Homebrew Zombie Species Details

From somewhere in the darkness, a gurgling moan is heard. A form lurches into view, dragging one foot as it raises bloated arms and broken hands. The zombie advances, driven to kill anyone too slow to escape its grasp.

Dark Servants

Sinister necromantic magic infuses the remains of the dead, causing them to rise as zombies that do their creator's bidding without fear or hesitation. They move with a jerky, uneven gait, clad in the moldering apparel they wore when put to rest, and carrying the stench of decay. Most zombies are made from humanoid remains, though the flesh and bones of any formerly living creature can be imbued with a semblance of life. Necromantic magic, usually from spells, animates a zombie. Some zombies rise spontaneously when dark magic saturates an area. Once turned into a zombie, a creature can't be restored to life except by powerful magic, such as a resurrection spell.

Hideous Forms

Zombies appear as they did in life, showing the wounds that killed them. However, the magic that creates these vile creatures often takes time to run its course. Dead warriors might rise from a battlefield, eviscerated and bloated after days in the sun. The muddy cadaver of a peasant could claw its way from the ground, riddled with maggots and worms. A zombie might wash ashore or rise from a marsh, swollen and reeking after weeks in the water.

Zombie Traits

Zombies are slow, but are very resilient.

Creature Type

You are an Undead.

Size

Different living races vary widely in height and build, from less than feet to well over 6 feet tall. You are either Medium or Small (choose one when you select this race).

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Deep Speech, and one extra language of your choice that you knew in life.

Age

No matter your age when you died, you will live forever (until killed) as a zombie. You do not age as an undead.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.

Undead Fortitude

If damage reduces you to 0 hit points, you 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, you drops to 1 hit point instead.

Poison Immunity

You are immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.

Turn Resistance

You have advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.

Magic Resistance

You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Undead Nature

You don’t require air, food, drink, or sleep. You can finish a Short or Long Rest in half the time, spending those hours standing in a trancelike stillness, during which you retain consciousness.