Water Elemental
Large Elemental · · CR 5
- Elemental
- Large
- Tier 2
As a large elemental (neutral), Water Elemental carries CR 5. Common in coastal, swamp, and underwater environments. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 5
- Type
- Elemental
- Size
- Large
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Coastal, Swamp, Underwater
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Water elementals are native to the Plane of Water, an endless ocean-realm with no surface or floor. They are conscious clusters of elemental water, distinguishable from background water by their movement-pattern and faint inner glow. They feed on flow itself, requiring no nutrients in the material sense. On the Material Plane, they may form spontaneously near sites of intense water-magic, or be summoned by spellcasters. They cannot survive long in arid environments; without ambient water-source they slowly evaporate over weeks.
Behaviour
Water elementals are simple-minded, with cognition closer to a flowing river than a thinking creature. They follow currents, pursue movement, and remember only recent events. Bound elementals (summoned and ordered) execute commands literally and forget after the binding ends. Free elementals on the Plane of Water exhibit slightly more personality: some prefer specific currents, some chase certain prey-types, some accompany marid genies as servants. They communicate in Aquan with rumbling underwater vocalizations.
Origin
Water elementals are primal beings from one of the four foundational planes, considered as old as creation itself. They are summoned by druids, water-wizards, and certain priests as guardians, transport, or weapons. The Plane of Water teems with them; they constitute a significant portion of that plane's population, alongside marids and dao-traders. They have no individual origin-story; each elemental is simply a coalescence of conscious water that happens at intervals throughout the plane's eternal flow.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Water Elemental
- What is the challenge rating of Water Elemental?
- Water Elemental's challenge rating is 5. A party in this band works against tier-2 parties.
- What type of creature is Water Elemental?
- The bestiary type for Water Elemental is elemental, large size.
- Where does Water Elemental live?
- Water Elemental is at home in Coastal, Swamp, Underwater.