Vulture
Medium Beast, unaligned
10 XP
Special Abilities
Keen Sight and Smell
The vulture has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Pack Tactics
The vulture has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the vulture's allies is within 5 ft. of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Actions
Beak
Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage.
Quick Reference
Running This Encounter
Vultures are best used as environmental hazards or minion swarms rather than significant threats. Their low HP and AC make them trivial for leveled parties, but they excel at creating atmosphere in desolate locations and can harass unprepared adventurers. Consider using 4-6 vultures to create a genuine challenge, or employ them as scouts for intelligent creatures. Their scavenging behavior and aerial mobility make them great for dynamic encounters where terrain and positioning matter.
Combat Tactics
Vultures use their superior flying speed to stay mobile and out of melee range, diving at weakened or isolated targets. They prioritize wounded creatures and those separated from the group, using hit-and-run tactics rather than sustained combat. A vulture will typically flee once it takes damage, seeking easier prey.
Environment & Setting
Vultures thrive in open, desolate areas such as badlands, deserts, rocky plateaus, and battlefields littered with corpses. Ruins, cliffs, and areas with good vantage points allow them to circle before attacking, creating tension and environmental storytelling.