Wraith: Raise the Banners of Death

Lore: King of the Dead

When malice is concentrated into an incorporeal, murderous form, a wraith is born. All life flees or dies in its presence, from animals to plants. Even flames die in its wake.

Should a humanoid mortal live a vile life or enter a pact with a fiend, they doom their soul to an eternity in the Lower Planes. Some souls, however, are so suffused with negative energy that they collapse in on themselves like a spiritual black hole. Thus, a wraith is born, leaving behind all traces of its mortality and becoming entirely dedicated to slaughtering life.

Despite this, some memories subsist from its mortal life. Yet even these are no more than faint impressions and half-recalled dreams. They might gape at something that fascinated them in life or spare an old friend from days long gone. Alas, such kind moments are rare, as most wraiths seek only to destroy what remains of their previous life.

Wraiths can take the souls of those who suffered violent deaths and turn them into specters, wrathful servants of their new masters. Such wraiths rule over whole legions of the dead. Though should the wraith itself descend, even its own army would flee before it.

This lore is pretty badass! An evil spirit turned vengeful king of the dead? Sign me up! That’s an awesome bad guy!

Design: The Nine Ride Once Again

*Nazgûl theme intensifies*

“But they were all of them deceived. For another ring was made.”

This is a pretty sick design. Sure, it’s basically just ‘ghost but dark and creepy,’ but it works! Much more interesting than the usual pale whites or blues, if nothing else! Plus, the glowing yellow eyes add a nice touch.

I also really enjoy the presence of the crown. Remember: this is an evil ghost that leads armies into war. It’s basically a king! Of course it would wear a crown! It’s a minor detail, but it’s a fairly cool one!

Also, the ethereal fingers. They look like they’d evaporate in a breeze. That sounds lame, but it’s actually kinda cool. That’s probably a really weird and dumb point, but screw it, I’m makin’ it.

Is it a jaw-dropping design? No. Is it as creative or interesting as the eldritch abominations at the top of the list? No. But it’s good! It’s a creepy and intimidating ghost!

Stats: Kiss of Death

All that lore buildup. For this. My disappointment is immeasurable.

A wraith isn’t a particularly durable monster. Its AC is really low, and its HP isn’t too overwhelming. Though with its list of resistances and immunities, said HP may as well be doubled. That list is:

Damage Resistances: acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder, nonmagical/non-silvered melee
Damage Immunities: necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities: charmed, exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained

Though Sunlight Sensitivity does help balance that out. Catch this guy in daylight, and he’s in for a bad time. It’s also got Incorporeal Movement, which could be a detriment to it should it stop inside of an object, thus damaging itself.

In terms of actions, it’s got two moves. Life Drain does necrotic damage and temporarily reduces the victim’s maximum HP; should it fall to 0, they die. Should they die, they can fall victim to the Create Specter move, thus turning them into a wrathful spirit that serves it in combat.

For an early game boss fight, the wraith is an excellent pick! He’s durable enough to exhaust the players and deadly enough to frighten them. Should it manage to actually kill one of them, you could even get in some PVP with the fallen player rising again to fight their party!

However, in terms of complexity and strategy, this fight really isn’t much. In the end, it’s just a slugfest. One with really high stakes, sure! But it’s still just a case of “Hit it ’till it dies!”

Placement

This is a solid entry. It’s got good lore, a cool design, and makes for a decent – if simple – battle. It’s a great boss fight for shorter campaigns or the early game!

With all that in mind, the Wraith is going to #60 on the Best of the Bestiary!

Beholder
Death Tyrant
Mind Flayer
Dragon Turtle
Tarrasque
Mummy/Mummy Lord
Nagas (all three of ’em)
Green Dragons
Red Dragons
Blue Dragons
Black Dragons
White Dragons
Silver Dragons
Couatl
Behir
Aboleth
Sea Hag
Slaadi (all six of ’em)
Lamia
Bronze Dragons
Brass Dragons
Copper Dragons
Gold Dragons
Chuul
Vampire/Vampire Spawn
Kuo-Toa
Gibbering Mouther
Kraken
Intellect Devourer
Thri-Kreen
Shadow
Chimera
Sphinxes
Death Knight
Fomorian
Bone Devil
Dracolich
Faerie Dragon
Gelatinous Cube
Lich
Treant
Peryton
Troglodyte
Remorhaz
Unicorn
Orcs (all four of ’em)
Magmin
Shield Guardian
Kobold
Kenku
Hobgoblins
Night Hag
Green Hag
Black Pudding
Ankheg
Hook Horror
Succubus/Incubus
Oni
Purple Worm
Wraith <——————-
Storm Giant
Hill Giant
Empyrean
Efreeti
Grimlock
Umber Hulk
Minotaur
Dao
Cloud Giant
Manticore
Scarecrow
Drow (all four of ’em)
Shadow Demon
Modrons (all five of ’em)
Marilith
Drider
Aarackockra
Azer
Demilich
Spectator
Gray Ooze
Ochre Jelly
Hydra
Rakshasa
Marid
Salamander
Harpy
Werejackal
Otyugh
Satyr
Half-Dragon
Cambion
Fire Giant
Nothic
Pixie
Animated Armor
Roper
Banshee
Basilisk
Yochlol
Bulette
Cloaker
Darkmantle
Doppelganger
Revenant
Ghoul and Ghast
Sahuagin (all three)
Ettin
Sprite
Medusa
Pit Fiend
Erinyes
Chain Devil
Bearded Devil
Barbed Devil
Spined Devil
Ice Devil
Mimic
Djinni
Troll
Merrow
Nalfeshnee
Wight
Glabrezu
Chasme
Grell
Barlgura
Horned Devil
Balor
Water Weird
Skeletons
Shadow Dragon
Myconids (all four of ’em)
Piercer
Werebear
Lizardfolk
Vrock
Dretch
Pseudodragon
Gnolls (all three)
Goristro
Hezrou
Manes
Quaggoth
Frost Giant
Weretiger
Werewolf
Duergar
Quasit
Dryad
Shambling Mound
Flumph
Goblin
Nightmare
Rust Monster
Wereboar
Wererat
Githyanki
Owlbear
Planetar
Imp
Ogres/Half-ogres
Roc
Clay Golem
Flameskull
Displacer Beast
Carrion Crawler
Githzerai
Grick
Invisible Stalker
Rug of Smothering
Bugbear Chief
Bugbear
Flesh Golem
Vine Blight
Twig Blight
Needle Blight
Mephits (all six of ’em)
Bullywug
Hellhound
Ettercap
Gas Spore
Cockatrice
Lemure
Homonculus
Merfolk
Solar
Deva
Gorgon
Hippogriff
Griffon
Will-O’-Wisp
Cyclops
Centaur
Ghost
Pegasus
Fire Elemental
Water Elemental
Air Elemental
Stone Giant
Deep Gnome
Dinosaurs (All six of them)
Stirge
Specter
Iron Golem
Stone Golem
Earth Elemental
Galeb Duhr
Helmed Horror
Flying Sword
Crawling Claw
Violet Fungus
Shrieker
Gargoyle