Vashta Nerada (4e Monster)

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Author: Sam Kay (talk)
Date Created: 31st January 2010
Status: Done for now—I might add more.
Editing: Clarity edits only please
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Vashta Nerada[edit]

Meaning “the shadows that melt the flesh”, vashta nerada are shadow swarms that slip into the material plane from the void. Vashta nerada are often described as “piranhas of the air”, and can strip the flesh in an instant. They usually live in small groups, living on carrion, but sometimes they gather and prey on the living; not everyone returns from the dark.

Vashta Nerada Swarm[edit]

Vashta Nerada Swarm
Level 5 Lurker
Medium shadow swarm (insubstantial, swarm)
XP 200
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +5; darkvision
Swarm Attack (Necrotic) aura 1; The vashta nerada swarm makes a basic melee attack against each enemy that starts its turn in the aura.
HP 42; Bloodied 21
AC 19; Fortitude 14, Reflex 16, Will 11
Immune disease, poison, necrotic Resist half damage against melee and ranged attacks, insubstantial Vulnerable 10 against area and close attacks
Speed fly 6 (hover); phasing; altitude limit 1
BasicMelee.png Shadow Bite (Standard; at-will) ♦ Necrotic
+8 Vs. Fortitude; 2d8 + 4 necrotic damage.
Close.png Swarm Attack (Standard Action; at-will) ♦ Necrotic
Close burst 1; the vashta nerada swarm makes a basic melee attack against each enemy in the burst.
Latch onto Prey (Standard Action; Encounter)
The vashta nerada swarm shifts into the space of a target within 1 square and takes the form of the target's shadow (so that the target appears to have two shadows), becoming the same size as the target. Whenever the target moves or shifts, the swarm shifts with it, shifting into the square it moves to. While the swarm is latched onto the target in this way, if the target is killed by an attack made by the swarm, it rises as a free willed vashta nerada suit at the start of the swarm's next turn, standing up where it died (or in the nearest unoccupied space). The vashta nerada suit is composed from the target's body, and so it must be slain before the target can be resurrected.
Shadow Form
The vashta nerada swarm appears to be an area of shadow, and gains total concealment when the entire swarm is in an area of dim light or darkness. In addition, a DC 26 perception check is required to notice that the vashta nerada swarm is not an ordinary shadow. If the swarm attacks, the creature it attacks can immediately notice that the swarm is not a shadow.
Alignment Unaligned Languages None
Skills Stealth +11
Str 4 (-1) Dex 15 (+4) Wis 6 (+0)
Con 12 (+3) Int 6 (+0) Cha 6 (+0)

Vashta Nerada Swarm Tactics[edit]

The vashta nerada swarm hides in natural shadows until it can latch onto an unsuspecting victim. It then consumes the target.


Vashta Nerada Suit
Level 5 Brute
Medium Shadow Humanoid (insubstantial)
XP 200
Initiative +4
HP 72; Bloodied 36
AC 17; Fortitude 14, Reflex 16, Will 11
Immune disease, poison, necrotic Resist half damage against melee and ranged attacks, insubstantial Vulnerable 10 against area and close attacks
Speed 4
BasicMelee.png Shadow Bite (Standard; at-will) ♦ Necrotic
+8 Vs. Fortitude; 2d8 + 4 necrotic damage.
Close.png Swarm Attack (Standard Action; at-will) ♦ Necrotic
Close burst 1; the vashta nerada swarm makes a basic melee attack against each enemy in the burst.
Melee.png Shadow Strike (Standard; Encounter) ♦ Necrotic
+6 Vs. Fortitude; 3d10 + 4 necrotic damage.
Alignment Unaligned Languages None
Skills Stealth +11
Str 4 (-1) Dex 15 (+4) Wis 6 (+0)
Con 12 (+3) Int 6 (+0) Cha 6 (+0)

Vashta Nerada Suit Tactics[edit]

The vashta nerada suit chases after its foes, trying to force them into swarms or catch and kill them themselves.

Vashta Nerada Lore[edit]

A character knows the following information with a successful arcana check.

DC 20: Vashta nerada are shadow swarms that slip through to the material plane from the void. The name “vashta nerada” means “the shadows that melt the flesh”. Most vashta nerada live in small groups, feeding on carrion. Vashta nerada exist in some shadows, but not every shadow, and a shadow where one ought not to be is a sure sign of the presence of vashta nerada.
DC 25: Vashta nerada can occupy suits of armor or even clothes to form a “swarm in a suit”.

Encounter Groups[edit]

Vashta nerada swarms are rarely found in large groups, but occasionally, a large number may slip into the material plane in infest an area.

Level 5 Encounter (XP 1000)[edit]
  • 5 Vashta Nerada Swarms (Level 5 Lurker)



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AuthorSam Kay +
Identifier4e Monster +
RatingUndiscussed +
TitleVashta Nerada +