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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

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There is a Legacy version here.

PFS StandardSkeleton Guard

The most common skeletal minions are mere guardians.

Recall Knowledge - Undead (Religion): DC 13
Unspecific Lore: DC 11
Specific Lore: DC 8

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Changes from being Weak are marked in red below.
NOTE: The -2 damage penalty to non-strike offensive abilities (-4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.

Weak Skeleton GuardCreature -2

Medium Mindless Skeleton Undead Unholy 
Source Monster Core pg. 312
Perception +2; darkvision
Skills Acrobatics +4, Athletics +1
Str +2, Dex +4, Con +0, Int -5, Wis +0, Cha +0
Items scimitar, shortbow (20 arrows)
AC 14; Fort +0, Ref +6, Will +0
HP 4 (void healing); Immunities bleed, death effects, disease, mental, paralyzed, poison, unconscious; Resistances cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5, piercing 5, slashing 5
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] scimitar +4 [-1/-6] (forceful, sweep), Damage 1d6-2+2 slashingMelee [one-action] claw +4 [+0/-4] (agile, finesse), Damage 1d4-2+2 slashingRanged [one-action] shortbow +4 [-1/-6] (deadly d10, range increment 60 feet, reload 0), Damage 1d6-2 piercing

All Monsters in "Skeleton"

NameLevel
Beetle Carapace6
Drake Skeleton8
Harpy Skeleton5
Skeletal Champion2
Skeletal Giant3
Skeletal Horse2
Skeletal Hulk7
Skeletal Mage5
Skeletal Soldier1
Skeletal Titan13
Skeleton Guard-1
Skeleton Infantry11
Tyrannosaurus Skeleton9
Wolf Skeleton0

Skeleton

Source Monster Core pg. 312
Animated skeletons are among the most common types of undead.

Skeleton Abilities

Most skeletons have one of these abilities. If you give a skeleton more, you might want to increase its level and adjust its statistics.

Bloody A coating of blood gives the skeleton fast healing equal to its level.
Collapse [reaction] Trigger The skeleton is critically hit; Effect The skeleton collapses into a pile of bones and the attack deals only normal damage. The skeleton can re-form in a standing position as an action, but until it does, it is immobilized and off-guard.
Explosive Death When the skeleton is destroyed, its bones shatter and explode. Adjacent creatures take 1d6 slashing damage per 2 levels (minimum 1d6) with a basic Reflex save against the moderate spell DC for the skeleton's level.

Screaming Skull [two-actions] (auditory, emotion, fear, mental) The skeleton removes its skull and throws it, making a jaws attack with a range of 20 feet. It then attempts to Demoralize each foe within 10 feet of the target. The head bounces, rolls, or even flies back, returning to the skeleton at the start of its next turn. The skeleton is blind until then.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Creating Skeletons

Start with a skeleton of the appropriate size. (Gargantuan skeletons can use skeletal hulk with the elite adjustments, Gargantuan size, and 5 feet more reach.) Add Strikes, Speeds, or other abilities it would gain from its shape. For instance, a chimera skeleton might have a horn attack with its goat head and jaw attacks with its dragon and lion heads, but not a fist attack.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Unlife Without Flesh

The necromantic energies that infuse animated undead skeletons give them the ability to see without eyes and move without muscles. Despite being mindless, skeletons' instinct to do evil comes from their corrupt vital essence, perverting void energy for creation rather than destruction.