Rattleback Troll

Family: Troll

Large giant, chaotic evil

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 126 (12d10 + 60)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	18 (+4)	20 (+5)	7 (–2)	12 (+1)	7 (–2)

Saving Throws Con +8
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +7
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Distracting Rattle. The troll’s shell plates rattle constantly, creating a droning, distracting noise. When a creature casts a spell with a verbal component while within 30 feet of the troll, that creature must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or lose the spell.
• Night Hunters. While in dim light or darkness, the rattleback trolls has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
• Regeneration. The troll regains 10 hp at the start of its turn. If the troll takes fire damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the troll’s next turn. The troll dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hp and doesn’t regenerate.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The troll makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned this way, the target can’t regain hp. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
• Venom Spray (Recharge 5–6). The troll sprays its venom in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 28 (8d6) poison damage and is poisoned for 1 minute. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn’t poisoned. While poisoned in this way, a creature can’t regain hp. A poisoned creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

ABOUT

The sound of rattling echoes around a boulder as a creature rises behind it. Black diamond shapes decorate its scales. The creature’s underbelly is yellow, its claws are black as coal, and its mouth opens to reveal two long fangs and a forked tongue—but it walks on two legs.

Rattleback trolls are a terror of the badlands where they live and hunt. They are primarily nocturnal and sleep away the days in rocky holes or small caves. Humanoids living near a rattleback troll’s lair often leave slain game as tribute at the entrance while it sleeps, in hopes that it will not go hunting too close to their village that evening.

Venomous Killers. The rattleback troll’s bite injects a debilitating venom that rots the flesh around the wound, preventing natural healing. When surrounded or attacked by multiple creatures, the troll expels a gout of this poison to drive off its attackers. Fortunately, the rattleback troll rarely enters a fray without shaking itself into a frenzy first, and the shell plates on its back give off a warning rattle before it strikes.