[3.5] Undead Adjacent Monsters

[Thurbane]

So, some comments in a recent thread got me thinking...

What monsters are there that are related-to or affiliated-with undead, which aren't actually undead?

I'm looking to compile a list for my own game, primarily.

Mainly looking for official 3.5 (and updated 3.0) material.


Animated Object* (MM1 p.13 / SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/animatedObject.htm))
Astral Kraken (PlH p.109)
Avolakia (MM2 p.28)
Blood Ghoul template (online (https://www.tsrarchive.com/3e/Ghostwalk%20Web%20Enhancement.pdf))
Bloodfiend Locust Swarm (FF p.170)
Cadaver Collector (& greater) (MM3 p.22, 27)
Cadaver Golem (HoH p.149)
Crawling Claw (LeoF p.163)
Deadborn Vulture (MM5 p.18)
Death Giant (MM3 p.54)
Demon, Artaaglith (Gh p.157)
Demon, Deathdrinker (MM4 p.40)
Demon, Dybbuk (FC1 p.36)
Demon, Maurezhi (FF p.50)
Demon, Nabassu (FC1 p.48)
Demon, Oculus (EttDP) (p. 200)
Demon, Shadow (BoVD p.173)
Demon, Succubus (MM1 p.47 / SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/demon.htm#succubus))
Demon, Whisper (MM4 p.46)
Demonflesh Golem (FF p.86)
Devil, Pit Fiend (MM1 p.57 / SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/devil.htm#pitFiend))
Devil, Stitched (MM5 p.36)
Dolghast (MoE p.143)
Dragonbone Golem (Dr p.164)
Dragonflesh Golem (MM2 p.116)
Energon, Xeg-Yi (MotP p.168)
Entropic Creature template (PlH p.122)
Fang Golem (MM4 p.72)
Fetch (DCS p. 223)
Flame Snake, Greater (FF p.75)
Flesh Colossus (ELH p.170 / SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/monsters/colossus.htm#fleshColossus))
Flesh Golem (MM1 p.135 / SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/golem.htm#fleshGolem))
Gargoyle, Kir-Lanan (FRCS p.312)
Goblin, Grodd (ItDL p.86)
Grave Dirt Golem (LM p.105)
Gravewyrm (online (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ei/20040109a))
Graveyard Sludge (MM5 p.72)
Gray Shiver (Dragon # 343)
Grisgol (MM3 p.76)
Half-Dragon, Shadow (RotD p.71)
Half-Golem temaplte, Dragonflesh (online (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20020803a))
Half-Golem template, Flesh (MM2 p.211)
Half-Undead templates (Fetch, Gheden, Ghul, Katane etc.) (Dragon # 313)
Half-Vampire template (LM p.106)
Hivenest Monster template* (Dng p.115)
Hooded Pupil template (LM p.108)
Ixitxahitl, Vampiric (MM2 p.128)
Linnorm, Corpse Tearer (MM2 p.140)
Linnorm, Dread (MM2 p.140)
Linnorm, Swamp (online (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fw/20030822a))
Living Spell template* (MM3 p.91)
Living Zombie template (CoR p.129)
Mind Flayer, Thoon Disciple (MM5 p.104)
Mind Shard of Pandorym (EE p.83)
Mindstealer, Drone (online (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mm/20030727a))
Mindstealer, Master (online (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mm/20030727a))
Necrophidius (FF p.126)
Necrothane (MM3 p.143)
Nuckalavee (Dragon # 343)
Phantom template (MM5 p.130)
Rakshasa, Ak'Chazar (MM3 p.134)
Rancid Beetle Swarm (SoSh p.182)
Rot Reaver (MM3 p.143)
Serpentflesh Golem (SK p.81)
Shadesteel Golem (& greater) (MM3 p.72, 73)
Shadow Dragon (Dr p.191)
Shadow Elemental (ToM p.165)
Souleater (MoI p.194)
Thorciasid (ELH p.220 / SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/monsters/thorciasid.htm))
Tomb Spider (MM4 p.164)
Tomb Spider Broodswarm (MM4 p.164)
Tombstone Golem (LM p.105)
Void Ooze (PlH p.133)
Worm that Walks (ELH p.228 / SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/monsters/wormThatWalks.htm))
Wrackspawn (MM4 p.182)
Yellow Musk Zombie template (FF p.191)
Yugoloth, Marraenoloth (MM2 p.203)
Yugoloth, Yagnoloth (MM2 p.203)


Deathless:

Ascendant Councilor (ECS p.276)
Crypt Warden (BoED p.167)
Sacred Watcher (BoED p.182)
Undying Councilor (ECS p.301)
Undying Soldier (ECS p.302)
Undying Wizard (EH p.106)


Undead "hunters":

Energon, Xag-Ya (MotP p.168)
Ghosteater* (Gh p.165)
Susurrus (MM3. p.170)

...all suggestions or critiques welcome.

Cheers - T

[Mr Adventurer]

How about practically any insect Swarm? They can even live inside undead with the right template.

[Saintheart]

^^^^

On that - specifically, the Tomb Spider Broodswarm (MM IV, p. 164), which always live inside an active Web Mummy. That's exactly this: the Tomb Spider lays its eggs inside a corpse -- the Web Mummy -- which functions as the cocoon for the broodswarm.

[Thurbane]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've added them, and a couple others...

[The Viscount]

Aartaglith from ghostwalk has a strong undead association, and has access to both animate dead and turn undead.
Dybbuk from Fiendish Codex I can possess corpses indefinitely.
Nabassu from Fiendish Codex I can kill creatures with a gaze and turn them into ghouls under its control.

[Eldariel]

Gheden creature [DR313] and other Half-Undead templates certainly qualify.

Shadow Demon [Book of Vile Darkness] feels almost entirely undead but is actually a demon. It's one of the few incorporeal non-undead creatures in the game.

[Thurbane]

Great stuff, thanks.:smallsmile:

[Mr Adventurer]

In what way are Succubi related to undead?

[hamishspence]

By Energy Draining beings to death and thus creating Wights?

[Thurbane]

By Energy Draining beings to death and thus creating Wights?

^^^ This.

Some of the creatures on that list are only there because they energy drain. Others are my own aesthetic/fluff decisions (flesh/body part related golems, for instance).

[frogglesmash]

Grave Dirt Golem, and the Hooded Pupil template, both from Libris Mortis.

[Macabaret]

Grisgol (MM3) springs to mind. Also, Blighted Bloodfire (and their lesser cousins Bloodfire Oozes) from MM4. Skiurids (MM4) offer nice little nuggets for necromancy users. Graveyard Sludge (MM5) may also be of interest to you.

Fang Golems (MM4) fit your "body part related golems" motif. (As would Coral Golems (Stormwrack), I believe?)

Demonthorn Mandrakes are less a benefit to undead than they are a hindrance to living creatures. But if that floats your boat, they're in MM5.

[Mr Adventurer]

Cool.

If gravedirt golem, then Tombstone golem. And necromentals generally, too.

[OgresAreCute]

Not the most exciting, but the Living Spell (MM3) template on death/necromancy/blood/whatever related spells would work.

[Saintheart]

The Kyton? Its description text says it's often mistaken for an unquiet spirit with its rattling chains...

[Thurbane]

Several additions made, thanks everyone.


Cool.

If gravedirt golem, then Tombstone golem. And necromentals generally, too.

I'm sure I've heard of Tombstone golem, now that you mention it, but I can't find it?

On a side-note, I just realized that a Half-Flesh Golem Human Werewolf that becomes a Vampire combines Frankenstein's Monster, The Wolfman, and Dracula all in one! :smalltongue: :smallbiggrin:

[hamishspence]

I'm sure I've heard of Tombstone golem, now that you mention it, but I can't find it?

It's in the 4e book Open Grave (pages 156-157).

[Macabaret]

I'm sure I've heard of Tombstone golem, now that you mention it, but I can't find it?


Tombstone Golems appear in Libris Mortis on p. 105, just under the Grave Dirt Golem. It's a little blurb about how to change the stats of a Stone Golem to make it a Tombstone Golem.

[inuyasha]

This is kind of a goofy question, but Adherers frequently get confused for mummies. Does that count as being undead-related?

[Mr Adventurer]

Bone Devils look skeletal.

Pit Fiends have Create Undead as a spell-like ability.

I had thought that many evil outsiders had Animate Dead as a spell-like ability, but a quick review of the demons and devils in the SRD doesn't support that.

[frogglesmash]

MMII has
Bone Ooze - Has bone stuff
Dread Guard - Looks Undead
Marraenoloth - Animate Dead spell-like ability
Yagnoloth - Energy Drain

Fiend Folio has
Maurezhi - Animate Dead spell-like ability
Paeliryon - Create Undead and Animate Dead spell-like ability
Necrophidius - Looks undead

[PoeticallyPsyco]

Might not be what you're looking for, but any especially greedy dragon can become a hoarder (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070307b) upon death. So any especially greedy dragon is undead adjacent.

[Efrate]

Yellow musk creepers and zombies fit though they are plants. Fiend folio. I think there are a few more plants that make zombies or something but nothing else is coming to mind.

[Aldrakan]

A Worm That Walks is the spirit of a dead person who refused to rest in the grave and returned in a twisted, unnatural form. They're "undead" in concept, just not mechanically.

[Bad Wolf]

Im assuming Orcus doesn't count? He has all the benefits of being undead and alive, IIRC. Failing that you may want to go through typical minions of his, but it looks like you have most of them.

[Thurbane]

Paeliryon - Create Undead and Animate Dead spell-like ability

Checking the FC2 entry for the Paeliryon, looks like they significantly changed the SLAs, including removal of both Animate Dead and Create Undead.


A Worm That Walks is the spirit of a dead person who refused to rest in the grave and returned in a twisted, unnatural form. They're "undead" in concept, just not mechanically.

Thanks for that - I had always thought they were undead!


Im assuming Orcus doesn't count? He has all the benefits of being undead and alive, IIRC. Failing that you may want to go through typical minions of his, but it looks like you have most of them.

Good point, but I'm probably not including archfiends, deities and other unique beings on the list at the moment.

[ShurikVch]

Check this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18947183&postcount=18) and this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18980504&postcount=20) - I posted there a good number of darkness-related stuff, and darkness and undead are going together like bread and butter :xykon:

[Telonius]

Carcass Eater (Libris Mortis) is an Animal, not an undead; not sure how closely related you'd consider it.

[MisterKaws]

Animated Object corpses and skeletons.

Grabs popcorn.