Badger
Tiny Beast, unaligned
10 XP
Special Abilities
Keen Smell
The badger has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Actions
Bite
Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
Quick Reference
Running This Encounter
Badgers are best used as environmental hazards or minor obstacles rather than serious threats. Use them to add flavor to underground locations, forests, or burrows where they defend territory. A single badger poses minimal danger to adventurers but can cause a distraction or minor wounds. Consider using them in swarms of 3-5 to create a more challenging encounter.
Combat Tactics
Badgers are aggressive and tenacious despite their small size. They will fight to the death defending their burrow or young, using their low AC and tiny frame to stay mobile around larger foes. They focus on biting exposed limbs and attempting to knock prone creatures into their burrows.
Environment & Setting
Badgers thrive in forests, grasslands, and mountain foothills where they maintain extensive burrow systems. An encounter works well when adventurers stumble upon a badger den or encounter them while traversing the Underdark.