Armor Class
8
Hit Points
22
(3d8 + 9)
Speed
20 ft.
STR
13
(+1)
DEX
6
(-2)
CON
16
(+3)
INT
3
(-4)
WIS
6
(-2)
CHA
5
(-3)
Saving Throws
WIS +0
Damage Immunities
Poison
Condition Immunities
Poisoned
Senses
Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 8
Languages
understands the languages it knew in life but can't speak
Challenge
1/4 (50 XP)
Proficiency Bonus
+2
Traits
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
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage.
Description
Undead zombies move with a jerky, uneven gait. They are clad in the moldering apparel they wore when put to rest, and carry the stench of decay.
That is what makes zombies, zombies. Right?
Here:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/ash-zombie
If a Wight kills someone with their Life Drain attack, the victim rises as a zombie 24 hours later.
I only give zombies 1 hp each, but I attack in groups of 10 and keep undead fortitude. AC is also a little higher (12) When players are surrounded terrain becomes difficult terrain.
I also replace slam with a claw attack and/or a grapple attack. (same stats)
When a player is grappled the zombie gains a bite attack. -- +4 to hit 1d6 piercing damage, 2d12 necrotic damage and 1d12 necrotic damage at the start of each of the bitten player's subsequent turns until the player makes a DC17 constitution save.
If a player dies while infected, they (of course) become a zombie.
A horde of zombies killed a pretty popular NPC in this way. The session ended early that night. But still one of the most memorable moments of the campaign.
Ha!
I went with ghouls. Single minded eating machines that are fast pack hunters. But slow zombies are different: anyone actually bitten should have to make a CON save or gain the "undead fortitude" ability. When they die the corpse now stands up as a zombie. But it seems too RNG to actually work like a virus.
Not if your a paladin, cleric, or have a pyromaniac wizard.
These guys should have immunity to the charmed, exhausted, and frightened conditions, IMO.
6ggggggnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggn
Funnily enough, these are CR 1/8 according to the DMG when you consider the sum of its parts. Same with skeletons.
CR 1/8 in terms of offensive/defensive capabilities under Creating your own Monster
It’s the magic that animates them that makes them more resilient. Plus, with the undead fortitude, with the chance to fall to one hp instead of dying helps their CR
I mean, I threw a mind flayer and 3 otyughs at a party of 4 level 15s. A mind flayer is CR 7 and otyughs are CR 5. I even beefed up my players throughout the campaign (lots of rules of cool but nothing game breaking) and they still had trouble as 2 of them almost died but the mind flayer was getting low on HP so he plane shifted. He could have finished the 2 off immediately BUT his perseverance told him it was time to leave and come better prepared. CR doesn’t matter if the dice have chosen.
The closest I know is Ghoul. They spread paralysis like a disease, and eat the bodies of their victims. They can spontaneously arise. As a house rule, I would have ghoul-bitten corpses rise as ghouls on the next night.
I think it would be funny if you made a custom encounter called “plants vs zombies” and only allowed druids to fight the zombies in the encounter
Brains?
Braaaaains?
Darkness falls across the land,
The midnight hour is close at hand,
Creatures crawl in search of blood,
To terrorize y'alls neighborhood.
And whosoever shall be found,
Without the soul for getting down,
Must stand and face the hounds of hell,
And rot inside a corpse's shell.
The foulest stench is in the air,
The funk of forty thousand years,
And grisly ghouls from every tomb,
Are closing in to seal your doom.
And though you fight to stay alive,
Your body starts to shiver;
For no mere mortal can resist
The evil of
The thriller.
You can just buff the guard stat block if you wish