Swarm of Insects

Monster Manual - 5e, D&D Basic Rules

Basic Information

Anatomy

The swarm is made up of many individual insects that act together as a single entity. Their bites occur simultaneously when the swarm attacks. The insects in the swarm have wings and can climb vertical surfaces. Insects in the swarm have hard exoskeletons that provides them with protection during combat (i.e. natural armor). ^{[1] [2]}

Additional Information

Social Structure

The swarm forms as a result of some sinister or unwholesome influence. ^[1]

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The swarm has blindsight to a range of 10 ft, echolocation, and keen hearing. ^{[1] [2]}

References

1. ^Monster Manual (5e) (2014), p.337, 338.
2. ^D&D Basic Rules (November, 2018), p.154.

Contents

Parent Article

• Miscellaneous Creatures

The Nature of Swarms

The swarms presented here aren’t ordinary or benign assemblies of little creatures. They form as a result of some sinister or unwholesome influence. A vampire can summon swarms of bats and rats from the darkest corners of the night, while the very presence of a mummy lord can cause scarab beetles to boil up from the sand-filled depths of its tomb. A hag might have the power to turn swarms of ravens against her enemies, while a yuan-ti abomination might have swarms of poisonous snakes slithering in its wake. Even druids can’t charm these swarms, and their aggressiveness is borderline unnatural. ^[1]

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Variant: Insect Swarms

Different kinds of insects can gather in swarms, and each swarm has the special characteristics described below.

Swarm of Beetles. A swarm of beetles gains a burrowing speed of 5 feet.

Swarm of Centipedes. A creature reduced to 0 hit points by a swarm of centipedes is stable but poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points, and paralyzed while poisoned in this way.

Swarm of Spiders. A swarm of spiders has the following additional traits.

Spider Climb. The swarm can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the swarm knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.

Web Walker. The swarm ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.

Swarm of Wasps. A swarm of wasps has a walking speed of 5 feet, a flying speed of 30 feet, and no climbing speed. ^[1]

Variant Statblocks

• Swarm of Beetles
• Swarm of Centipedes
• Swarm of Spiders
• Swarm of Wasps

Stat Block

See below ^{[1] [2]}

Swarm of Insects

Medium swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned

Armor Class 12 (natural armor)

Hit Points 22 ( 5d8 )

Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.

STR

3 -4

DEX

13 +1

CON

10 +0

INT

1 -5

WIS

7 -2

CHA

1 -5

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing

Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned

Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 8

Languages —

Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny insect. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Actions

Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm's space. Hit: 10 ( 4d4 ) piercing damage, or 5 ( 2d4 ) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.

Suggested Terrain badlands, desert, forest, grassland, hills, swamp, Underdark, urban

Sources Monster Manual - 5e, D&D Basic Rules