Tattooed Corpse

Medium undead, neutral

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
13 (+1)	6 (-2)	16 (+3)	3 (-4)	10 (+0)	5 (-3)

Armor Class 8 (or by armor, if provided)
Hit Points 30 (4d8 + 12)
Speed 20 ft.
Saving Throws Wisdom +2
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages understands the languages it knew in life but can’t speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Special Traits

• Tattoos. The corpse has 1d3+1 magical tattoos and can use its bonus action to activate a tattoo. The effects of the tattoos are given in the chart below, some tattoos can be used more than once a day, otherwise the corpse must take a long rest before using that tattoo again.
• Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the blood zombie to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.

Actions

• Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) slashing damage, or 6 (1d10 + 1) slashing damage if used with two hands.
• Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage.

Tactics

Tattooed corpses are often equipped with weapons, which they are capable of clumsily wielding. Tattooed corpses guard the place or individual that they are assigned to and utilize the abilities inherent in their tattoos as needed.

• Might (1/day) The corpse’s Strength becomes 17 (+3) and its Dexterity becomes 12 (+1). Its slam attack becomes +5 to hit and 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If it has a longsword, that attack becomes +5 to hit and either 7 (1d8 + 3) or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage. Its armor class becomes 11. This effect lasts for four hours.
• Stone (1/day) The corpse gains the immediate benefit of the stoneskin spell, but does not need to concentrate upon the magical effect.
• Dragon (1/day) The corpse makes a breath weapon attack as if it were a dragonborn of a specific ancestry (the ancestry is chosen when the tattoo is created and cannot be changed). The attack is DC 13 and does 3d6 damage.
• Shock (2/day) The corpse adds 16 (3d10) lightning damage to a successful melee attack.
• Totem Animal (1/day) The corpse gains the benefit of enhance ability, the effect is preselected when the tattoo is created and it does not need to concentrate to maintain the magical effect.
• Wraith Hand (2/day) The corpse’s melee attacks become magical for ten minutes.

Description

These enhanced zombies are often sold to wealthy clients for use as guards. As they tend to be expensive (1,000-6,000 gp each), such zombies are often dressed in armor or tunics. The creation of these creatures is viewed with horror by followers of the good-aligned gods, who consider it blasphemous, especially when the sacred symbols of their deities are used as tattoo marks. Ancient tattooed corpses, created generations ago, are sometimes encountered in ruins or the wilderness, still attempting to carry out their duties even after their masters have perished.