D&D 5E Spicing up the Corpse Flower (MTOF)

[Quartz]

I was reading Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes last night and came across the Corpse Flower. It has the power that as a Bonus Action it can absorb a corpse and heal some damage. That's a decent enough power but what if we could inject a little more fun? What if it it could use a victim-related power?

Here's what I came up with:
If it absorbs the corpse of an elf or eladrin it can immediately use Misty Step.
If it absorbs the corpse of a gnome it gains Magic Resistance for one round (maybe more?).
If it absorbs the corpse of a tortle it gains +5 AC for one round (maybe more?).
If it absorbs the corpse of a dragonborn it may immediately use that dragonborn's breath weapon.

What do you think? What about other races?

 

[dave2008]

I was reading Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes last night and came across the Corpse Flower. It has the power that as a Bonus Action it can absorb a corpse and heal some damage. That's a decent enough power but what if we could inject a little more fun? What if it it could use a victim-related power?

Here's what I came up with:
If it absorbs the corpse of an elf or eladrin it can immediately use Misty Step.
If it absorbs the corpse of a gnome it gains Magic Resistance for one round (maybe more?).
If it absorbs the corpse of a tortle it gains +5 AC for one round (maybe more?).
If it absorbs the corpse of a dragonborn it may immediately use that dragonborn's breath weapon.

What do you think? What about other races?

Love it, so much more fun. I would suggest that it keeps whatever trait it absorbs for 1 minute.

 

[Quickleaf]

Nice!

If it absorbs the corpse of a halfling, its zombies are immune to Turn Undead until the end of its next turn. (Brave)

If it absorbs the corpse of a dwarf, it gains a burrow speed of 5 feet until the end of its next turn, though only through worked stone, and may forgo its tentacle attacks to crudely build the stone back into place behind it. (Stonecunning)

If it absorbs the corpse of a tiefling, it can use Hellish Rebuke as a reaction once before the end of its next turn. (Infernal Legacy)

If it absorbs the corpse of a goliath, it can replace any number of Tentacle attacks with throwing a zombie within 10 feet of it. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage. The zombie takes the same amount of damage.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

And absorbing a human can give it +1 to each ability.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

I would also change it from being an action to stick a new corpse into itself to just replacing one of its attacks. Then you could have the variety of corpses arrayed around its lair for PCs to see and have it be clearer what it is doing.

 

[Stalker0]

I love the concept!

 

[Eltab]

Absorbing a Myconid or a Spore Servant (which must be pre-placed) allows the Corpse Flower to emit a cloud of pollen / spores that forces everybody within X feet (5? 10?) to lose their Bonus Actions or their Extra Attacks. Victims just feel sluggish and have a head full of fog.

 

[AtomicPope]

Corpse Flowers are already dynamic and durable. I used them against a 15th level group in The Garden of Death part of Dorakaa, Greyhawk. It wasn't a deadly encounter but it did soak up some resources and drain the PCs. I love the idea of absorbing the traits of a creature they consume. It adds another layer of weirdness and creepiness to the monster. Very D&D!