understands the languages it knew in life but can't speak
Traits
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5+the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage.
How zombies fight
A zombie is slow (20 feet), clumsy (AC 8) and hits for only 1d6 + 1. It’s dangerous for two reasons: there are usually a lot of them, and they’re hard to put down. With 22 hit points, a zombie takes a few hits, and Undead Fortitude can keep it on its feet even then.
When damage would drop a zombie to 0 hit points, it makes a Constitution save against DC 5 plus the damage taken. If it succeeds, it stays up with 1 hit point. That doesn’t work against radiant damage or a critical hit, so clerics and paladins, and anyone who rolls a 20, put zombies down for good.
Running zombies at the table
Use numbers. A single zombie is easy. A crowd shambling out of a crypt, blocking every exit, is a horror scene.
Keep them coming. Zombies never flee and never reason. They walk at the nearest living creature and slam it.
Describe the Undead Fortitude saves. A zombie that rises again after the killing blow tells players to bring radiant damage.
Common questions
How does Undead Fortitude work?
If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit points, it makes a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken. On a success it drops to 1 hit point instead. With its +3 Constitution modifier, a zombie hit for 7 damage needs a 9 or better on the d20 to stay up.
What bypasses Undead Fortitude?
Radiant damage and critical hits. Sacred Flame and Divine Smite are the classic zombie answers, and from 5th level a cleric’s Turn Undead destroys zombies outright.
How many zombies for a party of four 1st-level characters?
A zombie is CR 1/4, worth 50 XP. By the Dungeon Master’s Guide’s encounter math, two are Easy, three are Hard and four are Deadly on paper. Their low AC and slow speed make them easier than that in practice.
Can a cleric destroy zombies with Turn Undead?
From 5th level, yes. Destroy Undead destroys undead of CR 1/2 or lower that fail the save against Turn Undead, and zombies are CR 1/4.
Are zombies immune to poison?
Yes, to poison damage and the poisoned condition.
How are zombies made?
Animate Dead raises a zombie from a Medium or Small humanoid corpse, or a skeleton from bones.
CR 3. An intelligent undead that can raise zombies from those it kills.
How many zombies for a fight?
A zombie is worth 50 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many zombies fit each difficulty for a party of four characters of the same level. A dash means even one would be over the budget.
Party level
Low
Moderate
High
1st
4
6
8
2nd
8
12
12+
3rd
12
12+
12+
Budgets add up every monster’s XP, so you can swap some for other creatures of the same total. Try other party sizes and mixes in the encounter calculator.
How the zombie compares at CR 1/4
Against the 31 other challenge 1/4 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the zombie has more hit points than 26 of them, which makes it one of the toughest at its CR. See every CR 1/4 monster.
Statistic
Zombie
CR 1/4 average
Armor Class
8
11.9
Hit points
22
15
Best attack bonus
+3
+4
Zombie 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the zombie, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Understands Common plus one other language but can’t speak
Traits
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 Hit Points, it makes a Constitution saving throw (DC 5 plus the damage taken) unless the damage is Radiant or from a Critical Hit. On a successful save, the zombie drops to 1 Hit Point instead.
