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Families | Templates | Types | Subtypes | Universal Monster Rules


Monster Templates

A template is a set of rules that you apply to a monster to transform it into a different monster. All templates give precise directions on how to change a monster’s statistics to transform it into the new monster.

Acquired Templates: Some templates, like the lich, are the results of a creature’s choice and desire to transform. Others, like the ghost template, are the result of an external force acting upon a creature (for example, when a tormented person dies and becomes a ghost). Yet in both cases, the template changed a creature well after its birth or creation—these types are called "acquired templates," and can be added to a creature at any time during its existance.

Inherited Templates: Some templates, such as the half-dragon and half-fiend templates, are part of a creature from the beginning of its existence. Creatures are born or created with these templates already in place, and have never known life without them. These types of templates are called "inherited templates."

Simple Templates

Simple templates can be applied during the game with minimal effort. This makes it easy, for example, to deal with celestial and fiendish creatures conjured in the heat of battle by summon monster spells.

All simple templates have two categories of changes. The "quick rules" present a fast way to modify die rolls made in play to simulate the template’s effects without actually rebuilding the stat block—this method works great for summoned creatures. The "rebuild rules" list the exact changes you make to the base stat block if you have the time to completely rebuild it—this method works best when you have time during game preparation to build full stat blocks. The two methods result in creatures of similar, if not identical, abilities. In some cases, a complete rebuild does unusual things to a creature. For example, the advanced creature template gives and animal too much Intelligence, and a young incorporeal creature is tougher than a normal one.

NameCR IncreaseSimpleUse with Summons
Accursed+1TrueFalse
Advanced+1TrueFalse
Aerial+0 or +1TrueTrue
Alchemically Invisible+2TrueFalse
Alebrije+2FalseFalse
Alter Ego+0FalseFalse
Animal LordVariesFalseFalse
Animus Shade+2FalseFalse
Apostle Kyton+2FalseFalse
Aqueous+0 or +1TrueTrue
Barbarian+2 or 3TrueFalse
Bard+1 or +2TrueFalse
Bestial Creature+0TrueFalse
Black-Blooded Creature+3FalseFalse
Blighted Fey+2FalseFalse
Boreal Creature+1FalseTrue
Broken Soul+2FalseFalse
Calcified+1FalseFalse
Celestial+0 or +1TrueTrue
Child of Yog-Sothoth+1FalseFalse
Chthonic+0 or +1TrueTrue
Cleric+1, +2, or +3TrueFalse
Color-Blighted+0TrueFalse
Colour-Blighted+0TrueTrue
Commando Construct+1 or +2FalseFalse
Counterpoised+0 to +1TrueTrue
Cytillesh Zombie+1FalseTrue
Dark+0 or +1TrueTrue
Dark Ice+1FalseFalse
Deep Creature+1TrueFalse
Degenerate-1TrueFalse
Demonic Vermin+1FalseFalse
Devilbound+1FalseFalse
Divine Guardian+1FalseFalse
Dread Lord+1FalseFalse
Dream Eater+2FalseTrue
Dreamspawn+1FalseFalse
Druid+1, +2, or +3TrueFalse
EchohuskVariesFalseFalse
Ectoplasmic+1FalseFalse
Elemental-Infused Creature+1 or +2FalseFalse
Energized+2FalseFalse
Enlightened Construct+1, +2, or +3FalseFalse
Entothrope+1 (see text)FalseFalse
Entropic+0 or +1TrueTrue
Eruphyte+1FalseFalse
ExoskeletonDepends on Base CreatureFalseFalse
Failed Prophet+2FalseFalse
Fey Animal+1FalseTrue
Fey Creature+1 or +2FalseFalse
Fey-Touched Creature+0 or +1FalseTrue
Fiend-Infused+2FalseFalse
Fiendish+0 or +1TrueTrue
Fiery+0 or +1TrueTrue
Fighter+1 or +2TrueFalse
First World Creature+0 or +1FalseTrue
Fleshwarped Creature+1TrueFalse
Floodslain+1FalseFalse
Foo Creature+1FalseFalse
Frostfallen Creature+1FalseFalse
Fungal Creature+1FalseFalse
Fungoid+1TrueFalse
Ghost+2FalseTrue
Ghoulish Creature+1TrueFalse
Giant+1TrueFalse
Giantkin Ogre+1FalseFalse
Gnarled Creature+1TrueTrue
Granule Construct Host+0FalseFalse
Graveknight+2FalseFalse
Guardian SpiritVariesFalseFalse
Half-Celestial+1 to +3FalseTrue
Half-Dragon+2FalseTrue
Half-Fiend+1 to +3FalseTrue
Half-Janni+2FalseTrue
Haunted Construct+1FalseFalse
Haunted One+1FalseFalse
Hell Engine+1FalseFalse
Hellbound Creature+1TrueFalse
Hive Creature+1TrueFalse
Hivemind SwarmVariable (see text)FalseFalse
Id Mutant+1FalseTrue
Implacable Stalker+2FalseFalse
Jiang-Shi+2FalseFalse
JuJu Zombie+1FalseFalse
Kanabo+0 or +1FalseFalse
Lich+2FalseTrue
Lich Creature+1TrueFalse
Lycanthrope+1FalseFalse
Lycanthropic Creature+1TrueFalse
Mana Wastes Mutant+1FalseFalse
Man-Eating Animal+1, +2, or +3FalseFalse
Mongrel Giant+1FalseFalse
Monk+2 or +3TrueFalse
Mummified Animal+1FalseFalse
Mummified Creature+1 or +2FalseFalse
Mummy Lord+2FalseFalse
Mutant+1FalseFalse
Mutant Goblin+1FalseFalse
Nightmare Creature+1FalseFalse
Nosferatu+2FalseFalse
Osirion Mummy+1FalseFalse
Paladin+2 or +3TrueFalse
Pallid Vector+2FalseFalse
Penanggalen+1FalseFalse
PetitionerCR is 1FalseFalse
Pickin Ogre+0TrueFalse
Plagued Beast+1FalseFalse
Pod-Spawned+0, -1, or -2FalseFalse
Possessed Creature+1TrueFalse
Prana Ghost+1FalseFalse
Primordial+0 or +1TrueTrue
Promethean Creature+1TrueFalse
Prophecy-Addled Creature+1FalseFalse
Psychic Lich+2FalseFalse
Psychic Vampire+2FalseFalse
Psychoplasmic+1FalseFalse
Radiant Creature+1TrueFalse
Rampant+1FalseFalse
Ranger+1 or +2TrueFalse
Ravener+2FalseFalse
Recycled Construct-1FalseFalse
Resolute+0 or +1TrueTrue
Rogue+1 or +2TrueFalse
Runeplated Construct+1FalseFalse
Runeslave+1FalseFalse
Runewarped Creature+1FalseFalse
Sea-Sworn+1FalseTrue
Seeded+1FalseFalse
Shadow+1FalseFalse
Shadow Animal+1 or +2FalseFalse
Shadow Creature+1FalseTrue
Shadow Lord+2FalseFalse
Shadowbound Creature+1TrueFalse
Shadowfire Creature+1FalseFalse
Shaggra Ogre+1TrueFalse
Siabrae+2FalseFalse
Silverblood Lycanthrope+2FalseFalse
Skeletal Champion+1FalseFalse
SkeletonDepends on Base CreatureFalseFalse
Sorcerer+1, +2 or +3TrueFalse
Soulbound Construct+1 or +2FalseFalse
Spore Zombie+1FalseFalse
Steam-Powered Construct+2FalseFalse
Sunbaked ZombieDepends on Base CreatureFalseFalse
Taxidermic CreatureDepends on Base CreatureFalseFalse
Terror Creature+0TrueTrue
Thicken Ogre+0TrueFalse
Trompe l'Oeil+1FalseFalse
Tsukumogami+2FalseFalse
Tulpa+2FalseFalse
Unknown+2FalseFalse
Vahana+2FalseFalse
Vampire+2FalseFalse
Vampire Spawn+1FalseFalse
Vampiric Creature+1TrueFalse
Vetala+2FalseFalse
WaxworkDepends on Base CreatureFalseFalse
Winter Fey+1FalseTrue
Winter-Touched Fey+0TrueTrue
Wizard+1 +2 or +3TrueFalse
Worm that Walks+2FalseFalse
Young-1TrueFalse
ZombieVariesFalseFalse
Zombie Lord+1FalseFalse