Dracoshade Wisp

I was going to use a wyrm-wisp (from Draconomicon) in the next adventure, but after analyzing its numbers in some detail, I get the feeling that it's a little overpowered for its level. A wyrm-wisp is a level 4 skirmisher, but when I compare it to a Monster Manual wraith (a level 5 lurker), the wyrm-wisp has better defenses, has no vulnerability to radiant energy (although it suppresses its regeneration for one round, same as the wraith), deals more damage, and its special movement ability (death dive) works like the wraith's but deals damage and weakens its enemies to boot. About the only advantages the wraith has over the wyrm-wisp are a role-appropriate higher initiative modifier and a level-appropriate higher attack modifier.

In addition, insubstantial + attacks that weaken + no vulnerability + regeneration which is only suppressed by taking radiant damage + a single PC sounds like a recipe for disaster, or at least, a very long and almost certainly boring fight. Between insubstantial and a save ends weaken, the PC is going to be dealing about one quarter his normal damage most of the time. Add to that regeneration 5 that is suppressed for only one round if the PC happens to hit with a radiant attack, and you are quite likely to end up with a situation in which the PC just can't deal damage fast enough to ever defeat the wyrm-wisp. It's not too bad if there is more than one PC, since they can focus fire on the creature, and not all of them may be weakened at the same time. However, for a single PC, it's probably too much.

So, I came up with my own version, which will hopefully be better balanced for a single PC, while still providing a game experience similar to fighting a wyrm-wisp.

Dracoshade Wisp, Level 4 Skirmisher
Small shadow magical beast (dragon, undead) (XP 175)

Initiative +8
Senses Perception +3; darkvision
HP 40; Bloodied 20
Regeneration 2; if the dracoshade wisp takes radiant damage, its regeneration is suppressed (save ends)
AC 17; Fortitude 14, Reflex 17, Will 14
Immune disease, poison; Resist 10 necrotic; insubstantial; Vulnerable 5 radiant; see also regeneration
Speed fly 8 (hover); see also death dive

Bite (standard; at-will) * Necrotic
+7 vs. Reflex; 1d6 + 4 necrotic damage; see also enervated advantage.
Weakening Bite (standard; recharges when first bloodied; encounter) * Necrotic
+7 vs. Reflex; 1d6 + 4 necrotic damage and the target is weakened (save ends); see also enervated advantage.
Combat Advantage * Necrotic
The dracoshade wisp deals 1d6 extra necrotic damage against any target it has combat advantage against.
Death Dive (move; encounter) * Necrotic
The dracoshade wisp shifts 6 squares. If it enters the space of another creature, that that creature takes 1d6 necrotic damage and is weakened until the end of the dracoshade wisp's next turn.
Enervated Advantage
The dracoshade wisp gains combat advantage against a weakened target.
Spawn Wraith
Any humanoid creature killed by dracoshade wisp rises as a free-willed wraith at the start of its creator's next turn; a dragon instead rises as a dracoshade wisp. The new wraith appears in the space where it died or in the nearest unoccupied space. Raising the slain creature (using the Raise Dead ritual) does not destroy the spawned wraith.

Alignment Chaotic Evil
Languages Draconic
Str 10 (+2) Dex 19 (+6) Wis 12 (+3)
Con 13 (+3) Int 6 (+0) Cha 10 (+2)