Bugbear
· · CR Unknown
CR 1 medium humanoid, chaotic evil — that's Bugbear. AC 16, 5 hit dice, 30-ft speed. Native to forest. Senses include darkvision 60 ft. Speaks common and goblin. Notable trait: Brute — A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the bugbear hits with it (included in the attack).. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- Unknown
- Type
- —
- Size
- —
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Forest
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014)
Ecology
Bugbears are the largest and rarest of the goblinoid kindreds — solitary by goblinoid standards, often dwelling alone or in a small family group rather than in tribes. They prefer dense forest and use their natural stealth to hunt large game, raid caravans, or extort smaller goblin warrens into providing tribute. A bugbear leading a goblin tribe is the alpha by force; the goblins fear and serve them. Bugbears mate seasonally, raise their young to age six or so, and then turn the youngster loose to find their own territory.
Behaviour
Bugbears are slow, patient, and brutal. They prefer to ambush rather than fight openly, and they take a long, savoring pleasure in violence that other goblinoids regard as disturbing even by their standards. They are not stupid — bugbears understand strategy, value, and fear — but their planning is local and personal, focused on the next ambush rather than long-term schemes. Most bugbears keep small grim trophies from successful hunts.
Origin
Bugbears share a common origin with goblins and hobgoblins in the Feywild, where the goblinoid ancestor-spirit fractured into three lineages. Bugbears were the hunters of the original triumvirate, paired with the goblin trappers and the hobgoblin soldiers. Modern bugbears retain the hunting instinct but rarely cooperate with their kin; the old triumvirate broke down generations ago, leaving each lineage to specialize alone.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Bugbear
- Where does Bugbear live?
- In the bestiary, Bugbear appears in Forest.