Black Shuck

Large fey, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 97 (15d8+30)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	17 (+3)	19 (+4)	6 (‒2)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)

Skills Athletics +7, Insight +7, Perception +7, Stealth +16
Damage Resistances cold
Condition Immunities frightened
Senses darkvision 90 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common; telepathy 100 ft. (images of death omens only)
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Special Traits

• Innate Spellcasting. Black Shuck’s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • Constant: pass without trace
  • At will: divination (indefinite timespan; death omens only)
  • 3/day: fog cloud, hellish rebuke, hunter’s mark
• Keen Hearing and Smell. Black Shuck has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
• Magic Resistance. Black Shuck has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• Terrifying Howl. Black Shuck can use a bonus action to unleash a terrifying howl. Each creature of its choice within 120 feet of Black Shuck that is able to both see and hear it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to Black Shuck’s Frightful Howl for the next 24 hours.

Actions

• Multiattack. Black Shuck attacks twice.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) magical piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

About

The name “Shuck” means “devil”. Legends about this terrifying canine go back to 1127 and accounts range from it being Satan himself, to a poor fellow’s lonely companion haunting the spot of his death, to a terrifying monster that liked to bust into churches to wreak havoc. One thing is for certain: Black Shuck is a great example of localized folklore really taking root, like the Jersey Devil but much, much older. Even worse, legends say that should you meet Black Shuck, your death is guaranteed within one year.