Boggart

This creature resembles a small, rough-looking humanoid with unkempt dark hair, an untrimmed shaggy beard and thick mustache. Its skin is pale and its eyes are green. Its body is covered in coarse, dark fur.

Boggart (CR 5)

Small Aberration (Air, Shapechanger)
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Initiative: +4
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +12

Speed: 20 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 21, touch 16, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural, +1 size)
Hit Points: 39 (6d8+12)
Saving Throws: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +6
Immunity: magic

Offense

Melee: slam +9 (2d6 electricity)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: confusion, electrical discharge, feed

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st):

• 10/day- Invisibility

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
12 (+1)	19 (+4)	15 (+2)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

Base Attack Bonus: +4
CMB +4
CMD 19

Feats: Alertness, Blind-Fight, Dodge, Weapon Finesse

Skills: Acrobatics +13 (+11 jumping), Bluff +8, Escape Artist +13, Fly +13, Perception +12, Stealth +17

Languages:

Special Qualities: Change Shape (boggart, will-o'-wisp, polymorph any object), detect thoughts, Invisibility

Special Abilities

Change Shape (Su)

A boggart's natural form is that of a small humanoid (resembling a young gnome, halfling, or goblin). It has one other form: that of a small, immature will-o'-wisp. In humanoid form, a boggart assumes the same appearance and traits of its form, much as a lycanthrope would. In humanoid form, a boggart retains all of its special attacks and special qualities. The second form is that of a will-o- ‘wisp. In this form, a boggart is nearly indistinguishable from a normal will-o'- wisp, but a DC 18 Knowledge (dungeoneering) or Perception check reveals that the boggart is in fact smaller and brighter. A boggart can assume either form as a standard action, though it cannot maintain either one for longer than 1 minute (10 rounds). A change in form cannot be dispelled, nor does the boggart revert to its true natural form when slain. A true seeing spell reveals the boggart's natural form if it is in will-o'-wisp form.

Confusion (Su)

Once per day, as a full-round action, a boggart can unleash a screech that confuses all those hearing it within 30 ft. of the boggart. The confusion lasts for 6 rounds. An affected creature can make a DC 15 Will save to negate the effects. Each additional boggart within 10 feet that joins the screeching increases the save DC by +1. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Detect Thoughts (Su)

A boggart can continuously detect thoughts as the spell (caster level 8th). It can suppress or resume this ability as a free action.

Electricity (Su)

A boggart delivers 2d6 points of electricity damage with a successful slam attack (DC 15 Fortitude for half). The save DC is Constitution-based.

Electrical Discharge (Su):

Once every other round as a standard action, a boggart can discharge a bolt of electricity in a 10-foot line. The bolt deals 2d6 points of electricity damage (DC 15 Reflex save for half). The save DC is Constitution-based.

Feed (Su)

When a boggart slays a humanoid opponent, it can feed on the corpse, devouring both flesh and life force, as a full-round action. Feeding destroys the victim's body and prevents any form of raising or resurrection that requires part of the corpse. There is a 50% chance that a wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore a devoured victim to life. Check once for each destroyed creature. If the check fails, the creature cannot be brought back to life by mortal magic. A boggart advances in Hit Dice by consuming corpses in this fashion. For every three suitable corpses a boggart devours, it gains 1 Hit Die, and its Strength, Constitution, and natural armor increase by +1. Its attack bonus and saves improve as normal for an aberration of its Hit Dice, and it gains skill ranks, feats, and ability score improvements normally. The boggart only advances by consuming the corpses of creatures whose Hit Dice or levels are equal to or greater than its own current total. A boggart that reaches 9 Hit Dice through feeding immediately becomes a will-o'-wisp upon completion of the act.

Immunity to Magic (Ex)

Boggarts are immune to most spells or spell-like abilities that allow spell resistance, except magic missile, protection from evil, magic circle against evil, and maze.

Ecology

Environment: Any Marsh
Organization: solitary, pair, or pack (2-5)
Treasure: none


The boggart is a relative of the will-o-wisp. Sages believe it to be a sort of \"larval\" or immature form of said creature. It haunts many of the same places as its adult form and can be just as deadly when encountered.

The typical boggart stands 2 feet tall. A boggart begins melee using its confusion ability. It then uses its electrical attack against its foes while changing forms as it wishes. Foes not in melee range are subjected to its electrical discharge attack (it fires a thin line of electricity from its hands). If reduced to 5 or less hit points, the boggart attempts to escape by changing to its will-o-wisp form and moving across grounds its enemies cannot traverse.

Credit The Boggart originally appeared in the First Edition module WG4 The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun (© TSR/Wizards of the Coast, 1982) and later in the First Edition Monster Manual II (© TSR/Wizards of the Coast, 1983) and is used by permission. This is not the same Boggart that appeared in Dragon #54 (© TSR/Wizards of the Coast, 1981).

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene, based on original material by Gary Gygax.