Lightning Absorption. Whenever the shambling mound is subjected to lightning damage, it takes no damage and regains a number of hit points equal to the lightning damage dealt.
Multiattack. The shambling mound makes two slam attacks. If both attacks hit a Medium or smaller target, the target is grappled (escape DC 14), and the shambling mound uses its Engulf on it.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
Engulf. The shambling mound engulfs a Medium or smaller creature grappled by it. The engulfed target is blinded, restrained, and unable to breathe, and it must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw at the start of each of the mound’s turns or take 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the mound moves, the engulfed target moves with it. The mound can have only one creature engulfed at a time.
The 20ft movement speed is a real problem for this monster. If the party has enough room to retreat, even low level parties can take this down without taking any damage. Consider positioning at the start of the encounter carefully.
Was wondering about this, as well. Anybody have thoughts on this question? Thanks!
It's happening immediately after two hits connect, as I see it. Maybe it's listed as a separate action if Shambling Mound wants to grapple and later engulf the target without slamming it? DM can always choose to grapple instead of making Multiattack.
this seems to strong for the death house cr five for like a party of 4 level 2s
maybe you could have it trapped in some kind of ravine, and just before the PCs destroy it, it can escape and slither away, and comes back at a higher level.
this is good for a swamp
I used this as a boss creature for my players (Level 4 party) and it was an awesome fight.
I Changed it to be a creature made out of mold though^^
because they're meant to run away from it.
The gate closes behind them in it
My party was exploring a sunken ship, and we found one of these made of seaweed. The artificer got swallowed up by it, and dropped to 0 hp. I very nearly hit it with lightning damage because I had no clue what it was, but I’m pretty good at reading the DMs poker face, and I saw him grinning when I was about to do it. We killed it and saved the artificer, but it was a pretty hard fight for our level 4 party.
Hehe olmost kills level 4 party vit 5 members
What happens to an engulfed creature if the mound is to die? Are they free or still engulfed.
The wooden wheel that opens the gate is on the wall inside the room, next to the gate. In addition to that, there's a secret door that allows passage to/from area 36. There's multiple ways for the party to escape, especially with the mound's slow 20ft speed.
I think it's just a matter of escaping the mound's grapple, using the general rules already in place for doing so. The escape DC *is* given in the stat block.
The cube mentions a specific means of escape because it's an ad-hoc mechanic, rather than being based on being grappled, an already-existing mechanic.
Should Abi-Dalzim’s Horrid Wilting make it weak to fire?
Because it is only resistant to fire because it is moist.
yeah same here, never ever got the engulf off. and we managed to kill it on the alter!!
probably up to the dm on that but in my game id say so
omg i didnt even see that until you pointed it out whoa
Our lvl 2 party (4 ppl) managed to kill it in CoS. Though one of us died and two were laying unconscious, while the last one standing simply didn't miss even one shot and rolled incredibly good damage + kited the hell out of that ugly thing, since it's quite slow, which probably is its only weakness.
It's possible to kill it with lvl2 party, but quite hard and luck-dependant.
AAAH