Umbra
Medium • Undead (Rogue) • Evil
Armor Class 19
Hit Points 238 (28d8 + 112)
Speed 30 ft.
Initiative +12 (22)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 (-1) | 23 (+6) | 19 (+4) | 17 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 16 (+3) |
Saving Throws Dex +12, Wis +10, Cha +9
Skills Acrobatics +12, Perception +10, Stealth +18
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 300 ft., passive Perception 20
Languages Common, Thieves' Cant plus one other language
CR 20 (XP 25,000 or 33,000 in lair; PB +6)
Amorphous. The umbra can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.
Avoidance. If the umbra is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the save and half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it is incapacitated.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day, 4/Day in Lair). If the umbra fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does so, it gains vulnerability against radiant damage, and its Avoidance trait doesn't work until the end of its next turn.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The umbra takes 20 radiant damage if it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The umbra makes three attacks. It can replace one of those attacks for a use of Absorb Shadow.
Night Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +12, reach 5 ft. Hit: 20 (4d6 + 6) necrotic damage, and the target's hit point maximum is reduced by half the damage taken.
Shadow Slicer. Ranged Spell Attack: +12, range 60 ft. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) slashing damage.
Absorb Shadow. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 18, one creature with 0 hit points within 5 feet of the umbra that it can see. Failure: The target loses its shadow, and the umbra regains 22 (4d10) hit points. A shadowless creature gains the Sunlight Hypersensitivity trait from the umbra until it regains its shadow. If the umbra is killed, all captured shadows return to their owners.
BONUS ACTIONS
Darkness (2/Day, 3/Day in Lair). The umbra casts darkness (level 5).
Shadow Stealth. If the umbra is in dim light or darkness, it takes the Hide action.
Hide in Shadow (Recharges after a Rest). The umbra merges with a creature's shadow. While it is part of the shadow, the umbra is considered hidden and can't be targeted by creatures that didn't perceive it vanishing into the shadow or have blindsight, truesight, or a passive Perception of 25 or more. In this state, the umbra is incapacitated and not affected by its Sunlight Hypersensitivity trait, but can see and hear as normal. The umbra moves with the target whenever the target moves, requiring none of the umbra's movement. This effect lasts until the umbra enters the area of a daylight spell, drops to 0 hit points, ends it (no action required), is turned or forced out by an effect like the dispel evil and good spell. When the effect ends, the umbra reappears in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the target.
REACTIONS
Uncanny Dodge. Trigger: The umbra takes damage from a creature it can see. Response: The umbra halves the damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature's turn, the umbra can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The umbra regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.
Attack. The umbra makes one Night Blade or Shadow Slicer attack.
Shadow Step. The umbra teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see. The destination space of this teleportation must be in dim light or darkness.
A Thousand Cuts. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 20, each creature in a 10-foot emanation originating from the umbra. To be affected, a target must be in darkness. Failure: 25 (10d4) slashing damage. Success: Half damage. Failure or Success: The umbra can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Umbra
Medium • Undead (Rogue) • Evil
Armor Class 18
Hit Points 202 (27d8 + 81)
Speed 30 ft.
Initiative +11 (21)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 (-1) | 21 (+5) | 17 (+3) | 15 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) |
Saving Throws Dex +11, Wis +9, Cha +8
Skills Acrobatics +11, Perception +9, Stealth +17
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 300 ft., passive Perception 19
Languages Common, Thieves' Cant plus one other language
CR 17 (XP 18,000 or 20,000 in lair; PB +6)
Amorphous. The umbra can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.
Avoidance. If the umbra is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the save and half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it is incapacitated.
Legendary Resistance (2/Day, 3/Day in Lair). If the umbra fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does so, it gains vulnerability against radiant damage, and its Avoidance trait doesn't work until the end of its next turn.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The umbra takes 20 radiant damage if it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The umbra makes three attacks. It can replace one of those attacks for a use of Absorb Shadow.
Night Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +11, reach 5 ft. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) necrotic damage, and the target's hit point maximum is reduced by half the damage taken.
Shadow Slicer. Ranged Spell Attack: +11, range 60 ft. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) slashing damage.
Absorb Shadow. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 17, one creature with 0 hit points within 5 feet of the umbra that it can see. Failure: The target loses its shadow, and the umbra regains 16 (3d10) hit points. A shadowless creature gains the Sunlight Hypersensitivity trait from the umbra until it regains its shadow. If the umbra is killed, all captured shadows return to their owners.
BONUS ACTIONS
Darkness (2/Day, 3/Day in Lair). The umbra casts darkness (level 5).
Shadow Stealth. If the umbra is in dim light or darkness, it takes the Hide action.
Hide in Shadow (Recharges after a Rest). The umbra merges with a creature's shadow. While it is part of the shadow, the umbra is considered hidden and can't be targeted by creatures that didn't perceive it vanishing into the shadow or have blindsight, truesight, or a passive Perception of 25 or more. In this state, the umbra is incapacitated and not affected by its Sunlight Hypersensitivity trait, but can see and hear as normal. The umbra moves with the target whenever the target moves, requiring none of the umbra's movement. This effect lasts until the umbra enters the area of a daylight spell, drops to 0 hit points, ends it (no action required), is turned or forced out by an effect like the dispel evil and good spell. When the effect ends, the umbra reappears in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the target.
REACTIONS
Uncanny Dodge. Trigger: The umbra takes damage from a creature it can see. Response: The umbra halves the damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature's turn, the umbra can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The umbra regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.
Attack. The umbra makes one Night Blade or Shadow Slicer attack.
Shadow Step. The umbra teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see. The destination space of this teleportation must be in dim light or darkness.
A Thousand Cuts. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 19, each creature in a 10-foot emanation originating from the umbra. To be affected, a target must be in darkness. Failure: 20 (8d4) slashing damage. Success: Half damage. Failure or Success: The umbra can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Umbra
Medium • Undead (Rogue) • Evil
Armor Class 20
Hit Points 275 (29d8 + 145)
Speed 30 ft.
Initiative +14 (24)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 (-1) | 25 (+7) | 21 (+5) | 19 (+4) | 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) |
Saving Throws Dex +14, Wis +12, Cha +11
Skills Acrobatics +14, Perception +12, Stealth +21
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 300 ft., passive Perception 22
Languages Common, Thieves' Cant plus one other language
CR 23 (XP 50,000 or 62,000 in lair; PB +7)
Amorphous. The umbra can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.
Avoidance. If the umbra is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the save and half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it is incapacitated.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day, 4/Day in Lair). If the umbra fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does so, it gains vulnerability against radiant damage, and its Avoidance trait doesn't work until the end of its next turn.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The umbra takes 20 radiant damage if it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The umbra makes three attacks. It can replace one of those attacks for a use of Absorb Shadow.
Night Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +14, reach 5 ft. Hit: 28 (6d6 + 7) necrotic damage, and the target's hit point maximum is reduced by half the damage taken.
Shadow Slicer. Ranged Spell Attack: +14, range 60 ft. Hit: 20 (3d8 + 7) slashing damage.
Absorb Shadow. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 20, one creature with 0 hit points within 5 feet of the umbra that it can see. Failure: The target loses its shadow, and the umbra regains 26 (5d10) hit points. A shadowless creature gains the Sunlight Hypersensitivity trait from the umbra until it regains its shadow. If the umbra is killed, all captured shadows return to their owners.
BONUS ACTIONS
Darkness (2/Day, 3/Day in Lair). The umbra casts darkness (level 5).
Shadow Stealth. If the umbra is in dim light or darkness, it takes the Hide action.
Hide in Shadow (Recharges after a Rest). The umbra merges with a creature's shadow. While it is part of the shadow, the umbra is considered hidden and can't be targeted by creatures that didn't perceive it vanishing into the shadow or have blindsight, truesight, or a passive Perception of 25 or more. In this state, the umbra is incapacitated and not affected by its Sunlight Hypersensitivity trait, but can see and hear as normal. The umbra moves with the target whenever the target moves, requiring none of the umbra's movement. This effect lasts until the umbra enters the area of a daylight spell, drops to 0 hit points, ends it (no action required), is turned or forced out by an effect like the dispel evil and good spell. When the effect ends, the umbra reappears in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the target.
REACTIONS
Uncanny Dodge. Trigger: The umbra takes damage from a creature it can see. Response: The umbra halves the damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature's turn, the umbra can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The umbra regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.
Attack. The umbra makes one Night Blade or Shadow Slicer attack.
Shadow Step. The umbra teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see. The destination space of this teleportation must be in dim light or darkness.
A Thousand Cuts. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 22, each creature in a 10-foot emanation originating from the umbra. To be affected, a target must be in darkness. Failure: 30 (12d4) slashing damage. Success: Half damage. Failure or Success: The umbra can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.
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.