Gargantuan swarm of tiny beasts, unaligned
Armor Class 10 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 825 (special)
Speed 20 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +2 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 (-4) | 10 (+0) | 10 (+0) | 1 (-5) | 9 (-1) | 1 (-5) |
Damage Resistance Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Restrained, Stunned
Senses Blindsight 10 Ft., passive Perception 10
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny insect. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
Ignore Armor. The swarm can ignore any protection granted by armors.
ACTIONS
- Bites (swarm has more than half HP). Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm’s space. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage. The target must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw, taking 2 (1d4) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
- Bites (swarm has half HP or less). Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm’s space. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage. The target must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw, taking 2 (1d4) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
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 swarm of ants is a mass of tiny insects that crawl and bite anything in their path. They are usually driven by hunger, territoriality, or the command of a queen ant. A swarm of ants can vary in size and composition, depending on the species and environment. Some swarms are composed of worker ants, while others may include soldier ants, fire ants, or even flying ants. A swarm of ants can be a nuisance or a threat, depending on how they are encountered.
One of the most fearsome types of swarms is the army ant swarm, which is a mobile colony of red or golden ants that march through a tropical forest, steadily consuming everything in their path. The individual ants resemble smaller versions of giant ants, red or golden in color with powerful mandibles. The swarm is composed of 3/4 inches-long workers numbering in the thousands. A single queen, identical to the workers except for her sex and tiny unusable wings, marches in the center the swarm. If the queen is killed, the swarm dissipates.
COMBAT
A swarm of ants is not a single creature, but a collection of many. They can move through any opening large enough for a tiny insect, and they can occupy the same space as another creature. They are resistant to physical attacks, but vulnerable to area effects that can disperse or destroy them. A swarm of ants can bite any creature in their space, inflicting piercing damage with their mandibles. Some swarms may also have additional abilities, such as venom, fire, or flight.
An army ant swarm moves in a straight line as a solid block of ants. The ants eat all organic matter in their path, including any creatures too slow to get out of their way. If the ants approach a river or other obstacle, they turn 90 degrees and continue their march. They will not go out of their way to attack and are therefore easy to avoid. Ants may be scattered with smoke or like; immersion in water washes them off. If half of a swarm is killed, the surviving ants attempt to scatter and hide; since the ants scatter equally in every direction, this actually increases the possibility a creature in the vicinity may be attacked.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A swarm of ants usually lives in a colony, which is a complex network of tunnels and chambers underground or inside a tree. A colony is ruled by a queen ant, who lays eggs and controls the behavior of the other ants through pheromones. A colony may have thousands or millions of ants, depending on the species and resources. A swarm of ants may leave the colony to search for food, defend their territory, or migrate to a new location. A swarm of ants may also be created by magic or other means, such as a staff of swarming insects.
An army ant swarm is different from other swarms in that it does not have a permanent nest. Instead, it builds temporary bivouacs out of their own bodies at night or when resting. These bivouacs are usually located under logs, rocks, or vegetation. The army ant swarm is constantly on the move, following a cycle of nomadic and stationary phases. During the nomadic phase, the swarm travels up to 30 miles per day in search of prey. During the stationary phase, which lasts for several weeks, the queen lays eggs and the workers tend to the larvae.
ECOLOGY
A swarm of ants is an important part of the ecosystem, as they help decompose organic matter, aerate the soil, and disperse seeds. They also prey on other insects and small animals, and may compete with or cooperate with other creatures. A swarm of ants may be beneficial or harmful to humanoids, depending on their alignment and goals. Some humanoids may use swarms of ants as allies, enemies, or resources.
An army ant swarm is especially influential in its environment, as it affects the behavior and distribution of many other organisms. Some creatures flee from the swarm’s path, while others follow it to scavenge on its leftovers. Some creatures have evolved adaptations to survive or exploit the swarm’s presence, such as mimicking its chemical signals or riding on its body. An army ant swarm can be seen as both a destructive force and a source of life in the tropical forest.