Swarm of Cranium Rats
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse p. 83,
- Size
- Medium
- Type
- swarm of tiny aberrations
- Alignment
- typically lawful evil
- AC
- 12
- Hit Points
- 76 (17d8)
- Speed
- walk 30 ft.
- Resistances
- bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
- Condition Immunities
- charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
- Senses
- darkvision 30 ft.
- Passive Perception
- 10
- Languages
- telepathy 30 ft.
- Challenge
- 5
- Lineage
- Rat
Traits
Proficiency Bonus
+3
Swarm
The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny rat. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
Telepathic Shroud
The swarm is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its thoughts, as well as to all divination spells.
Actions
Bites
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm's space. Hit: 14 (4d6) piercing damage, or 7 (2d6) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer, plus 22 (5d8) psychic damage.
Spellcasting (Psionics)
As long as it has more than half of its hit points remaining, the swarm casts one of the following spells, requiring no spell components and using Intelligence as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 13):
- At will: command, comprehend languages, detect thoughts
- 1/day each: confusion, dominate monster
Illumination (Bonus Action)
The swarm sheds dim light from its brains in a 5-foot radius, increases the illumination to bright light in a 5- to 20-foot radius (and dim light for an additional number of feet equal to the chosen radius), or extinguishes the light.
Spells
command, comprehend languages, detect thoughts, confusion, dominate monster