)
Speed 20 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
20 (+5) 9 (-1) 18 (+4) 3 (-4) 6 (-2) 1 (-5)
Damage Immunities Acid, Poison, Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing From Nonmagical Attacks That Aren't Adamantine
Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 60 Ft., passive Perception 9
Languages Understands The Languages Of Its Creator But Can't Speak
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Acid Absorption. Whenever the golem is subjected to acid damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit points equal to the acid damage dealt.
Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The golem's weapon attacks are magical.
Undead Fortitude - If damage reduces the zombie 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 zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
Multiattack. The golem makes two attacks between Choke and Strangle, or a Shriek and a Choke.
Choke. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grabbed.
Strangle. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target grabbed by ReDead. Hit: (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have its hit point maximum reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. The target dies if this attack reduces its hit point maximum to 0. The reduction lasts until removed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.
Shriek (Recharge 5-6). 30ft radius centered on ReDead. Each creature in the area who hears the sound is paralyzed for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns, the target can make Wisdom saving throw (DC 16). On a success, the target is no longer paralyzed.
I love the idea since ReDead are very different from other undead in D&D. However, I would say that using a clay golem as a template goes against what the ReDead are, which are somewhat weak, lurking monsters who use their gaze to paralyze. Get a few good hits in while avoiding the gaze and they go down real fast in the Zelda games. But, the paralyzation is terrifying and is what really should be dangerous about this creature, and using a golem just makes it super durable.
I would switch to using the ghast as a template, changing the paralyze to a separate action instead of attached to the claw attack, and the bite being a devastating attack against paralyzed creatures, say 2d8 + 3 normally, or 4d8 + 6 that crits on a 18-20 against creatures that are grappled, paralyzed, or restrained. You could also use the bodak for a bit of a beefier version that has all of its abilities plus the paralyze options.
AdmiralChry's Homebrew Compendium - A collection of all my classes, subclasses, magic items, and etc.
I've adjusted the numbers to fit the Ghast. I like this better in the sense that ReDeads are low level enemies and could instead be implemented in higher numbers. Once the base model is down, I want to add in a vulnerability to sunlight of some kind, and perhaps also radiant.
ReDead
Medium undead, chaotic evil
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 36 (14d10+56)
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 17 (+3) 10 (+4) 11 (0) 10 (0) 8 (-1)
Damage Resistances Necrotic
Damage Immunities Poison
Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 60 Ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Understands The Languages Of Its Creator But Can't Speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Turn Defiance. The ghast and any ghouls within 30 ft. of it have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead.
Undead Fortitude - If damage reduces the zombie 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 zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
Choke. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (2d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grabbed.
Strangle. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target grabbed by ReDead. Hit: (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have its hit point maximum reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. The target falls unconscious indefinitely if this attack reduces its hit point maximum to 0. The reduction lasts until removed by the restoration spell or other magic.
Shriek (Recharge 5-6). 30ft radius centered on ReDead. Each creature in the area who hears the sound is paralyzed for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns, the target can make Wisdom saving throw (DC 13). On a success, the target is no longer paralyzed.