Shadow Mastiff

Medium Outsider (Extraplanar) — CR 5

Monster Manual v.3.5 (MM), p. 222Updated 3.5

Shadow Mastiff is a D&D 3.5 monster from MM, p. 222. CR 5, HD 4d8+12 (30 hp).

Hit Dice
4d8+12 (30 hp)
Initiative
+5
Speed
Land 50 ft
Armor Class
14, touch 11, flat-footed 13
Base Attack / Grapple
+4/+7
Attack
Bite +7 melee (1d6+4)
Full Attack
Bite +7 melee (1d6+4)
STR
17
DEX
13
CON
17
INT
4
WIS
12
CHA
13
Fort / Ref / Will
+7 / +5 / +5
Challenge Rating
5
Alignment
Always Neutral-Evil
Organization
Solitary, pair, or pack (5–12)
Treasure
None
Environment
Plane of Shadow
Level Adjustment
+3

Special Abilities

BayTripDarkvisionShadow BlendScent

Feats

This creature has the body of a large dog, with a smooth black coat and a mouth full of sharp teeth.

Description

Shadow mastiffs are great hounds that prowl the night, seeking any prey they can find. Their native plane is a place of eternal shadow.

A shadow mastiff is slightly more than 2 feet high at the shoulder and weighs about 200 pounds.

Shadow mastiffs cannot speak, but they understand Common.

Combat

Shadow mastiffs prefer fighting in shadows or dark conditions, which gives them a great advantage. If a magical light source negates the shadows around them, shadow mastiffs are cunning enough to either move out of the light or back off and break up the opposition with their baying. They have been known to seize and carry off items enspelled with daylight spells.

Bay (Su): When a shadow mastiff howls or barks, all creatures except evil outsiders within a 300-foot spread must succeed on a DC 13 Will save or become panicked for 2d4 rounds. This is a sonic mind-affecting fear effect. Whether or not the save is successful, an affected creature is immune to the same mastiff’s bay for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Trip (Ex): A shadow mastiff that hits with its bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent as a free action (+3 check modifier) without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the shadow mastiff.

Shadow Blend (Su): In any condition of illumination other than full daylight, a shadow mastiff can disappear into the shadows, giving it total concealment. Artificial illumination, even a light or continual flame spell, does not negate this ability. A daylight spell, however, will.

Skills: *A shadow mastiff has a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.