monster

Barrowghast

CR 7

Huge Undead, Chaotic Evil

Reveal Stat Block

Armor Class

12 (natural armor)

Hit Points

138 (12d12 + 60)

Speed

40 ft.

str

dex

-1

con

int

-3

wis

-1

cha

-2

Traits

Stench.Any creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the barrowghast must make a 16 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature has the poisoned condition for 1 minute. While poisoned this way, the creature can't regain hit points. On a successful save, the creature is immune to the Stench of all barrowghasts for 24 hours.

Actions

Multiattack.The barrowghast makes two Slam attacks. It can replace one Slam attack with a Life Drain attack.

Slam.mw 8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. ({@damage 2d12 + 5) bludgeoning damage.

Life Drain.mw 8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. ({@damage 1d8 + 5) necrotic damage, and the target must succeed on a 16 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0. A Humanoid slain by this attack immediately rises as a zombie (see the Monster Manual). The zombie acts as an ally of the barrowghast but isn't under its control.

Reactions.Reactions the creature can take:

Noxious Wound.Immediately after the barrowghast takes piercing or slashing damage, poisonous ichor sprays from the wound. Each creature within 5 feet of the barrowghast must make a 16 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Barrowghast

A hill giant who dies with an empty stomach, full of rage and regret, might become suffused with energy from the Negative Plane and rise as a barrowghast. Though it looks like little more than an animated corpse, a barrowghast is filled with necrotic energy and driven by spite and malice. Its blood is a thick and toxic ichor that gives the barrowghast a noxious stench.

Barrowghasts no longer hunger for physical food and instead crave life energy drained from living creatures. They often target former family members and allies, but they feast indiscriminately on any creatures they encounter. When barrowghasts drain Humanoids' life energy, those Humanoids rise as zombies.