Rot Drake
Large • Dragon • Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 14
Hit Points 142 (19d10 + 38)
Speed 30 ft., fly 20 ft.
Initiative -1 (9)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 (+4) | 9 (-1) | 14 (+2) | 7 (-2) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) |
Saving Throws Con +7
Skills Perception +6
Damage Resistances necrotic
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages understands Draconic but can’t speak
CR 9 (XP 5,000; PB +4)
Aura of Decay. At the end of each of the drake's turns, each creature in a 5-foot emanation originating from the drake takes 5 (1d10) necrotic damage. Undead ignore this effect.
Crippled Wings. If the drake ends its turn midair, it starts to fall.
Disease Host. The drake is immune to diseases but can act as a host for them. When the drake is reduced to 0 hit points (regardless of whether this kills the drake or not), Constitution Saving Throw: DC 14, each creature in a 10-foot emanation. Failure: The target rolls a d3 to determine the disease it contracts: 1 - cackle fever, 2 - sewer plague, or 3 - sight rot.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The drake makes two Rend attacks.
Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +8, reach 5 ft. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage plus 13 (3d8) poison damage.
Rot Breath (Recharge 6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 14, each creature in a 30-foot cone. Failure: The target becomes poisoned. While poisoned this way, a creature can’t regain hit points and takes 13 (3d8) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself after it succeeds on three of these saves. The effect also ends if it is targeted by magic or an effect that ends the poisoned condition or ends a disease.
REACTIONS
Undying Resilience. Trigger: The drake is reduced to 0 hit points. Response: It drops to 1 hit point instead, unless the damage is fire or from a critical hit.
Rot Drake
Large • Dragon • Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 110 (17d10 + 17)
Speed 30 ft., fly 20 ft.
Initiative -1 (9)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 (+3) | 9 (-1) | 12 (+1) | 7 (-2) | 12 (+1) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws Con +4
Skills Perception +4
Damage Resistances necrotic
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages understands Draconic but can’t speak
CR 6 (XP 2,300; PB +3)
Aura of Decay. At the end of each of the drake's turns, each creature in a 10-foot emanation originating from the drake takes 5 (1d10) necrotic damage. Undead ignore this effect.
Crippled Wings. If the drake ends its turn midair, it starts to fall.
Disease Host. The drake is immune to diseases but can act as a host for them. When the drake is reduced to 0 hit points (regardless of whether this kills the drake or not), Constitution Saving Throw: DC 12, each creature in a 10-foot emanation. Failure: The target rolls a d3 to determine the disease it contracts: 1 - cackle fever, 2 - sewer plague, or 3 - sight rot.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The drake makes two Rend attacks.
Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +6, reach 5 ft. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) poison damage.
Rot Breath (Recharge 6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 12, each creature in a 30-foot cone. Failure: The target becomes poisoned. While poisoned this way, a creature can’t regain hit points and takes 9 (2d8) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself after it succeeds on three of these saves. The effect also ends if it is targeted by magic or an effect that ends the poisoned condition or ends a disease.
REACTIONS
Undying Resilience. Trigger: The drake is reduced to 0 hit points. Response: It drops to 1 hit point instead, unless the damage is fire or from a critical hit.
Rot Drake
Large • Dragon • Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 187 (22d10 + 66)
Speed 30 ft., fly 20 ft.
Initiative -1 (9)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 (+5) | 9 (-1) | 16 (+3) | 7 (-2) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) |
Saving Throws Con +7
Skills Perception +7
Damage Resistances necrotic
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages understands Draconic but can’t speak
CR 12 (XP 8,400; PB +4)
Aura of Decay. At the end of each of the drake's turns, each creature in a 15-foot emanation originating from the drake takes 5 (1d10) necrotic damage. Undead ignore this effect.
Crippled Wings. If the drake ends its turn midair, it starts to fall.
Disease Host. The drake is immune to diseases but can act as a host for them. When the drake is reduced to 0 hit points (regardless of whether this kills the drake or not), Constitution Saving Throw: DC 16, each creature in a 10-foot emanation. Failure: The target rolls a d3 to determine the disease it contracts: 1 - cackle fever, 2 - sewer plague, or 3 - sight rot.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The drake makes two Rend attacks.
Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +8, reach 5 ft. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage plus 18 (4d8) poison damage.
Rot Breath (Recharge 6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 16, each creature in a 30-foot cone. Failure: The target becomes poisoned. While poisoned this way, a creature can’t regain hit points and takes 22 (4d10) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself after it succeeds on three of these saves. The effect also ends if it is targeted by magic or an effect that ends the poisoned condition or ends a disease.
REACTIONS
Undying Resilience. Trigger: The drake is reduced to 0 hit points. Response: It drops to 1 hit point instead, unless the damage is fire or from a critical hit.
QUICK REFERENCE
USING MONSTER VARIANTS
Monster variants allow the GM to adjust encounters to better match the party’s strength, narrative needs, or world-building logic. A weaker variant may represent a juvenile, wounded, or lesser specimen, while a stronger variant can serve as a leader, champion, ancient creature, or apex predator.
Variants can be used to fine-tune difficulty without changing the core identity of the monster, making them ideal for scaling encounters, reinforcing hierarchy within a faction, or creating memorable boss-style enemies. You can even use the same stat block but different variants in the same encounter if you want.
Design Note. Each monster is primarily balanced around its normal version. Weaker and stronger variants are derived adjustments and may not always preserve every tactical nuance or “feel” of the original creature. GMs are encouraged to review variants carefully and adjust abilities or tactics as needed to best suit their table.