Shapechanger. The werewolf can use its action to polymorph into a wolf-humanoid hybrid or into a wolf, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its AC, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Keen Hearing and Smell. The werewolf has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Multiattack. (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). The werewolf makes two attacks: two with its spear (humanoid form) or one with its bite and one with its claws (hybrid form).
Bite (Wolf or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with werewolf lycanthropy.
Claws. (Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.
Spear (Humanoid Form Only). Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage, or 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.
Description
A werewolf is a savage predator that can appear as a humanoid, as a wolf, or in a terrifying hybrid form—a furred and well-muscled humanoid body topped by a ravening wolf’s head.
Alignments in monster descriptions are simply stating the most common, and are not meant to be taken as a universal.
Does Ceremony - atonement undo the alignment shift lycanthropy brings about?
this was not a fun encounter for my deerfolk girl :^(
Huh. Technically RAW these guys are immune to fall dmg
I plan to use this as a race. It might be a little hard but it will be fun. My favorite mythical creature.
I wish they did a better job with the existing lore of this creature. A lot of what is set up here doesn't make sense. For instance, I think their alignment would more often be neutral and it's not accurate to say they cannot control the urge to be EVIL, but FERAL. Werewolves aren't fantastically known to set buildings on fire or drown sacks of kittens - these are acts of evil too. But hunting down prey and lashing out at anyone in the area is a typical feral response.
If lycanthropy had to be spread and anyone with the curse had to succumb to "evil rampages" it would make sense the creature would be hunted out of existence as they would all call themselves out at some point. And it is probably more common in myth and legend (outside of D&D) that those living with the affliction try to assimilate for survival (again, an animal instinct). This made them even more fearsome when they had an uncontrollable change since they were an unassuming human or beast up to that point.
It would make for some great campaigns to have this available as a PC. No invulnerability unless by special means, shapeshifting in public settings would pretty much guarantee your character is hunted down by NPCs (or even your own party)... I think the Shifter race is too watered-down to be as fun, though I can think of some interesting backstories.
been trying to find a good module to run a werewolf hunt. anyone got one?
Yeah, but not awesome enough.
2 with a spear OR one with bite, one with claw
Fall damage is classified as bludgeoning damage, so per the rules unless the ground is pure silver or magical... werewolves don't take fall damage, enjoy the implications of that dms
It says that all statistics -AC are the same in every form, but keep in mind that the wolf form gets +10 speed, too. :)
Does the werewolf always get +4 to hit? Like does this mean when you're rolling for AC?
it makes two spear attacks in human form
I'm curious about a rule clarification.
The sentence in the "Players characters as lycanthropes" section that says, "The character gains the lycanthrope’s speeds in nonhumanoid form, damage immunities, traits, and actions that don’t involve equipment." Does this mean you get the damage immunities and keen hearing and smell in human form? I'm thinking, not the skills, but I'm wondering about the rest.
In humanoid form, multiattack is just 2 spear attacks, no bite/claws whereas in hybrid form, multiattack is 1 claws and 1 bite, no spear.
I think immunity to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage is too much for the lycanthropes.
its either two attacks with spear or one bite one claw attack
The human form has two spear attacks for its multi-task whilst the bite is reserved for hybrid form
Are were wolves till immune to the non-silvered attacks when in human form?