Sword Wraiths
Though the way of the warrior is death, few enough are privledged to die in glory. Those who march to war are taken more often by disease or mishap, and even in the clash of combat death comes more easily through an embarassing pratfall or through an inglorious stab from behind while retreating, than through any match of wits and strength with a worthy opponent. Such spirits often linger; this was not the death they were expecting, and they're not leaving until they get it.
Sword Wraith Lore
History DC 15: Sword wraiths are creatures of great ego but little malice, spawned as they are from feelings of entitlement to glory; those who flatter a wraith's combat prowess often find the wraith's apparent strength diminished.
Religion DC 10: Sword wraiths are the remnants of those denied the noble death they sought in battle, cursed to roam until a worthy opponent destroys them.
Sword Wraith Tactics
Sword wraiths begin combat with a volley from their longbows, then pick the strongest-looking foe that hasn't yet been subjected to a Reckless challenge and focus on it to the exclusion of all else. Sword wraiths never gang up on a single foe; if every foe is affected by a Reckless Challenge, additional wraiths will simply take the Dodge action while they wait for one to become available.
Sword Wraith Warrior
Medium undead, lawful evil
- Armor Class 16 (Chain Shirt, Shield)
- Hit Points 45 (6d8 + 18)
- Speed 30ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 6 (-2) 9 (-1) 14 (+2)
- Damage Immunities Poison
- Damage Resistances Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
- Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned, Unconscious
- Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 9
- Languages the languages it knew in life
- Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Flattery Vulnerability. As an action, a creature within 30 feet of the wraith can attempt a DC 14 Charisma (Persuasion) check to flatter the wraith's combat prowess.
On a success, the wraith's attacks deal half as much damage to that creature for the next minute.
Spectral Weapons. The sword wraith's attacks treat all creatures as unarmored (an unarmored creature's AC is usually 10 plus its Dexterity modifier.)
Actions
Multiattack. The sword wraith makes two weapon attacks, one of which it may replace with its Reckless Challenge.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage if used with two hands.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.
Reckless Challenge. The wraith challenges a creature it can see within 30 feet to single combat, forcing it to make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw.
On a failure, the creature gains advantage on attacks that target the wraith and disadvantage on all other attacks for the next minute, or until the wraith is destroyed.
Sword Wraith Deathseeker
Medium undead, lawful evil
- Armor Class 18 (Breastplate, Shield)
- Hit Points 119 (14d8 + 56)
- Speed 30ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2)
- Skills Perception +4
- Damage Immunities Poison
- Damage Resistances Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
- Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned, Unconscious
- Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 14
- Languages the languages it knew in life
- Challenge 6 (3900 XP)
Flattery Vulnerability. As an action, a creature within 30 feet of the wraith can attempt a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check to flatter the wraith's combat prowess.
On a success, the wraith's attacks deal half as much damage to that creature for the next minute.
Spectral Weapons. The sword wraith's attacks treat all creatures as unarmored (an unarmored creature's AC is usually 10 plus its Dexterity modifier.)
Actions
Multiattack. The sword wraith makes three weapon attacks, one of which it may replace with its Reckless Challenge.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage and 5 (1d8) necrotic damage
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage and 5 (1d8) necrotic damage.
Reckless Challenge. The wraith challenges a creature it can see within 30 feet to single combat, forcing it to make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw.
On a failure, the creature gains advantage on attacks that target the wraith and disadvantage on all other attacks for the next minute, or until the wraith is destroyed.
Reactions
Empathic Lash. When the sword wraith is hit with a melee weapon attack, it can force the attacker to succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 9 (2d8) necrotic damage and be Stunned until the end of the sword wraith's next turn.
Sword Wraith Commander
Medium undead, lawful evil
- Armor Class 18 (Breastplate, Shield)
- Hit Points 127 (15d8 + 60)
- Speed 30ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 14 (+2)
- Skills Intimidation +6, Perception +7
- Damage Immunities Poison
- Damage Resistances Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
- Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned, Unconscious
- Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 17
- Languages the languages it knew in life
- Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Flattery Vulnerability. As an action, a creature within 30 feet of the wraith can attempt a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check to flatter the wraith's combat prowess.
On a success, the wraith's attacks deal half as much damage to that creature for the next minute.
Spectral Weapons. The sword wraith's attacks treat all creatures as unarmored (an unarmored creature's AC is usually 10 plus its Dexterity modifier.)
Actions
Multiattack. The sword wraith makes three weapon attacks, one of which it may replace with its Reckless Challenge.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage and 5 (1d8) necrotic damage
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage and 5 (1d8) necrotic damage.
Reckless Challenge. The wraith challenges a creature it can see within 30 feet to single combat, forcing it to make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw.
On a failure, the creature gains advantage on attacks that target the wraith and disadvantage on all other attacks for the next minute, or until the wraith is destroyed.
Reactions
Call to Honor (1/Day). When the sword wraith is reduced below 63 hit points, it can gain advantage on attack rolls until the end of its next turn and summon 3 (1d4 + 1) Sword Wraith Warriors in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet.
Art Credits
- Ranar the Ever-Watchful by Kieran Yanner
- Bisk, Goblin King by Rae Elderidge
I've Got a Subreddit!
Want more monsters like this? Come check
out r/bettermonsters, where I post all my
work. Don't see something there? Drop a
request and I'll usually get it to you
within a day if I've got something on
hand, and I'll shoot you a
message when it's
ready if not.
You Found the Free Books!
The Part Where I Shill My Patreon
Want to support the creation of content like this? I post new monsters with lore and tactics to my patreon five times a week, joining the more than 1300 already there, indexed in a big PDF along with formats for Foundry and 5eTools.