Black Dog

Large Undead, Chaotic Evil

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Armor Class 15 (Ethereal Resilience)
Hit Points 136 (16d10 + 48)
Speed 50 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	16 (+3)	16 (+3)	8 (-1)	14 (+2)	18 (+4)

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Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +6, Cha +8
Skills Perception +8, Stealth +7, Intimidation +8
Damage Resistances Cold, Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities Psychic, Poison
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 18
Languages Understands all languages it knew in life but cannot speak

CR Rating: CR 11 (7,200 XP)

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Legendary Omen.

The Black Dog is a harbinger of death and misfortune. Any creature that sees the Black Dog must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be cursed for 24 hours. While cursed in this way:

• The creature has disadvantage on death saving throws.
• The creature has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on sight or hearing.
• If the creature dies while cursed, their soul is trapped in the Shadowfell, and can only be resurrected by a wish or similar magic.

Shadowed Form.

The Black Dog can move through dim light and darkness as if it were difficult terrain. It has advantage on Stealth checks while in dim light or darkness and can attempt to Hide as a bonus action.

Ethereal Harbinger.

As an action, the Black Dog can shift between the Material Plane and the Ethereal Plane. While on the Ethereal Plane, it can see into the Material Plane within 60 feet and can reappear in an unoccupied space within range as part of its movement.

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Actions

Multiattack. It makes two Bite attacks or uses Bite and Howl of the Doomed.

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

• Hit: 26 (4d10 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, they must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be cursed for 1 minute. While cursed, they cannot regain hit points.

• Howl of the Doomed (Recharge 5–6). The Black Dog lets out a soul-chilling howl, forcing all creatures within 60 feet that can hear it to make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, creatures take 36 (8d8) psychic damage and become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. Creatures that fail by 5 or more also drop to 0 hit points if they were below 50 HP.

• Doom Stalker. The Black Dog chooses one target it can see within 60 feet. Until the Black Dog or the target is reduced to 0 hit points, the Black Dog gains advantage on attack rolls against that target, and the target has disadvantage on saving throws against its abilities. This effect ends if the Black Dog targets another creature or does not attack the target for 1 minute.

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Legendary Actions

It can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Black Dog regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Shadow Step (Costs 1 Action). The Black Dog teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see in dim light or darkness.
• Lurking Dread (Costs 2 Actions). The Black Dog becomes invisible in dim light or darkness until it attacks or uses a feature that reveals its presence.
• Spectral Pursuit (Costs 2 Actions). If a frightened creature moves away from the Black Dog, it may move up to its speed toward them as a reaction, without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Howl of the Abyss (Costs 3 Actions, Recharge 6). The Black Dog howls with supernatural force, forcing all creatures within 30 feet to make a DC 16 Charisma saving throw or be teleported into the Ethereal Plane for 1 minute, where they are trapped in a cold, featureless void. They may repeat the save at the end of each of their turns.

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Tactics & Combat Behavior

• The Black Dog is a patient hunter—it stalks its prey from the Ethereal Plane, appearing suddenly in darkness or mist-covered roads.
• It focuses on the weakest-looking target, using Doom Stalker to ensure their demise.
• It opens combat with Howl of the Doomed, then teleports to an isolated enemy, using Bite to cut off their healing.
• If it begins taking significant damage, it uses Shadow Step or shifts into the Ethereal Plane to escape, returning when the party is vulnerable.
• When enemies attempt to flee, it uses Spectral Pursuit to hunt them relentlessly.

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Lair & Regional Effects

The Black Dog is an omen of death, and its presence warps reality in eerie ways. If it inhabits an area for at least a month, the following effects manifest within 6 miles of its lair:

• The sky remains unnaturally overcast and moonlight fails to fully illuminate the area.
• Travelers hear distant howls that seem to come from nowhere, even on windless nights.
• Flocks of crows and scavengers gather unnaturally in the area, watching any living creatures with unsettling focus.
• Those who sleep within the area experience vivid nightmares of being hunted, gaining no benefit from long rests on a failed DC 15 Wisdom save.

If the Black Dog dies, these effects fade over 1d10 days.

Black Dog

The black dog is a vicious predator with a taste for human flesh.

Originally Posted by Krishnath of the En World forums.

On this Thread

A black dog resembles a large black hound with yellow eyes burning with an almost hellish light. It’s fangs and talons are the color of cold black iron.

Black dogs are often used as hunting beasts by unseelie faeries.

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Black dog
Medium-Size magical beast
Hit Dice	2d10+2 (13 hp)
Initiative	+2 (Dexterity)
Speed	50′
AC	14 (+2 Dexterity, +2 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple	+2/+3
Attack	Bite +3 melee
Full Attack	Bite +3 melee
Damage	Bite 1d6+1
Face/Reach	5’/5′
Special Attacks	Trip, Spell-like abilities,
Special Qualities	Scent, Enchantment immunity, Shadow blend,
Saves	Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2,
Abilities	Strength 13, Dexterity 17, Constitution 13, Intelligence 5, Wisdom 14, Charisma 10
Skills	Hide +4, Listen +5 (+2), Move Silently +10 (+6), Spot +5 (+2), Survival +3*,
Feats	Alertness,
Climate/Terrain	Temperate or cold land
Organization	Solitary, pair, or pack (7-16)
Challenge Rating	3
Treasure	Standard
Alignment	Always Neutral Evil
Advancement	3 HD (Medium-Size); 4-6 HD (Large)

Combat

A black dog will stalk a chosen victim for days, waiting for the person to become alone before striking. It is an intelligent and cuning predator that will use tactics. A common tactic among Black Dog packs is to have a few members of the pack drive the prey towards the remaining members.

Trip (Ex) A black dog that hits with it’s bite attack may attempt to trip an opponent without needing a touch attack and without provoking an attack of oppertunity. If the trip attempt fails, the tripped creature may not attempt to trip the black dog in response.

• Spell-like Abilities At will – Pass without Trace;
• 1/day – Cause Fear, Faerie Fire, Magic Fang.

These are as the spells cast by a 2nd level sorcerer. The save DC is 10+spell level.

Shadow Blend (Su) In any conditions other than full daylight, a black dog can disappear into the shadows, giving it nine-tenth’s concealment. Artificial illumination, even a Light or continual flame spell, does not negate this ability. A Daylight spell, however, will.

Skills Black Dogs get a +6 racial bonus on Move Silently checks. * A black dog recieves a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by Scent.