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Hellwasp Swarm

Creature 8 — fiend, swarm, unholy

Pre-Remaster content. May include legacy alignment.

CrasherSnareLANDAERIALfiendunholy

Hellwasps' infernal nature allows them to collectively inhabit and control humanoid corpses, and they use this ability to infest and horrify large swathes of territory unless destroyed. While individual hellwasp poses little threat, these fist-sized insects instinctively form into aggressive swarms that will viciously attack any creature approaching their colony, the lone exception being powerful fiends. Hellwasp swarms have a rudimentary intelligence focused on the protection and expansion of

Source: pathfinder-bestiary-3 (Pre-Remaster)

Perception +16; darkvision
Languages diabolic; (can't speak any language)
Skills acrobatics +18, stealth +18
Str
+0
Dex
+4
Con
+6
Int
-3
Wis
+2
Cha
-2
AC 24 Fort +18 Ref +16 Will +14
HP 95
Immunities precision, swarm-mind
Resistances bludgeoning 5, fire 10, piercing 10, slashing 5
Weaknesses area-damage 10, splash-damage 10
Speed 20 feet, fly 40 feet

Abilities

Swarm Mind — This monster doesn't have a single mind (typically because it's a swarm of smaller creatures), and is immune to mental effects that target only a specific number of creatures. It is still subject to mental effects that affect all creatures in an area.
Abandon Corpse
Hellwasp Stings — Each enemy in the swarm's space takes 4d8 piercing damage (DC 26 Reflex save). Any creature that fails its saving throw is exposed to hellwasp venom.
Hellwasp Venom (poison) — Saving Throw DC 26 Fortitude

Maximum Duration 6 rounds

Stage 1 1d8 poison damage and Clumsy 2 (1 round)

Stage 2 2d8 poison damage and clumsy 2 (1 round)
Infest Corpse (manipulate) — The hellwasp swarm animates the corpse of a Small, Medium, or Large humanoid that protected by Peaceful Rest or similar magic, crawling into its mouth and other orifices.

Its size changes to that of the corpse and it loses its piercing and slashing resistances, fly Speed, and Hellwasp Stings.

It gains a fist melee Strike with a +18/+13/+8 attack modifier that deals 2d8 bludgeoning plus 2d8 piercing{2d8 bludgeoning damage plus 2d8 piercing damage} and hellwasp venom. The hellwasp swarm gains 40 temporary Hit Points when it Infests a Corpse; when these temporary HP are depleted, the corpse falls apart and the swarm Abandons the Corpse automatically.
Torturous Buzz (auditory, emotion, incapacitation, occult) — The swarm emits a distracting, cacophonous buzzing. Each creature within 20-foot emanation{20 feet} must attempt a DC 26 Will save.

Critical Success The creature is unaffected and temporarily immune for 1 minute.

Success The creature is unaffected.

Failure The creature is Confused for 1 round.

Critical Failure The creature is confused for 1d4 rounds.

WORKS WELL WITH

AnvilLAND / AERIALA durable frontline can absorb the swarm's damage in its own space so squishier allies aren't caught inside it.
WeaverLAND / AERIALA caster adds area pressure while the swarm keeps melee attackers poisoned and occupied.
SniperLAND / AERIALA ranged attacker contributes damage without ever entering the swarm's space and risking the venom.

PUNISHES

✖ clumping✖ precision reliance✖ melee reliance
Avoid pairing with another swarm; both share the same area-damage weakness, so one area response punishes them together.
Works well with · Punishes · Pairing advice Unlock with Tactics

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Stat block data sourced from the Foundry VTT PF2E system under the Apache License 2.0. Source book: Pathfinder Bestiary 3.

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