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Thistleshrub

Large plant, unaligned


  • Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
  • Hit Points 68 (8d10 + 24)
  • Speed 25 ft.


STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
17 (+3) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 4 (-3) 10 (+0) 7 (-2)

  • Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
  • Damage Vulnerabilities fire
  • Damage Resistances lightning; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks
  • Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
  • Languages
  • Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)


False Appearance. While the thistleshrub remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a shrub covered in thorns.

Water Awareness. The thistleshrub can sense the pre­sence of water reservoirs up to 5 miles away, as well as water within a creature's body. It knows the general direction they're in but no their exact location.

Actions

Multiattack. The thistleshrub makes two claw attacks.

Thorny Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is Large or smaller, it is either grappled (escape DC 14) or pushed up to 10 feet away. Until the grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the swamp­walker can only make one claw attack.

Entangling Roots (Recharge 5-6). Grasping thorny roots and vines sprout in a 15-foot radius centered on the thistleshrub, withering away after 1 minute. For the duration, that area is difficult terrain for non-plant creatures. In addition, each creature of the thistleshrub's choice in that area when the plants appear must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or become restrained. While restrained in this way, the target takes 9 (2d8) piercing damage at the start of their turn. A creature can use its action to make a DC 14 Strength check, freeing itself or another entangled creature within reach on a success.