Homebrew Awakened Zombie Species Details

Awakened zombies retain their intelligence and memories of life, but their personalities become darker and grim. Despite having their full memories of life, their state between life and death drives most of the awakened away from connections that they had in life, instead perceiving them as memories of a different person that they happen to have in their head. This combined with their changing appearances causes them to leave their old lives behind and try to find answers on where they belong in this world.

Zombies have the essence of evil and undeath in them from their creation. They are typically an evil alignment, but their awakened nature gives them a chance to choose their own path in unlife. They do tend to drift towards chaotic the longer that they've been turned.

 A zombie doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep. You are immune to diseases. Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4 hours each day. You do not dream in this state; you are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal

Awakened Zombie Traits

Whether through some dark magic, an intervention from a god, or just the creature’s own will to live, a zombie will sometimes retain its intelligence after death, instead of becoming a mindless creature of evil. These creatures are considered awakened zombies.

Ability Score Increase

Add 1 to your Constitution Modifier

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 drop to 1 hit point instead.

Poison Immunity

You are immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition

Zombie Healing

In lieu of taking any other actions in a round you can elect to spend one Hit Die to heal yourself. You can do this as many times in a day as you have Hit Dice left. Once you've run out of Hit Dice you must take a long rest to regain the Hit Dice.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.