Small monstrosity, unaligned
Armor Class 11
Hit Points 27 (6d6 + 6)
Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (-2) | 12 (+1) | 12 (+1) | 2 (-4) | 13 (+1) | 5 (-3) |
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
ACTIONS
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw against being magically petrified. On a failed save, the creature begins to turn to stone and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is petrified for 24 hours.
- Bite (suggested) Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw against being magically petrified. The target gains advantage on the Constitution saving throw if it is wearing a heavy armor made of metal. On a failed save, the creature permanently turns to stone and is restrained.
COCKATRICE’s TACTICS (read the article)
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A cockatrice is a small, magical beast that resembles a hybrid of a lizard, a cock, and a bat. It is infamous for its ability to turn flesh to stone with its touch or its breath. The cockatrice is about the size of a large goose or turkey, and has the head and body of a cock, with two bat-like wings and the long tail of a lizard tipped with a few feathers. Its feathers are golden brown, its beak yellow, its tail green, and its wings gray. The cockatrice’s wattles, comb, and eyes are bright red. Females, which are much rarer than males, differ only in that they have no wattles or comb. Its most distinctive feature is its large throat pouch, which stores its deadly petrifying gas.
COMBAT
A cockatrice is not very intelligent, but it is cunning and aggressive. It prefers to ambush its prey from above, swooping down and unleashing its petrifying breath or touching exposed flesh with its beak. A cockatrice can also use its bite to inflict poison damage and cause paralysis. A cockatrice’s touch or breath can affect victims clothed in leather or fabric, but not metal armor. The touch or breath can also extend into the Ethereal Plane. A cockatrice is somewhat aware of the limits of its powers, and natural selection has taught it to strike only at exposed flesh. A cockatrice is not very durable, and will flee if it is wounded or outnumbered. A cockatrice can be killed by conventional means, but its petrified victims can only be restored by magic. A cockatrice is immune to the petrification powers of others of its kind.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A cockatrice is usually found in temperate or warm grasslands, forests, or hills. It makes its nest in caves, ruins, or hollow trees. A cockatrice is solitary, territorial, and unaligned. It does not communicate with other creatures, except to warn off intruders with hisses and growls. A cockatrice feeds on small animals, such as rodents, birds, or insects. When it hunts these animals, the creature does not employ its power to petrify living things.
Since females are rare, they are the dominant sex, and will often have more than one mate. In fact, males will often fight or strut for the privilege of joining a female’s harem. These mated groups usually build their nests in caves. Nest sites are permanent, and the cockatrice constantly seeks to decorate its nesting site by lining it with shining objects like coins and gems. Females lay 1 or 2 brownish red, rust speckled eggs per month. There is only a 25% chance that any given egg will hatch. Those that are fertile will hatch in 11-19 days. The young reach maturity and full power within 6 months. Once they achieve adulthood, the hatchlings are driven away from the nest by their parents.
ECOLOGY
A cockatrice is a magical beast that has no natural predators, except for adventurers and hunters who seek its feathers, scales, or venom for their value. A cockatrice’s petrifying breath is a result of a rare mutation that occurred in some lizards long ago. A cockatrice’s breath can also affect plants and fungi, creating strange stone formations in its habitat. A cockatrice’s lifespan is unknown, but some legends claim that they can live for centuries.