Doppelganger

Monster Manual - 5e, D&D Basic Rules

Description

Doppelgangers are devious shapeshifters that take on the appearance of other humanoids, throwing off pursuit or luring victims to their doom with misdirection and disguise. Few creatures spread fear, suspicion, and deceit better than doppelgangers. Found in every land and culture, they can take on the guise of any individual of any race. ^{[1] [2]}

Stealing Secrets. A doppelganger’s adopted form allows it to blend into almost any group or community, but its transformation doesn’t impart languages, mannerisms, memory, or personality. Doppelgangers often follow or capture creatures they intend to impersonate, studying them and probing their minds for secrets. A doppelganger can read a creature’s surface thoughts, allowing it to glean that creature’s names, desires, and fears, along with a few scattered memories. A doppelganger impersonating a specific creature as part of a long-term plot might keep its double alive and close at hand for weeks, probing the victim’s mind daily to learn how to behave and speak authentically. ^[1]

Hedonistic Swindlers. Doppelgangers work alone or in small groups, with group roles shifting from con to con. While one doppelganger takes the place of a murdered merchant or noble, the others take on a number of identities as circumstances warrant, playing the parts of family or servants while they live off the victim’s riches. ^[1]

Changelings. Doppelgangers are too lazy or self-interested to raise their young. They assume attractive male forms and seduce women, leaving them to raise their progeny. A doppelganger child appears to be a normal member of its mother’s species until it reaches adolescence, at which point it discovers its true nature and is driven to seek out its kind to join them. ^[1]

Basic Information

Anatomy

Doppelgangers are devious shapeshifters that take on the appearance of other humanoids. Found in every land and culture, they can take on the guise of any individual of any race.^{[1] [2]}

Doppelgangers use their arms to slam their enemies when attacking. ^[1][2]

Genetics and Reproduction

Doppelgangers are too lazy or self-interested to raise their young. They assume attractive male forms and seduce women, leaving them to raise their progeny.^[1]

Growth Rate & Stages

A doppelganger child appears to be a normal member of its mother’s species until it reaches adolescence, at which point it discovers its true nature and is driven to seek out its kind to join them.^[1]

Ecology and Habitats

A doppelganger’s adopted form allows it to blend into almost any group or community, but its transformation doesn’t impart languages, mannerisms, memory, or personality.^[1]

Additional Information

Social Structure

Doppelgangers work alone or in small groups, with group roles shifting from con to con. While one doppelganger takes the place of a murdered merchant or noble, the others take on a number of identities as circumstances warrant, playing the parts of family or servants while they live off the victim’s riches.^[1]

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Found in every land and culture, they can take on the guise of any individual of any race.^[1]

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Doppelgangers often follow or capture creatures they intend to impersonate, studying them and probing their minds for secrets. A doppelganger can read a creature’s surface thoughts, allowing it to glean that creature’s names, desires, and fears, along with a few scattered memories^[1]

Doppelgangers have darkvision to a range of 60 ft.^[1][2]

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Doppelgangers typically speak Common.^[1][2]

References

1. ^Monster Manual - 5e (2014), p.82.
2. ^D&D Basic Rules (November, 2018), p.124.

Contents

Stat Block

See below^[1][2]

Doppelganger

Medium monstrosity (shapechanger ), neutral

Armor Class 14

Hit Points 52 ( 8d8 + 16 )

Speed 30 ft.

STR

11 +0

DEX

18 +4

CON

14 +2

INT

11 +0

WIS

12 +1

CHA

14 +2

Skills Deception +6 , Insight +3

Condition Immunities charmed

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11

Languages Common

Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Shapechanger. The doppelganger can use its action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid it has seen, or back into its true form. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Ambusher. In the first round of a combat, the doppelganger has advantage on attack rolls against any creature it surprised.

Surprise Attack. If the doppelganger surprises another creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 10 ( 3d6 ) damage from the attack.

Actions

Multiattack. The doppelganger makes two melee attacks +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 ( 1d6 + 4 ) bludgeoning damage.

Read Thoughts. The doppelganger magically reads the surface thoughts of one creature within 60 feet of it. The effect can penetrate barriers, but 3 feet of wood or dirt, 2 feet of stone, 2 inches of metal, or a thin sheet of lead blocks it. While the target is in range, the doppelganger can continue reading its thoughts, as long as the doppelganger’s concentration isn’t broken (as if concentrating on a spell). While reading the target’s mind, the doppelganger has advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, and Persuasion) checks against the target.

Suggested Terrain Underdark, urban

Sources Monster Manual - 5e