Attack of the Sand Shifters! – D&D 5th edition stats

Fifth edition uses a scaling challenge rating system which is detailed in chapter three of the Dungeon Master’s Guide starting on page 81.  The monster stats here are presented with their respective challenge ratings, but you get to do the work on selecting which challenge rating you wish to do for your game.  Do you want the encounter to be hard?  Add more monsters.  But keep in mind that you prepare the adventure with what types of characters are found in the party.  If there are more melee characters, add more dune dogs.  If you have more ranged characters add more casters and regular sand shifters.

Dune Dog, by T. May (age 8)

Dune Dog

Size: Medium

Type: Beast

Alignment: Unaligned

Armor Class:  13 (natural armor)

Hit Points:  11 (1d10 + 1d8 + 2)

Speed:  40 ft

Ability Scores:

STR:  12 (+1)  DEX: 15 (+2)  CON: 12 (+1) INT: 3 (-4) WIS: 12 (+1) CHA: 6 (-2)

Skills:  Perception +3

Senses: Passive Perception 13

Challenge Rating:  ¼ (50 XP)

Features:

Fury of the Pack:  Dune dogs go into a frenzy when in groups.  If there is another dune dog within 5 ft, the dune dog may make an additional bite at the same target at an advantage.

Actions:

Bite: +3 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit:  6 (1d8+1) piercing damage. 

Sand Shifter by T. May (age 8)

Sand Shifter

Size:  Small

Type:  Humanoid (goblinoid)

Alignment:  chaotic evil

Armor Class:  14 (padded armor)

Hit Points:  8 (2d6+1)

Speed: 30 ft

Ability Scores:

STR: 10 (+0) DEX: 13(+1) CON: 13 (+1) INT: 8 (-1) WIS: 8 (-1) CHA: 8 (-1)

Skills:  Stealth +6

Senses:  Passive Perception 9

Languages:  Common, Goblin

Challenge Rating:  ¼ (50 XP)

Actions: 

Whip:  Melee Weapon Attack:  +3 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) slashing damage.  Target must make a DEX save of 10 or be restrained for one round as long as the sand shifter stays within 5-10 ft of the target.

Sand in the Eyes: Melee Attack:  +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6) bludgeoning damage.  Target must make a DEX save of 12 or be blinded for one round.

Shortbow: Ranged Weapon Attack:  +3 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target.  Hit: 4 (1d6+1) piercing damage.

Reactions:

I’m Outta Here: (Recharge 4-6) The sand shifter is able to move out of melee range of its current target after it takes damage from a melee attack.

Sand Shifter Shaman, by T. May (age 8)

Sand Shifter Shaman

Size:  Small

Type:  Humanoid (goblinoid)

Alignment:  chaotic evil

Armor Class:  15 (padded armor)

Hit Points:  14 (3d6+3)

Speed: 30 ft

Ability Scores:

STR: 8 (-1) DEX: 15(+2) CON: 12 (+1) INT: 12 (+1) WIS:  12 (+1) CHA: 8 (-1)

Skills:  Stealth +6

Senses:  Passive Perception 11

Languages:  Common, Goblin

Challenge Rating:  1/2 (100 XP)

Features: 

Spellcasting:  The sand shifter shaman is a level 1 caster.  Its spell casting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 11, +3 to hit with spell attacks).  The sand shifter shaman has the following spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): guidance, resistance, sacred flame

Level 1 (2 slots):   cure wounds, inflict wounds

Actions: 

Dagger:  Melee Weapon Attack:  +4 to hit, reach 5ft.  one target.  Hit: 5 (1d4+2)

Sand in the Eyes: Melee Attack:  +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6) bludgeoning damage.  Target must make a DEX save of 12 or be blinded for one round.

Shortbow: Ranged Weapon Attack:  +3 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target.  Hit: 4 (1d6+1) piercing damage.

Reactions:

I’m Outta Here: (Recharge 4-6) The sand shifter is able to move out of melee range of its current target after it takes damage from a melee attack.

Tactics for this Encounter:

Melee combat:  Dune dogs are stronger when you put them next to each other, this effectively gives them a double attack versus a melee target.  This can make them tough if you don’t have a lot of melee characters, but I would include at least two to show off this feature.  A melee sand shifter is a pain but can provide a fun challenge for especially melee heavy parties, for caster heavy parties I would leave out a melee sand shifter unless the players choose to engage them in melee range.  They prefer to stay at least 10 feet away, out of range of the melee characters.  Their whips can restrain characters for one round.  All sand shifters are able to use the Sand in the Eyes melee attack where they kick up sand to blind an enemy target in melee range.  All sand shifters have access to the reaction, I’m Outta Here, this reaction enables them to get out of melee range after they take damage, this keeps them in range for their whips on their next turn and will require parties to be prepared to hit them hard before they can escape melee range.

Ranged combat:  The sand shifter prefers to fight at range.  They prefer using their shortbows to chip away enemy health from afar while the dune dogs are sent in to deal with their enemies up close.  The sand shifter shaman is the leader of the group.  They lack whips, preferring a dagger for melee attacks if cornered.  Their primary attack is to use sacred flame to lob damage on their enemies.  They also buff other sand shifters with guidance and resistance, especially if their enemies get close. If the sand shifter shaman is defeated, the remaining sand shifters will attempt to withdrawl, but the dune dogs will stay engaged.

Advertisement