Medium monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 40 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) | 13 (+1) | 5 (-3) | 12 (+1) | 5 (-3) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +5, Dex +4
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks while in dim light or darkness
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages –
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Ethereal Awareness. The shadow mastiff can see ethereal creatures and objects.
Keen Hearing and Smell. The shadow mastiff has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Shadow Blend. While in dim light or darkness, the shadow mastiff can use a bonus action to become invisible, along with anything it is wearing or carrying. The invisibility lasts until the shadow mastiff uses a bonus action to end it or until the shadow mastiff attacks, is in bright light, or is incapacitated.
Sunlight Weakness. While in bright light created by sunlight, the shadow mastiff has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.
ACTIONS
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
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
Shadow mastiffs are fearsome creatures that lurk in the shadows and hunt in the night. They originate from the Demiplane of Shadow, where they enjoy eternal darkness. They often wander into other planes through portals or rifts, searching for metal sources and prey. They are also summoned by ambitious wizards and clerics who seek to use them as guardians or hunters.
DESCRIPTION
The shadow mastiff resembles a large, muscular dog with a humanoid face and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Its fur is smooth and black, making it almost invisible in darkness. Its eyes are small and red, and its tail ends in a paddle-like bone. The shadow mastiff can smell metal from afar, and will chase any source of iron or steel with ravenous hunger. It can also emit a terrifying howl that can cause panic in its prey.
COMBAT
The shadow mastiff is not a strong fighter, but relies on its stealth and speed to ambush its enemies. It prefers to avoid direct confrontation, unless it senses metal on its foes. In that case, it will try to reach the metal object and corrode it with its touch, ignoring any other attacks. The shadow mastiff can also bite with its powerful jaws, but this is a secondary option. The shadow mastiff’s greatest weakness is its aversion to light; if bright light is shone upon it, it will howl in fury and retreat. It also has no resistance to magic, and can be easily harmed by spells or enchanted items.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
The shadow mastiff lives in dark and damp places, such as caves, dungeons, sewers, or ruins. It has no lair or territory, and will move on once it has exhausted the metal sources in an area. The shadow mastiff has no language or culture, and does not communicate with other creatures. It does not mate or reproduce, but instead spawns new shadow mastiffs from the remains of its metal meals. The shadow mastiff is not affected by the alignment or morality of its prey, and will consume any metal object regardless of its origin or value.
Shadow mastiffs are ruled by the most powerful mastiff in the pack, but there is little loyalty to the leader. Shadow mastiffs never suffer morale penalties for losing their leader, as another mastiff is always prepared to lead.
The lair of a pack of shadow mastiffs is 50% likely to contain 2-5 whelps. These young are valued at around 200-500 gold pieces each. Bright light is fatal to whelps, however, so transportation of young shadow mastiffs is normally possible only through use of continual darkness or similar magic.
Sages have long believed that shadow mastiffs arise as the result of an animal being killed by an undead shadow. Upon its death, it is believed to be mystically transported to the Demiplane of Shadow where it joins with others of its kind.
ECOLOGY
The shadow mastiff plays a unique role in the ecosystem, as it recycles metal into organic matter. The shadow mastiff’s fur and flesh are rich in iron and other minerals, which can be used by plants and animals as nutrients. The shadow mastiff also creates rust dust, which can fertilize the soil or be used as a pigment by some creatures. The shadow mastiff has few natural predators, as most animals avoid its metallic scent and taste. However, some creatures have learned to exploit the shadow mastiff’s weakness, such as mimics that lure it with false metal objects, or oozes that dissolve its fur and flesh. The shadow mastiff is also hunted by some humanoids, who value its fur for its durability and warmth.