Buy me a coffeeCondor
“Discover the Condor, the sky’s ultimate scavenger with the power to soar for miles!”
Condors are majestic, large vultures renowned for their impressive size and soaring abilities. Their appearance is striking: their bodies are dark with broad wings, and they possess a bare, wrinkled head and neck, which helps them stay clean while feeding on carrion. Male condors feature a fleshy wattle around their necks that becomes more vibrant during mating season.
Condors are primarily scavengers, relying on their keen eyesight to spot animal carcasses from high in the sky. They spend much of their time gliding effortlessly for hours without flapping, using thermal updrafts to stay aloft. Their diet mainly consists of large mammal carcasses, which they locate from great distances, but they will occasionally compete with other scavengers for food.
These birds prefer rugged, open landscapes such as mountains, cliffs, and coastal areas where they can easily take off and find food. Andean condors are often found in the high Andes, while California condors inhabit arid, mountainous regions of the western Americas.
Condors’ motivation is simple but vital: survival. They play a crucial ecological role by consuming carrion, which prevents the spread of disease. Despite their intimidating size and formidable flight abilities, condors are not hunters but rely on the availability of dead animals to sustain them.
Condor 5e
Condor 3.5
Condor
Large Beast, Unaligned
Armor Class: 12 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 52 (7d10 + 14)
Speed: 10 ft., fly 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) | 15 (+2) | 2 (-4) | 12 (+1) | 6 (-2) |
Skills: Perception +5, Stealth +4
Senses: Passive Perception 15
Languages: —
Challenge: 2 (450 XP)
Traits
Keen Sight. It has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Soaring Glide. If the condor flies at least 30 feet on its turn, it can Dash as a bonus action.
Surveyor of Death. The condor has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to detect injured or dying creatures within 1 mile.
Actions
Multiattack. It makes two attacks: one with its beak and one with its talons.
- Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage. - Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 13).
Carrion Swoop (Recharge 5–6):
It dives toward a creature it perceives as near death. If a creature within 30 feet of the condor has less than half its hit points, the condor makes a talons attack against it. On a hit, the attack deals an additional 7 (2d6) damage.
Disrupting Wings:
It beats its wings powerfully. Each creature within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
Reactions
Defensive Retreat:
When the condor is attacked, it can use its reaction to fly up to 30 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.
Tactics and Behavior
It uses its flight speed and perception to avoid direct confrontation, relying on its abilities to capitalize on vulnerable creatures:
- Scavenger’s Patience: It circles high above, watching for signs of weakened prey or carrion to exploit with Carrion Swoop.
- Avoid Direct Combat: If attacked, the condor attempts to escape with Defensive Retreat, using its mobility to evade threats.
- Group Disruption: When threatened by groups, it uses Disrupting Wings to create space and fly to safety.
Originally Posted by JiCi of the Wizards Community forums.
Condors are the largest of avian aerial scavengers, hunting from cliffs in mountainous regions. They measure three to six feet from beak to tail and have a wingspan of 13 to 20 feet. Their feathers are black and shiny. The head is sometimes bald, but may be covered with black pinfeathers. Their great wingspan allows them to soar for hours, and they rarely land except to feed or sleep.
As with all birds in the vulture family, they lack strong talons for killing prey and feed strictly on carrion. They gorge themselves on carcasses and live off the stored fat for days. Hens lay 1 – 2 eggs per year, and the chicks mature in two years, eggs and hatchlings are worth 30 – 60 gp.
They can be trained to act as spotters or retrievers. Humanoids of Small size or smaller can train them to serve as aerial mounts. Condors can carry up to 80 extra pounds, either held in their claws or riding on their backs. Their feathers are prized for their size and beauty; pinion feathers are worth one sp each, other wing feathers one cp each. An intact condor is worth five to ten gp, depending on the market.
| Condor | |
| Large animal | |
| Hit Dice | 3d8+3 (16 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 10 ft (2 squares), Fly 60 ft (poor) |
| AC | 13 (-1 size, +1 Dexterity, +3 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 12 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +2/+9 |
| Attack | Bite +4 melee (1d4+3) |
| Full Attack | Bite +4 melee (1d4+3) |
| Face/Reach | 5 ft/5 ft |
| Special Attacks | — |
| Special Qualities | Low-Light Vision |
| Saves | Fort +4 Ref +1 Will +1 |
| Abilities | Strength 17 Dexterity 11 Constitution 12 Intelligence 2 Wisdom 10 Charisma 6 |
| Skills | Hide +2, Spot +6 |
| Feats | Skill Focus (Hide, Spot) |
| Environment | Temperate and warm mountains |
| Organization | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating | 1 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 4-6 HD (Large); 7-9 HD (Huge) |
| Level Adjustment | — |
COMBAT
Condors are scavengers by nature, and will not usually hunt live prey. Naturally, they will defend with bites if attacked, and try to flee if harassed.