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.
Any thoughts on engulfed character invoking Sword Burst (TCoE). Does the cantrip only do its standard 1d6 force damage, or should the damage be up graded due to the engulfed condition? I thought multiplying damage by four (front, back, side to side facings) to replicate being surrounded seemed logical. Additionally, denying a saving throw by the Shambling Mound, since it is in direct contact with the character. But if a saving throw is considered, then perhaps the character is expelled, or at the least partially exposed from the mound. Thoughts and comments would be appreciated. 🤔
Bro our party is level 4 and struggling to take down two of them. These things have a flippin +7 to hit???
Fully understand. We were a level 2 party when we encountered it. First thing, it surprised my warlock, and then engulfed him. My question above is related to that. From there it was an exceedingly difficult fight.
As a 3-member lvl 8 party, we fought two of these...we almost died :(
This monster could easily TPK a party of low level wizards. I just see it happening.
What module/source book did this low level party killer come from?
The engulf is scary on this thing. 💀
im thinking of switching venomfang with this?
It's in the Monster Manual on pg. 270
The way that I understand it, is that if both attacks from the multi-attack hits a small or medium creature, it gets to try to grapple the creature, and if the grapple is a success it uses its engulf ability for free, all with 1 action
Only good to fight when you arent 100% spellcaster party.
If your party has a cleric, they’re fine
Is throwing this at my level 4 party a good idea? 3 people, One barbarian one ranger one wizard.
pretty cool monster :)
I actually swapped out all of the blights for 1 of these on the encounter at the woodland manse in dragon of icespire keep campaign and with the Anchorites blasting with lightning bolt made it an interesting encounter for my group of 5 lvl 6 pcs, but ultimately they came out on top.
Why is this thing resistant to fire? Surely it should be vulnerable, like plants actually are!
Why is this in CoS DH? No wonder our party of 3 lvl 2 characters had such a rough time against it. it's cr is meant for 4 lvl 5 characters! This feels insane. 1 of us died, one was knocked out and the last one, me, killed it while on 1 hp. we got lucky it mainly targeted me (twilight cleric 1, lunar sorcerer 1) and i had most spell slots, so i could use shield 4 times. this was rough, we killed it but it was waaaaaaay too close to a tpk. we didn't have a great party against it either and our dm gave it a higher movement speed apparently since we couldn't kite it, it always managed to catch up and attack in the same turn. Brutal fight.
Good Catch!