Monster Monday: Crystal Wyrm

RPG monsters

Last week, we created a gem mine that just so happens to sit on a ley line, which has the unfortunate propensity to breathe simple life into the crystals there. Miners now have to contend with crystalline monsters that range from annoyance to grave danger.

Today's monster sits squarely in the center of that spectrum: the crystal wyrm. Just like last week's crystal wasp, we'll give the wyrm a lightning attack that increases in intensity the more crystal wyrms are about.

Since the wyrm won't fly, I'd like to give it another attribute that adds intensity to the fight. What if there's some central object that the wyrms cluster around to protect, and destroying it makes the fight easier? Perhaps the object creates an immunity?

Crystal wyrm by dogbomber

For stats, I think the Bulette is an appropriate equivalent: it's just a brute that does damage. As before, we'll use the same attack stats, but we'll split up its damage so it's extremely punishing if there are at least 3 wyrms nearby, and low if only a single wyrm survives.

OK, let's stat it up!

Stat block

Homebrewery stat blocks:

Crystal Wyrm

medium elemental, neutral

  • Armor Class 17
  • Hit Points 74 (9d10 + 25)
  • Speed 25 ft.
  • Damage Vulnerabilities thunder
  • Damage Immunities lightning, poison
  • Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons if an Anchor Gem is within 50 feet
  • Condition Immunities poisoned, prone

    Gemstone Camouflage While in a gemstone cavern, a motionless crystal wyrm is indistinguishable from a normal gem formation.

Actions

Lightning Arc. +7 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d12) lightning damage, plus 12 (2d12) for each crystal wyrm within 15 feet (maximum 36 (6d12)).

Anchor gem

Stat block

Anchor Gem

  • Armor Class 12
  • Hit Points 50
  • Speed 0 ft.

    Protective Aura All crystal wyrms within 50 feet are resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons.

View the art for this monster here

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