D&D 5E gargoyle substitution

[Gilladian]

I'm wanting to replace a gargoyle in a module with some other "front door" ambush monster... the scenario is that the PCs will be approaching a "haunted house" and in the module there are statues on the roof, and one is a gargoyle. I have placed a large fountain out front of the house, so I could use a water elemental. Any other good substitute monsters in 5e? I have both the MM and 5th Edition Foes to draw from. I'm pressed for time, since I'll be running this tomorrow...

 

[Tormyr]

Animated armor
golems that are merged with a bas relief and pop out
zombies popping up from the ground
Generally, any undead, construct, elemental, or ooze could work fairly well.

 

[Moorcrys]

Scarecrow?

 

[iserith]

A mimic in the shape of the front door which attacks when the PCs try to enter the house. The floor in front of the door is rotten and weak. A PC doing battle with mimic risks falling through it into the dark basement which is overgrown with deadly violet fungus, gas spores, and shriekers which begin to scream in a most horrific way.

I like a water weird in the fountain along with some bones. In the center of the fountain is a statue of a gargoyle (but not an actual gargoyle) covered in vines. Some of the vines are vine blights which live in symbiosis with the water weird.

 

[Remathilis]

You could always re-fluff the gargoyle to look like something else: a cherub statue in the fountain, a weeping angel, a topiary, etc. Same stats, new look.

 

[ExploderWizard]

A haunted house can always use a scary looking (awakened) willow tree out front with perhaps some awakened shrub minions.

 

[Tormyr]

Why not have the whole house stand up and start attacking the PCs? It sits down again when it is defeated or a puzzle is solved. Maybe they need to ring the doorbell or knock on the door while being attacked.

 

[Gilladian]

Thanks everyone! some great ideas here. They'll already likely have fought some vine blights on the way through the vinyard to get to the front door, and there are topiary monsters in the garden, so I think I'll go with the mimic and/or the water elemental. The house is already filled with oozes and rot.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Why not have the whole house stand up and start attacking the PCs? It sits down again when it is defeated or a puzzle is solved. Maybe they need to ring the doorbell or knock on the door while being attacked.

Maybe instead of a house it's a gazebo!

 

[Tormyr]

Maybe instead of a house it's a gazebo!

Out in the front yard. When they get to the front door, it attacks!