Large monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 75 (10d10 + 20)
Speed 50 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +5 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 13 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 7 (-2) | 12 (+1) | 8 (-1) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +6
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +3
Damage Immunities cold
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Giant, Winter Wolf
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Keen Hearing and Smell. The wolf has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The wolf has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the wolf’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Snow Camouflage. The wolf has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in snowy terrain.
ACTIONS
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
- Cold Breath (Recharge 5-6). The wolf exhales a blast of freezing wind in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) cold 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
Winter Wolf
The winter wolf is a fearsome creature that dwells in the frozen lands of the north. It is more than just a large and powerful wolf; it is a cunning and intelligent predator that can communicate with other winter wolves, worgs, and some giants. It also possesses a deadly breath weapon that can freeze its enemies with a blast of cold air.
Description
The winter wolf resembles a dire wolf in size and shape, but it has snow-white or silvery fur that blends in with its icy surroundings. Its eyes are pale blue or silver, and its teeth and claws are sharp and strong. A winter wolf can grow to about 8 feet (2.4 meters) in length, 4 ft 6 in (1.4 m) at the shoulder, and weigh around 450 lb (200,000 g).
A winter wolf is not a natural beast, but a monstrosity created by some magical means. It has a wicked intelligence and cunning, and can speak Common and Giant languages well enough to follow simple conversations . It can also communicate with other winter wolves and worgs using growls and barks . A winter wolf has a fairly sophisticated language of its own, which allows it to coordinate complex strategies with its pack or allies.
A winter wolf is beautiful, with glistening white or silver fur and eyes of pale blue or silver. If in good condition, a pelt is worth 5,000 gold pieces.
Combat
A winter wolf is a formidable opponent in combat, using its speed, strength, and pack tactics to hunt down its prey. It can bite with its powerful jaws, inflicting piercing damage and knocking its target prone . It can also exhale a blast of freezing wind in a 15-foot cone, dealing cold damage and potentially freezing its enemies . A winter wolf can use this breath weapon once every few seconds .
A winter wolf is immune to cold damage, and has advantage on stealth checks made to hide in snowy terrain . It also has keen hearing and smell, giving it advantage on perception checks that rely on these senses . A winter wolf is not easily intimidated or charmed, and will fight to the death unless severely outnumbered or outmatched.
Habitat / Society
A winter wolf lives in the arctic regions of the world, where it can find enough food and shelter from the harsh weather. It prefers to hunt large animals such as elk, moose, or caribou, but will also attack smaller creatures or humanoids if hungry or provoked. A winter wolf will sometimes ally itself with frost giants, who use these evil creatures as guards and hunting companions. A winter wolf will obey a frost giant’s commands as long as it is treated well and rewarded with food and treasure.
A winter wolf is usually solitary or lives in a small pack of two to four members. A pack is led by the strongest and most dominant winter wolf, who decides where to hunt and how to deal with intruders. A pack will defend its territory fiercely from other predators or rivals. A winter wolf mates for life, and produces one or two cubs every year. A cub matures quickly, reaching adulthood in about two years.
Ecology
A winter wolf plays an important role in the ecology of its habitat, as it helps to control the population of herbivores and prevent overgrazing. It also provides food for scavengers such as ravens or foxes, who feed on the remains of its kills. A winter wolf has few natural enemies, except for dragons, rocs, or other powerful creatures that can challenge its strength or breath weapon.
A winter wolf is valued by some hunters or adventurers for its fur, teeth, claws, or breath sac. Its fur can be used to make warm clothing or blankets, its teeth and claws can be used as weapons or ornaments, and its breath sac can be used to create potions or scrolls of cold breath. However, hunting a winter wolf is a dangerous task, as it will not hesitate to fight back or call for help from its pack or allies.