Black Pudding

Huge Ooze — CR 7

Monster Manual v.3.5 (MM), p. 2013.5
Hit Dice
10d10+30 (85 hp)
Initiative
-5
Speed
Land 20 ft
Armor Class
3, touch 3, flat-footed 3
Base Attack / Grapple
+7/+18
Attack
Slam +8 melee (2d6+4 plus 2d6 acid)
Full Attack
Slam +8 melee (2d6+4 plus 2d6 acid)
STR
17
DEX
1
CON
22
WIS
1
CHA
1
Fort / Ref / Will
+9 / -2 / -2
Challenge Rating
7
Alignment
Always Neutral
Organization
Solitary
Treasure
None
Environment
Undergrounds
Level Adjustment

Special Abilities

AcidConstrictImproved GrabBlindsightSplitOoze Traits

This creature resembles nothing so much as a roundish blob of inky black goo.

Description

Oozes are amorphous creatures that live only to eat. They inhabit underground areas throughout the world, scouring caverns, ruins, and dungeons in search of organic matter—living or dead.

Black puddings slither and undulate along underground terrain seeking sustenance.

The typical black pudding measures 15 feet across and 2 feet thick. It weighs about 18,000 pounds.

Combat

Oozes attack any creatures they encounter. They lash out with pseudopods or simply engulf opponents with their bodies, which secrete acids that help them catch or digest their prey.

A black pudding attacks by grabbing and squeezing their prey.

Blindsight (Ex): An ooze’s entire body is a primitive sensory organ that can ascertain prey by scent and vibration within 60 feet.

Acid (Ex): The creature secretes a digestive acid that dissolves organic material and metal quickly, but does not affect stone. Any melee hit or constrict attack deals acid damage, and the opponent’s armor and clothing dissolve and become useless immediately unless they succeed on DC 21 Reflex saves. A metal or wooden weapon that strikes a black pudding also dissolves immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 21 Reflex save. The save DCs are Constitution-based.

The pudding’s acidic touch deals 21 points of damage per round to wooden or metal objects, but the ooze must remain in contact with the object for 1 full round to deal this damage.

Constrict (Ex): A black pudding deals automatic slam and acid damage with a successful grapple check. The opponent’s clothing and armor take a -4 penalty on Reflex saves against the acid.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a black pudding must hit with its slam attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

Split (Ex): Slashing and piercing weapons deal no damage to a black pudding. Instead the creature splits into two identical puddings, each with half of the original’s current hit points (round down). A pudding with 10 hit points or less cannot be further split and dies if reduced to 0 hit points.

Skills: A black pudding has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened.