Illustrated by Dean Spencer
By Alan McCoy from Dungeons & Dragons: Fundamentals
How to build
challenging encounters
against a
Werewolf
Note: This has been prepared utilizing only the 5E Core Rules. The Werewolf can be found in the Monster Manual page 211.
Additional information about Lycanthropes in general can be found in the Monster Manual pages 206-211.
In addition, I will be drawing upon other resources such as the lore supplied from the 2E Supplement Van Richten’s Monster Hunter Companion Volume I, Section II: Werebeasts beginning on page 105.
I am preparing an essay on Werewolves as Monsters and Foes, I will not be detailing any specifics on Werewolves or other Shifters that have character classes.
While I agree that this is possible, and might make for an exceptionally interesting foe, this information is readily available in Eberron – Rising from the Last War (starting on page 33).
As all player characters and character class villains are essentially unique, they are beyond the scope of this essay.
The very first thing to remember is that a Werewolf is suffering from an infectious curse that forces a painful transformation upon the individual so afflicted. It is spread, disease-like, to those who have been injured by the attack of a Werewolf and survive.
Rumors persist of persons that are born with this affliction, unlikely as that might sound. I suspect that this might be possible in creatures other than the dreaded werewolf, but the ferocity and lack of control that a Werewolf exhibits make it highly unlikely for them to join in any family unit.
The next thing to remember is that the infected individual may be completely unaware of their transformed self. The mild-mannered and essentially harmless woodcutter who survived an attack by a wolf, recovered and resumed his life and profession will be essentially oblivious to the fact that the full moon forces a vile transformation.
His first inkling of knowledge may be waking up in the forest with either no knowledge of travelling there, or perhaps vague remembrances of horrid dreams full of violence and ferocity.
If the victim can identify the disease and infection while the creature is not transformed, there is a potential for a cure. While the chances of curing the affliction prior to first transformation are significantly higher, the opportunity remains if the victim is actively opposing the nature of the beast within. Once the victim surrenders to the beast within however, attempts to cure are almost certainly doomed to failure.
Devout prayers and some alchemical concoctions can purge the disease from the victim. It should be noted that while legend claims that a victim is doomed to transform at the next full moon, in all actuality, the first transformation might not take place for a quite some time. One account relates that the disease lay dormant for a full year, the first transformation occurring during the full moon that matched the season and month of his infection.
Contrary to common myth. Lycanthropy is a disease that can infect all races, not just human. Humans are the primary focus of legend simply because more tales of infection regarding humans have been recorded and spread by the Bards.
Dig into the Lore and you will find tales of this disease afflicting almost all Demi-Human and Humanoid races.
Werewolves are a bit of an enigma, their nocturnal nature and the simple fact that they present as normal individuals whenever not transformed makes the necessity of determining the person or persons that have been affected by the disease a paramount part of any investigation leading to either eradication or attempt to cure.
In their animal form, the werewolf appears as a larger than normal member of their assumed species, if found with natural wolves, they will almost always assume the position of leadership within the pack.
Detailed observation by persons knowledgeable will reveal that the pack is acting in a fashion that is abnormal, perhaps displaying unnatural ferocity or an intelligence far beyond the natural.
Given the natural nature of the wolf, this could require the werewolf to reassert dominance over a pack. Thus, if the search of the forest reveals a the ravaged remains of adult wolves in their prime, it is an indication that a werewolf has become active in the area.
Should an individual begin to suspect that they are afflicted with this disease, the most common reaction is to flee to the wilds. They fear what the beast might do to their friends and family and will do almost anything to save them from the beast within.
Unfortunately, the wilderness and lack of contact with other civilizing influences usually allow the beast within to gain control more quickly. Where a human can go, a wolf can return.
A werewolf in human form will gradually undergo a personality shift, becoming temperamental, aggressive and domineering. The senses of the infected will become heightened, allowing them heightened perception due to an increased sense of smell and sharper eyesight.
The strength of a werewolf in human form will become enhanced, (+1, minimum 15), though outwardly, their body will show insignificant change physically.
Another clue to the changed nature of the person will be an increased desire for meat in their diet. While they can tolerate cooked dishes with ease, their preference will almost always be rare, bloody if possible. In later stages of the disease, fresh caught, still living meals will delight it most of all.
Animal activity. Natural animals will shy away from a werewolf in human form much like they would shy away from a wolf. This is not a positive indicator however and animals can be acclimated to accept the presence of a wolf with proper exposure and training.
A werewolf in hybrid form, a half-man/half-wolf abomination is fierce indeed, retaining the abilities learned in its prior life, yet also capable of the fierce natural attacks of the wolf. Currently, there are no known instances of a werewolf that has not fully surrendered to the disease that can assume hybrid form.
Werewolves are sometimes mistaken for Druids, and other shapeshifting creatures. Given the chance, a werewolf will slay a true druid quickly, rather than risk exposure as a charlatan.
Step 1) Let’s Review what we know about the Werewolf
Common to all Forms
Heightened Senses (natural +4 to perception), this bonus cumulative with the skills possessed by the original creature, due to increased hearing and smell.
Naturally Stealthy (+3 to Stealth Checks), this bonus is cumulative with the original creature.
All physical attributes are enhanced. These changes may or may not show on the humanoid form.
Once enough control has been established, the werewolf can POLYMORPH into the other forms available as an action.
Werewolves are resistant to damage taken from weapons that are not magical or silver. It is rumored that creature can not heal damage taken from silver weaponry in this fashion, but this is unsubstantiated.
All Lycanthropes to include the werewolf have an aversion to silver and will avoid touching the metal. It doesn’t actually cause them pain or discomfort unless weaponized, it is more the aversion most humans would feel toward touching or handing excrement or rotted waste.
In Werewolf form
Appears as a larger than normal wolf and will use the tactics of a Lobo or solitary wolf to stalk and attack solitary prey. If they can gather a pack about them, they will. Utilizing their higher than animal intelligence, the pack will rapidly become more successful in bringing down larger and more dangerous prey.
In Hybrid Form
A hybrid Werewolf has surrendered to their disease and their new nature. They gain the ability to shift freely from Human, to wolf or to hybrid as the need arises.
The transition is qualified as a POLYMORPH and thus has both the ability to HEAL wounds sustained in a previous form and allows equipment carried to meld into the new form.
A hybrid Werewolf can utilize skills it possessed in its prior existence, to include those normally associated with a character class. Spell use is possible but not assured, much depends on the source of those spells.
A final note: Once the disease has advanced to the hybrid stage, the creature becomes independent of the moon and lunar phase. It can transform whenever it suits the creature to do so. Some hybrids have passed successfully into society by claiming to have druidical powers.
Step 2) Determine the probable Strategy
The possibilities here are endless, and much depends on stage of the infection within the individual.
A primary goal of any werewolf operating within civilized society will be to avoid detection. It will avoid interaction with animals or other creatures that might identify it as something strange or otherwise draw attention to the werewolf.
If the creature has yet to be fully consumed by the disease, it might well brave a city looking for a cure.As noted above, enmity exists between the druidical circles, especially the circle of the moon and most lycanthropes, especially werewolves.
Many a lycanthrope has posed as a druid shapeshifter to allow it free action in civilized lands.
Side note: it is rumored that the reason the druids developed the secret Druidic tongue was as a positive means of identification when dealing with other shape-shifting creatures.
Step 3) Determine Tactics
The tactics of the Werewolf have been briefly visited above, presenting them as a coherent whole would take a literal book rather than an essay.
For the sake of brevity, I will focus on the activity of a singular hybrid werewolf who was in former life, a bard.
Utilizing its exceptional charisma and the ability to travel far and wide without suspicion the hybrid will trade song and tale to enter inn, city or dwelling.
Quite persuasive, it will utilize its superior strength and agility to sneak away from its lodging and feed on vagrants, the poor and those that will not be missed. It is unlikely to leave a survivor that is capable of either identifying it, or that might become infected and therefore competition.
Being both Chaotic and Evil, the creature might, as it is preparing to leave an area, infect one or more victims. This is almost always done in wolf form as it will prevent primary identification.
The intelligent werewolf might watch and observe for a time, gaining pleasure as their formerly mild-mannered victim is consumed by the beast within.
Step 4) DM Tips and Observations
Of all the creatures of common folklore, the werewolf is one of the most susceptible to being used as a RAWR…CLAW…CLAW…BITE kind of monster.
This rapidly reduces this dangerous and subtle monster into a Bag-o-hit-points that exists only to be destroyed.
It is important to realize that this monster is an NPC first and a Monster second. The dual nature should cause its death to invoke sorrow and pain in the either the friends and family or preferably the adventurers themselves.
A werewolf story is almost always a tragedy.