While a weak D&D party can easily steamroll low-level monsters, it is possible to turn any encounter into a formidable threat by utilizing an obscure enemy type.
Even though a group in Dungeons & Dragons 5e may have suboptimal character classes or races, the game is designed to be well-balanced. This means that even at level 1, they still have a good chance of surviving traps and monsters with the intended Challenge Rating.
The well-known minor enemies, including skeletons, bandits, goblins, kobolds, zombies, and wolves, must rely on luck or strategic use of the battlefield to stand a chance against a level 1 party.
Swarm monsters, like the Swarm of Rats or Swarm of Poisonous Snakes, are a group of creatures that occupy a single space. They are not only capable of inflicting strong attacks, but they also pose a threat to players by inhabiting the same space. If a player attempts to move, they may trigger an Attack of Opportunity. Additionally, these swarms gain a significant amount of resistance and immunity to various conditions in this concentrated form.
As stated in a discussion on the DnD Reddit, it is possible to transform any creature in D&D 5e into a swarm. This means that you can have a swarm made up of werewolves, dragons, or even tarrasques. The possibilities are endless.
The concept involves the swarm combining weaker monsters to create a single, more powerful boss monster. This compensates for their lower numbers by increasing their overall strength and resilience.
Deploying multiple swarms can also simulate a large-scale conflict, such as a riot or a war, in a game. This tactic prevents players from easily eliminating numerous enemies at once with powerful AoE spells.
Swarms are also effective in simulating an undead apocalypse. While individual skeletons or zombies may not pose a significant threat (especially to a group with a Cleric or Paladin), a large group with a singular objective will prove to be a formidable force.
The rules for swarm encounters allow DMs to add a fresh challenge to enemies that players may have encountered before, and can even catch experienced players off guard. While a group may usually dismiss a pack of zombies, they will quickly realize the danger when the undead creatures move with the speed and ferocity of the fast zombies from 28 Days Later.
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