D&D 5E (2014) Banshee is Nasty!

[Reynard]

I also like banshee + zombie treant (the backstory involves a dryad, a bard, a specter and an immortal love...)

 

[DaveDash]

Here is my CR15 version. My party did not like this.

Banshee
Medium Undead (banshee) –Neutral Evil
Armor Class 17
Hit Points 224
Speed: 0 ft., fly 40ft (hover)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
1 (-5) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 20(+5) 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Wis +10, Cha +9
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical weapons
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhausted, frightened, grappled, paralysed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Elvish
Challenge 15 (13,000)

Detect Life. The banshee can magically sense the presence of living creatures up to 5 miles away. She knows the general direction they’re in but not their exact location.
Incorporeal Movement. The banshee can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. She takes 5 (1d10) force damage if she ends her turn inside an object.

ACTIONS
Corrupting Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5ft, one target. Hit: 82 (15d10) necrotic damage.

Horrifying Visage. Each non-undead creature within 60 feet of the banshee that can see her must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the banshee is within line of sight, ending the effect on a success. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to the banshee’s horrifying visage for the next 24 hours.

Wail (1/Day). The banshee releases a mournful wail, provided that she isn’t in sunlight. The wail has no effect on constructs and undead. All other creatures within 30 feet of her that can hear her must make a DC 16 constitution saving throw. On a failure, a creature drops to 0 hit points. On a success, a creature takes 55 (10d10) necrotic damage.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Here is my CR15 version. My party did not like this.

What, no hugs for your BBEBanshee from the PC's? Awww....

 

[Dausuul]

I did write up a scenario where I used a banshee as an undead librarian that would come out if the PCs weren't careful about the noise that was created while they searched a library for a book while under attack by poltergeists: QUIET PLEASE! As a looming threat of almost certain death, banshees work great for tension.

Even though it might have meant a TPK, I don't know that I could have resisted doing this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWjOA9RuiCw

 

[DaveDash]

What, no hugs for your BBEBanshee from the PC's? Awww....

Players weren't sure what it was. Then it wailed, Paladin dropped to 0 everyone else took about 58 damage. Many player tears followed.

 

[trentonjoe]

My group of three 5th level characters and a 3rd character just mopped up 2 banshees last night. Only the third level barbarian failed (and failed and failed and failed) the saves and banshees couldn't hit to do any damage.

Now the CR 2 Sea Hag with a similar mechanic dropped the 5th level monk to zero before he got an attack of earlier in the evening.....

 

[Psikerlord#]

Great summary by the OP.

I'm inspired to run a banshee and zombies (with 13th age "brains" trait - they keep attacking at zero hp until dead). That will be a scary encounter indeed. Would need definite warning of how both monsters work ... else risk TPK.

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

Great summary by the OP.

I'm inspired to run a banshee and zombies (with 13th age "brains" trait - they keep attacking at zero hp until dead). That will be a scary encounter indeed. Would need definite warning of how both monsters work ... else risk TPK.

You don't need to make 5e Zombies any worse than they already are... Their Undead Fortitude has been the bane of my party's existence... They just wont go down...

 

[Kalshane]

You don't need to make 5e Zombies any worse than they already are... Their Undead Fortitude has been the bane of my party's existence... They just wont go down...

A cleric with Sacred Flame is the zombie-finisher. With their horrible Dex saves, the cleric can focus on the ones who won't stay down and generally finish off one per round.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

You don't need to make 5e Zombies any worse than they already are... Their Undead Fortitude has been the bane of my party's existence... They just wont go down...

I know! My party's pet zombies keep rolling 20s.