By Alan McCoy from Dungeons & Dragons: Fundamentals
How to build challenging encounters against a Gargoyle
Note: This has been prepared utilizing only the 5E Core Rules. The Gargoyle can be found in the Monster Manual page 140.
Gargoyles are medium sized elementals created when an evil elemental lord such as Ogremoch walks the earth. They are not normally an intentional creation; they are instead a careless byproduct of the evil exuded when they pass by.
Many creatures with an affinity for earth have learned to “Harvest” or otherwise capture these by-blows, binding them as inert and immobile guardians until the proper conditions have been met to allow them release. Once freed, these creatures will attack anyone and everyone they see. These are usually those accidently created on the prime material.
In other cases, Gargoyles are recruited by the powerful and enter service willingly, these creatures are extraordinarily skilled at simple tasks such as guarding, killing, torturing or tormenting. These Gargoyles are usually from the elemental plane of earth, their ‘master’ having travelled there to bargain for their service.
In either case, Gargoyles are often seen perched on buttresses, high stone arches, high cliffsides or other vantage points. Because of the reputation for cruelty, there are often a great many mock gargoyles, or carved statues placed in or near the actual gargoyles to induce fear in any trespassers.
While they have not been encountered and are thus only theoretical it is postulated that as the Gargoyle is an Earth Elemental, it is possible that there are water-based, air-based, and fire-based Gargoyles as well. At the very least, it only stands to reason that there is some creature of equivalent power on those elemental planes as well.
Step 1) Let’s Review what we know about Gargoyles
Gargoyles are medium sized winged creatures made from stone.
Gargoyles can walk (30-feet each round) or fly (60-feet each round).
Gargoyles have exceptional constitutions, high strength, average dexterity and wisdom, they have low intelligence and charisma.
Gargoyles are Resistant to damage from weapon attacks not made with magical weaponry or adamantine weapons.
Gargoyles are immune to Poison.
Gargoyles have conditional immunity to Exhaustion, Petrification and Poison.
Gargoyles have Darkvision 60-foot and a passive perception of 10.
Gargoyles speak Terran (Elemental Earth).
It is impossible to tell a Gargoyle from an actual statue when it isn’t moving.
Step 2) Determine the probable Strategy
Gargoyles are found in one of two states:
Bound: Having been bound to serve a master, these creatures follow the directed and prescribed method of attack specified by their master. What they do from here tends to depend of the personality of the master. Likely attacks include the dropping of rocks and stones, spiked metal nets or other weaponry that will restrain or injure their targets.
It must be noted that the Gargoyles love pain and cruelty and will rarely outright kill an opponent, they prefer to cause pain and suffering, not to allow the release of death.
Contracted: Having agreed to serve a master, these gargoyles are left to their own devices as to the methods they use to guard and defend their master’s abode. While they might use spiked and heavy metal nets to restrain, they are just as likely to toss stones. Especially any “False Gargoyles” that may have been intermixed with them. It is also possible for these Gargoyles to drop pots of boiling oil on trespassers.
Once again, the goal will be to incapacitate rather than to kill the opponent, so that they can enjoy the suffering.
Step 3) Determine Tactics
Once the Gargoyles have determined that there are trespassers, they will begin their attacks from surprise. Using their False Appearance to get the drop on their opponents. They will drop in an around the group, each picking a single opponent, if they outnumber the opponents then the excess will divide themselves at random.
For the surprise round, each will use a Claw/Claw attack, then spring back into the air. As it is a surprise round, they will not be susceptible to attacks of opportunity.
Once airborne, the Gargoyles will make improvised missile attacks against the group, landing to attack once their prey is severely injured or has been driven into an area that will cause even more danger. (Trap Room)
Step 4) DM Tips and Observations
As creatures of flight, the Gargoyle will take advantage of their position above their opponents to drop things and dominate the air. As indicated above, spiked nets, stones and other weights are certainly within their natural intelligence.
I recommend treating the base weapon as a Light Hammer if blunt and a Hand-Axe if sharp.
I personally hate the idea of a CLAW/BITE Combo. Biting your opponent makes no sense unless you have achieved tactical advantage, and this is very unlikely during combat. I believe that they should be granted the ability to make two attacks and given the choice of Claw/Claw or Bite/Claw or Claw/Bite.
I’m toying with the idea of a Greater Gargoyle that can spill burning oil, molten lead or other typical siege engine type horrors from it’s mouth.