Buy me a coffeeSwarm of Bats: A Living Storm of Wings and Fangs
“Terrifying, relentless, and nearly untouchable—can you survive the nightmarish onslaught of a Swarm of Bats?”
A Swarm of Bats is a chaotic, writhing mass of countless tiny, leather-winged creatures, their bodies blending into a swirling black cloud. Individually, each bat is no larger than a clenched fist, with sharp needle-like fangs and beady, glinting eyes that reflect the dimmest of lights. Their wings flap in a frenzied blur, creating a deafening, chittering cacophony that drowns out all other sounds. When in full motion, they resemble a living shadow, twisting and undulating through the air like an unholy fog.
Behaviour
Swarming bats move with a terrifying unity, shifting as if guided by a single, malevolent will. They harass their prey with coordinated strikes, striking from the darkness, biting in dozens of places at once. Their attacks are not meant to kill swiftly; rather, they disorient, drain, and terrify their victims. If threatened, the swarm can scatter and reform in seconds, slipping through cracks and vanishing into the night before regrouping for another strike.
Habitat
These Swarm of Bats thrive in lightless, damp environments where their numbers can grow undisturbed. Vast cave systems, abandoned crypts, and ruined castles serve as ideal breeding grounds. Some swarms roost in the hollow remains of cursed forests, hanging in grotesque clusters from dead branches like pulsating, shadowy growths. In ancient cities, they infest forgotten catacombs, waiting in the depths until hunger—or some darker force—stirs them into action.
Modus Operandi
A swarm hunts not like a predator, but like a living plague. They rely on numbers, overwhelming their prey by attacking from all angles at once. With their razor-sharp fangs, they bite relentlessly, causing blood loss and panic. They often strike under cover of night or within pitch-black tunnels, using echolocation to navigate while their victims stumble in the darkness. If their prey flees, the swarm pursues, spreading through corridors and engulfing entire rooms like a living nightmare. Some swarms are drawn to sound, attacking anything that disturbs their slumber, while others move with eerie purpose, as if directed by an unseen master.
Motivation
At their core, Swarms of Bats are driven by instinct: hunger, protection of their roost, and the urge to spread their numbers. However, in darker corners of the world, more sinister forces can bend them to their will. A vampire lord may summon a swarm to serve as eyes and ears, or even as an extension of its own dark power. Some ancient curses bind them to sacred tombs, making them eternal guardians of forbidden places. Whether acting on their own or under the influence of an unseen master, a Swarm of Bats is more than just a threat—it is the embodiment of fear itself, an unrelenting force that turns the safety of darkness into a place of terror.
Swarm of Bats 5e
Swarm of Bats Pathfinder
Swarm of Bats
Tiny Beast Swarm, Unaligned
Armor Class 13 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 36 (8d8)
Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft.
Abilities
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 (-3) | 17 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 2 (-4) | 12 (+1) | 6 (-2) |
Saving Throws
Dex +5
Skills
Perception +3, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances
Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
Damage Immunities
Poison
Condition Immunities
Charmed, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Restrained, Stunned
Senses
Blindsight 60 ft. (Blind Beyond This Radius), Passive Perception 13
Languages
—
Swarm Traits
- Swarm Form. The Swarm of Bats can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny bat. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
- Echolocation. The Swarm of Bats can’t use its blindsight while deafened.
- Obscuring Swarm. When the swarm occupies a creature’s space, that creature has disadvantage on ranged attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on sight.
Actions
Multiattack. The Swarm of Bats makes two Bite attacks.
- Bite.Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm’s space.
- Hit: 10 (3d4 + 3) piercing damage, or 5 (2d4) piercing damage if the swarm has half its hit points or fewer.
Dreadful Screech (Recharge 5-6).
The swarm emits a high-pitched, blood-curdling screech. Each creature within 30 feet of the swarm that can hear it must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn. Creatures that succeed on the saving throw are immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Shadow Surge (1/Day).
As a bonus action, the Swarm of Bats can disperse and reform as a shifting cloud of darkness. For 1 minute, it gains resistance to all damage, moves without provoking opportunity attacks, and can pass through solid objects as if they were difficult terrain (but it takes 5 force damage if it ends its turn inside an object).
Tactics
- Ambush Predators. The Swarm of Bats lurks in total darkness, striking when creatures enter confined spaces such as caves, ruins, or crypts.
- Hit and Fade. They swoop in, obscure vision, and tear at their prey before scattering and reforming.
- Tactical Retreat. If reduced to half HP, the swarm attempts to retreat into darkness, using Shadow Surge if necessary.
Encounters & Uses
Dungeon Hazards: Dark caverns, vampire lairs, and forgotten catacombs.
Minions of the Night: Controlled by vampires, necromancers, or dark druids.
Environmental Threats: Swarming out of caves when disturbed, overwhelming unprepared adventurers.
Swarm of Bats
Hundreds of high-pitched squeaks fill the air as a mass of small, carnivorous bats surges forth, all of them hungry for blood.
Bat Swarm CR 2
XP 600
N Diminutive animal (swarm)
Init +2; Senses blindsense 20 ft., low-light vision; Perception +15
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +4 size)
hp 13 (3d8)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +3
Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune weapon damage
OFFENSE
Speed 5 ft., fly 40 ft. (good)
Melee swarm (1d6)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks distraction (DC 11), wounding
STATISTICS
Str 3, Dex 15, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 4
Base Atk +2; CMB —; CMD —
Feats Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Fly +12, Perception +15; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception when using blindsense
SQ swarm traits
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Wounding (Ex)
Any living creature damaged by a bat swarm continues to bleed, losing 1 hit point per round thereafter. Multiple wounds do not result in cumulative bleeding loss. The bleeding can be stopped by a DC 10 Heal check or the application of a cure spell or some other healing magic.
ECOLOGY
Environment any temperate or tropical
Organization solitary, pair, flight (3–6 swarms), or colony (11–20 swarms)
Treasure none
Bat swarms dwell in large caves, ruins, or even city sewers—anywhere they can find darkness to hide in during the day and a supply of food to feast upon at night. They are only encountered outside in a group at dawn or dusk, or when they have been startled and forced to flee their lairs.