Stirge: Puny Bug

Man, this poor little guy doesn’t even get a full page. Not that I’ll complain. Makes my job easier.

Lore: Insect

There is none. No, I’m not joking. They’re just fantasy mosquitoes. These guys don’t have anything going for them.

That’s all. Next.

Design: Oh, That’s Gross

Well, that’s creepy as hell. I definitely wouldn’t want that thing latched onto my arm.

This is a fairly decent design. It’s unique, interesting, and creepy. At the same time, it perfectly gets the point of the monster across. Even without reading the lore or the stats, you can tell this is the kind of creature to suck someone’s blood.

However… that’s about it. Not because of the design itself, but because there’s nothing for it to serve in the other sections. This is a rare case wherein the lore and stats can’t keep up with the design and not the other way around.

Stats: Imma Suck Yer Blood

The stats are about as extensive as the lore is. Only with a bit more substance. Though it’s still not much.

A stirge is not hard to kill. Their AC isn’t awful, sure, but their HP is so low that even a 1st level wizard could kill them with a knife in one hit. As to be expected; this thing is literally the size of a bug.

Its primary action is Blood Drain. If it hits you with this attack, it latches on and does some minor damage. So long as it remains attached, it will continue to do this same amount of damage at the start of each of the stirge’s turns. It only detaches itself after draining 10 HP from the target, or the target dies.

Even if you throw a swarm of these guys at your players, it doesn’t make for a thrilling encounter. Again, it’s the D&D equivalent of a mosquito. The players just need to swat them, then move on with their adventure.

Placement

This is a lackluster entry at best. Sure, it’s design isn’t that bad. But lore wise and stat wise, it’s really lame.

With all that in mind, the Stirge is going to #190 on the Best of the Bestiary!

1. Beholder
2. Death Tyrant
3. Mind Flayer
4. Dragon Turtle
5. Mummy/Mummy Lord
6. Nagas (all three of ’em)
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42. Shield Guardian
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46. Night Hag
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48. Black Pudding
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51. Oni
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65. Modrons (all five of ’em)
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182. Ghost
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184. Fire Elemental
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186. Air Elemental
187. Stone Giant
188. Deep Gnome
189. Dinosaurs (All six of them)
190. Stirge <———————
191. Specter
192. Iron Golem
193. Stone Golem
194. Earth Elemental
195. Galeb Duhr
196. Helmed Horror
197. Flying Sword
198. Crawling Claw
199. Violet Fungus
200. Shrieker
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