Epic Monsters is going for one of the—if not the—most iconic creatures in all of literature, one who simply cannot stay dead and very frequently is misnamed. Did you guess Frankenstein? You’re the target of a hundred internet memes but you’re close: we’re talking about Frankenstein’s Monster!
If you don’t know the story yet, Dr. Victor Frankenstein collects dead body parts, splices them together, and then runs electricity through the stitched together corpse to scientifically bring life to that which was once no more than dead flesh! Go watch Young Frankenstein—that should get all the important points across.
Design Notes: Frankenstein’s monster was the inspiration for the occultist class’ Abomination archetype so figuring out how to stat it up was a simple task! I was a wee bit sad about level-dipping into barbarian for Unarmored Defense, but it wasn’t known for wearing solid armor so that was an important sacrifice to make to keep the creature viable (and he kinda rages amirite?). For anyone upset about the vulnerability to acid, you can drop it and reduce immunity to lightning to resistance instead (totally doable via the class feature RAW). With that in mind let’s take a look at the numbers: the DMG landed it at 9.25 and the Blog of Holding’s rubric at 10 so we’re averaged out at CR 9.
Frankenstein’s Monster
Medium humanoid (human), neutral occultist (abomination) 14/barbarian 1
Armor Class 14 (Constitution, toughened hide)
Hit Points 129 (14d8+1d12+60)
Speed 50 ft., climb 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +10, Con +9, Int +5, Wis +8, Cha +4
Skills Athletics +10, Insight +8, Perception +8, Survival +5; ceremonial relics +5
Damage Vulnerabilities acid
Damage Resistances poison; bludgeoning, slashing
Damage Immunities lightning
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft. (sees through magical darkness), passive Perception 18
Languages Common, Undercommon
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Background: Worldly - Attention-Grabber. The monster’s way of speaking, nonverbal communication, aphorisms, and what it looks like mark it as fundamentally different. Everyone’s eyes are on you. While not always useful, it does sometimes make it possible to set up a meeting or otherwise gain the attention of people you want to meet (like nobles, sages, traders, and the like).
Abominable Nature. The monster has resistance to poison damage and immunity to the poisoned condition. It does not need to breathe, eat food, or drink water, though it still requires periods of rest similar to sleep. The monster has disadvantage on Charisma ability checks made against humanoids due to its strange appearance.
Dark Strike. The monster can roll a d10 for his unarmed strikes. When it uses the Attack action with an unarmed strike on its turn, it can choose to deal necrotic damage by spending a bonus action. The monster can use Constitution for the attack and damage rolls of its unarmed strike when dealing necrotic damage.
Devotee of Darkness. The monster has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks and Wisdom (Perception) checks made in darkness or dim light.
Otherworldly Brute. The monster has advantage on attack rolls made against objects and deals double damage when using Strength to damage an object.
Rage (2/Long Rest). On its turn, the monster can enter a rage as a bonus action. Its rage lasts for 1 minute, ending early if it is knocked unconscious or if its turn ends and it hasn’t either attacked a hostile creature since its last turn or taken damage since then. The monster can also end its rage on its turn as a bonus action. While raging, it gains the following benefits.
Unnatural Threshold. The monster ignores 5 damage whenever it is hit with an attack that deals piercing damage.
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. The monster attacks three times when it takes the Attack action.
Dark Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10+5) bludgeoning damage.
If you don’t know the story yet, Dr. Victor Frankenstein collects dead body parts, splices them together, and then runs electricity through the stitched together corpse to scientifically bring life to that which was once no more than dead flesh! Go watch Young Frankenstein—that should get all the important points across.
Design Notes: Frankenstein’s monster was the inspiration for the occultist class’ Abomination archetype so figuring out how to stat it up was a simple task! I was a wee bit sad about level-dipping into barbarian for Unarmored Defense, but it wasn’t known for wearing solid armor so that was an important sacrifice to make to keep the creature viable (and he kinda rages amirite?). For anyone upset about the vulnerability to acid, you can drop it and reduce immunity to lightning to resistance instead (totally doable via the class feature RAW). With that in mind let’s take a look at the numbers: the DMG landed it at 9.25 and the Blog of Holding’s rubric at 10 so we’re averaged out at CR 9.
Frankenstein’s Monster
Medium humanoid (human), neutral occultist (abomination) 14/barbarian 1
Armor Class 14 (Constitution, toughened hide)
Hit Points 129 (14d8+1d12+60)
Speed 50 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
20 (+5) | 9 (-1) | 18 (+4) | 10 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 8 (-1) |
Skills Athletics +10, Insight +8, Perception +8, Survival +5; ceremonial relics +5
Damage Vulnerabilities acid
Damage Resistances poison; bludgeoning, slashing
Damage Immunities lightning
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft. (sees through magical darkness), passive Perception 18
Languages Common, Undercommon
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Background: Worldly - Attention-Grabber. The monster’s way of speaking, nonverbal communication, aphorisms, and what it looks like mark it as fundamentally different. Everyone’s eyes are on you. While not always useful, it does sometimes make it possible to set up a meeting or otherwise gain the attention of people you want to meet (like nobles, sages, traders, and the like).
Abominable Nature. The monster has resistance to poison damage and immunity to the poisoned condition. It does not need to breathe, eat food, or drink water, though it still requires periods of rest similar to sleep. The monster has disadvantage on Charisma ability checks made against humanoids due to its strange appearance.
Dark Strike. The monster can roll a d10 for his unarmed strikes. When it uses the Attack action with an unarmed strike on its turn, it can choose to deal necrotic damage by spending a bonus action. The monster can use Constitution for the attack and damage rolls of its unarmed strike when dealing necrotic damage.
Devotee of Darkness. The monster has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks and Wisdom (Perception) checks made in darkness or dim light.
Otherworldly Brute. The monster has advantage on attack rolls made against objects and deals double damage when using Strength to damage an object.
Rage (2/Long Rest). On its turn, the monster can enter a rage as a bonus action. Its rage lasts for 1 minute, ending early if it is knocked unconscious or if its turn ends and it hasn’t either attacked a hostile creature since its last turn or taken damage since then. The monster can also end its rage on its turn as a bonus action. While raging, it gains the following benefits.
- The monster has advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.
- When the monster makes a melee weapon attack using Strength, it deals 2 extra damage.
- The monster has resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
Unnatural Threshold. The monster ignores 5 damage whenever it is hit with an attack that deals piercing damage.
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. The monster attacks three times when it takes the Attack action.
Dark Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10+5) bludgeoning damage.
