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Description
Ghasts are considered one of the more powerful subtype of ghouls that existed.
They are highly similar in appearance to their undead cousin, with the possible exception of being slightly thinner and more ethereal in appearance. The key element is certainly their smell: they emit a disgustingly putrid odor of decay and decomposition that lingers close to the undead bodies.
This terrible smell is often detectable even from large distances and can have “toxic” effects when an unfortunate bystander reaches the area with a radius of three meters (10 feet) close to it: in this area the odor is strong and revolting enough to induce nausea, retching, and even, in extremely rare instances, paralysis in its victims.
Threat level & details
An Ettin is a Deadly enemy only for Low-level parties.
- Maximum Player’s Level for Deadly Encounter*: 2
- Minimum Player’s Level for Easy Encounter**: 5
- Party members: 4
- Number of enemies: 1
* Above this level, the Encounter becomes easier
** The starting level from which the encounter becomes easy
Analysis conducted by A.T.L.A.S. Foundation – Research Division
Ghast’s Stat Block
Medium Undead, chaotic evil
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 36 (8d8)
Speed 30ft.
Damage Resistances necrotic
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Stench. Any creature that starts its turn within 5 ft. of the ghast must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the start of its next turn. On a successful saving throw, the creature is immune to the ghast’s Stench for 24 hours.
Turn Defiance. The ghast and any ghouls within 30 ft. of it have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage. If the target is a creature other than an undead, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Behaviour
Ghasts, like the majority of the undead, have resistance to spells that affected the mind, such as sleep and charm. While you can certainly try to put them to rest, it is probably more effective if you use your weapons: in particular, it is well known that blades or tools made of cold iron are particularly effective against them.
While there are methods to defend yourself from them, you should consider that these undead beings are significantly more dangerous than the close-related Ghouls: heir touch can paralyze their adversaries, with the only exception of elves, making them quite a dangerous threat. If you consider the fact that they continue to maintain a certain amount of reason and strategic abilities, you can certainly understand why they are a force to be reckoned with.
Ghasts are not found alone: they frequently lay with other individuals of their kind or they “scale” the ranks of the “Ghouls society” and becomes their evil leaders, guiding them in their hunt for human flesh.
Environment – Forgotten Realms
What is the Forgotten Realms? Forgotten Realms is a realm characterized by unfamiliar territories, perilous creatures, and powerful gods, where magic and supernatural occurrences are undeniably present. It is believed that in the distant past, there was a stronger connection between planet Earth and the realm known as the Forgotten Realms. Over time, the Earth’s inhabitants had largely lost awareness of the existence of the other world, which is why it came to be known as the Forgotten Realms.
In a manner comparable to that of ghouls, ghasts are most frequently found near graveyards. Most of the time, demons have ghasts as their slaves, while certain ghasts are reported to fulfill the role of servants to the god Kiaransalee.
How to use Ghast in your campaigns
The most effective way to implement a Ghast in your adventure is to use it as some kind of Bossfight for an Horror adventure set in a burial ground or in a catacomb. Ghasts rappresent a powerful type of Ghoul and, as mentioned before, they manifest more intelligence and more strenght to their counterpart, making it an effective “king of Ghouls”.
I suggest you to give it some kind of personality: maybe he/she organizes some kind of trap of ambush to the party they must face in order to survive, or something down the line.
However keep their strategies and personality simple: they still are monsters with a “rotten brain”
Further Reading
Discover more Creatures from the 5e manual
Learn more about Creating more powerful monsters
Credits
The Ghast is a DnD 5e Creature, a dangerous and stong undead from the Multiverse of Dungeons and Dragons
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