DOPPELGANGER – 5e stats

Medium monstrosity (shapechanger), unaligned

Armor Class 14
Hit Points 52 (8d8+16)
Speed 30 ft.

Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +4 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
11 (+0)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)	11 (+0)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

Saving Throws (suggested) Dex +6
Skills Deception +6, Insight +3
Damage Immunities Charmed
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Shapechanger. The doppelganger can use its action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid it has seen, or back into its true form. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Ambusher. In the first round of a combat, the doppelganger has advantage on attack rolls against any creature it has surprised.

Surprise Attack. If the doppelganger surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 10 (3d6) damage from the attack.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The doppelganger makes two melee attacks.
• Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (1d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
• Read Thoughts. The doppelganger magically reads the surface thoughts of one creature within 60 ft. of it. The effect can penetrate barriers, but 3 ft. of wood or dirt, 2 ft. of stone, 2 inches of metal, or a thin sheet of lead blocks it. While the target is in range, the doppelganger can continue reading its thoughts, as long as the doppelganger’s concentration isn’t broken (as if concentrating on a spell). While reading the target’s mind, the doppelganger has advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, and Persuasion) checks against the target.

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DESCRIPTION

A doppelganger is a monstrous humanoid that can change its shape to mimic any other humanoid creature. It has a slender, hairless body with gray skin, yellow eyes, and a wide mouth. Its true form is rarely seen, as it prefers to adopt the appearance and personality of its victims or allies. A doppelganger can also read the surface thoughts of any creature within 60 feet of it, giving it an edge in deception and manipulation. Doppelgangers are also known as shallar by themselves, or as mirrorkin by a more powerful subspecies of doppelgangers.

COMBAT

A doppelganger is a cunning and opportunistic combatant, using its shapeshifting and mind-reading abilities to gain an advantage over its foes. It often surprises its enemies by taking the form of a trusted friend or ally, then striking with a slam attack that deals extra damage. A doppelganger can also use its read thoughts ability to anticipate its opponent’s moves, gain insight into their weaknesses, and influence their emotions. A doppelganger is not very durable, however, and will flee or surrender if it faces a superior force.

One of the most remarkable abilities of a doppelganger is its ability to imitate the abilities, feats, or traits of any humanoid creature it mimics. By shapeshifting into the form of a victim, a doppelganger can access some of the skills and powers that the victim possesses, such as casting spells or using martial arts. However, a doppelganger cannot replicate every aspect of the victim’s class or abilities, and may have limited resources or options compared to the original. The following list shows some examples of what a doppelganger may gain or lose when it takes the form of a victim belonging to one of the character classes in D&D 5th edition:

• If the victim is a barbarian, the doppelganger may gain the ability to enter a rage, which grants them advantage on strength checks and saving throws, bonus damage on melee attacks, and resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. The doppelganger may also gain access to the barbarian’s primal path features, such as totem spirit, reckless attack, or frenzy.
• If the victim is a bard, the doppelganger may gain the ability to cast spells using charisma as their spellcasting ability, and use bardic inspiration to inspire their allies or hinder their enemies. The doppelganger may also gain access to the bard’s college features, such as cutting words, jack of all trades, or expertise.
• If the victim is a fighter, the doppelganger may gain the ability to use action surge to take an additional action on their turn, and second wind to heal themselves. The doppelganger may also gain access to the fighter’s fighting style, martial archetype features, and extra attacks.
• If the victim is a monk, the doppelganger may gain the ability to use ki points to fuel various abilities, such as flurry of blows, stunning strike, or patient defense. The doppelganger may also gain access to the monk’s monastic tradition features, such as unarmored defense, unarmored movement, or martial arts.
• If the victim is a rogue, the doppelganger may gain the ability to use sneak attack to deal extra damage when they have advantage or an ally nearby. The doppelganger may also gain access to the rogue’s roguish archetype features, such as cunning action, evasion, or uncanny dodge.
• If the victim is a sorcerer, the doppelganger may gain the ability to cast spells using charisma as their spellcasting ability, and use sorcery points to create various effects, such as metamagic or flexible casting. The doppelganger may also gain access to the sorcerer’s sorcerous origin features, such as draconic ancestry, wild magic surge, or font of magic.
• If the victim is a wizard, the doppelganger may gain the ability to cast spells using intelligence as their spellcasting ability, and use arcane recovery to regain some of their expended spell slots. The doppelganger may also gain access to the wizard’s arcane tradition features, such as arcane ward, portent, or school spells.

HABITAT / SOCIETY

A doppelganger has no fixed habitat or society, as it can blend in with any humanoid culture. It often lives as a parasite, infiltrating a community and replacing one of its members, then exploiting its resources and relationships for its own benefit. A doppelganger may also work as a spy, assassin, or thief for hire, using its skills to accomplish various missions. Some doppelgangers may form loose alliances with other doppelgangers or shapechangers, but they are generally solitary and distrustful of others.

A doppelganger is a rare and mysterious creature, whose origins and motives are unknown. Some scholars speculate that they are the result of magical experiments gone wrong, or that they are agents of some sinister force. Others suggest that they are simply curious and adaptable beings, who enjoy exploring different aspects of life through their shapeshifting. A doppelganger reproduces by mating with another humanoid, passing on its genes to the offspring. The child may appear normal at first, but will manifest its doppelganger traits around puberty.

Doppelgangers are sophisticated and dangerous parasites, living off the labors of others. They must also be reckoned with as clever and effective spies and assassins who can wreak political mayhem in positions of power. Evil wizards have on rare occasions controlled entire kingdoms for short periods of time by replacing a king, prince, or councilor with a doppelganger.

Doppelgangers are greedy and cowardly creatures, who spend their lives in avid pursuit of gold and other wealth. They prefer to take the form of someone comfortably provided for, and shun assuming the form of hardworking peasants. They often choose the richest-looking one to attack first. If they target a party of adventurers, they wait until the party is on the way out of the dungeon and heading back to town. Since they are cowardly, however, they prefer to take the easiest route toward riches. A doppelganger who chooses a rich adventurer avoids risks once the treasure is safely in hand, and retreats at the earliest opportunity, making some plausible excuse for separating from the human members of the group.

All dopplegangers belong to a single tribe. Although this is rare, groups of doppelgangers can be found anywhere at any time, and in unexpected locations. Working as a unit, they select a group of victims, such as a family or a group of travelers. These bands make a good living by attacking weak humanoid monsters or travelers and stealing their food and treasure. If food and treasure are scarce, they hire out to a powerful wizard or thieves’ guild.

A doppelganger who has been hired to replace a specific person will plan its attack with special care, learning as much about the victim and his environment as it can.

ECOLOGY

Doppelgangers have no natural predators or enemies, except for those who discover their true nature and seek to expose or destroy them. They feed on the same food as their host species, but they also consume some of their victim’s memories and emotions when they shapeshift into them. This gives them a sense of satisfaction and identity that they lack in their true forms.

Doppelgangers have no inherent alignment or morality, but they tend to adopt the values and beliefs of their current forms. They may act as loyal friends or ruthless foes depending on their goals and circumstances. Some doppelgangers may develop genuine feelings for their companions or targets over time, while others may remain cold and detached.

Doppelgangers have no interest in religion or magic, except as tools to further their schemes. They have no culture or art of their own, but they may appreciate or imitate those of their host species. They have no sense of history or tradition, but they may learn or invent some to blend in with their surroundings. They have no loyalty or honor, but they may pretend to have some to gain trust or respect.

Doppelgangers are the ultimate opportunists, who live for the thrill of deception and the reward of wealth. They are always looking for new challenges and experiences, and they never stay in one place or one form for too long. They are the masters of mimicry, who can be anyone and anything they want. They are the doppelgangers, and they are among us.