Alignment Neutral Image Wizards.com image First appearance Monster Manual (1977) | Type Plant Source books Monster Manual | |
Stats Open Game License stats | ||
The shambling mound is a fictional plant-like creature in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The shambling mound is also called shambler, a name which lends itself to the eponymous magic spell.
Contents
- Publication history
- Dungeons Dragons 19741976
- Advanced Dungeons Dragons 1st edition 19771988
- Advanced Dungeons Dragons 2nd edition 19891999
- Dungeons Dragons 30 edition 20002002
- Dungeons Dragons 35 edition 20032007
- Dungeons Dragons 4th edition 20082013
- Dungeons Dragons 5th edition 2014
- Ecology
- Environment
- Typical physical characteristics
- Society
- Miniatures
- Other publishers
- References
Publication history
The shambling mound is among the first creatures to appear in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974–1976)
The shambling mound first appeared in the official newsletter of TSR Games, The Strategic Review #3, August 1975.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977–1988)
The shambling mound appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as an apparent heap of rotting vegetation, although in reality an intelligent form of vegetable life that suffocates prey in its slime.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989–1999)
The shambling mound appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
The shambling mound was detailed in Dragon Annual #2 (1997), in the "Ecology of the Shambling Mound".
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000–2002)
The shambling mound appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003–2007)
The shambling mound appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008–2013)
The shambling mound appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), along with the stormrage shambler.
Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition (2014-)
The shambling mound appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2014).
Ecology
Shambling mounds are intelligent, carnivorous plant creatures, though they appear to be rotting heaps of vegetation.
Environment
Shambling mounds are commonly found in temperate marshes.
Typical physical characteristics
Shambling mounds are usually about six feet tall, with an eight-foot girth, when they stand erect. Most weigh around 3,800 pounds. Their brains and sensory organs are located in their upper regions. In their natural environment, shambling mounds are almost invisible. They can move through water easily, and have been known to creep into camps in their range at night to attack. Stories tell of shambling mounds moving about in electrical storms without flinching from the frequent lightning strikes, even direct strikes.
Society
Shambling mounds are solitary creatures, unless summoned via magic.
Miniatures
The shambling mound appears in the D&D Miniatures: Harbinger set (2003). Another, large sized miniature called stormrage shambler appeared in the D&D Miniatures: Unhallowed set (2007).
Other publishers
The shambling mound appeared in Paizo Publishing's book Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary (2009), on page 246. The shambling mound is fully detailed in Paizo Publishing's book Dungeon Denizens Revisited (2009), on pages 58–63.