Sources
CR
Type
Size
Alignment
Movement

Groff

Large Plant, Unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 68 (8d10 + 24)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
20
+5
DEX
10
+0
CON
17
+3
INT
4
-3
WIS
13
+1
CHA
7
-2
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Traits

False Appearance. If the groff is motionless at the start of combat, it has advantage on its initiative roll. Moreover, if a creature hasn't observed the groff move or act, that creature must succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence (Investigation) check to discern that the groff isn't an ordinary moss-covered bog patch.

Hold Breath. The groff can hold its breath for up to 1 hour.

Actions

Multiattack. The groff makes one Bite attack and one Swamp Claw attack.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.

Swamp Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:8 (1d6 + 5) slashing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or become engulfed by the groff. While engulfed, the target can't breathe, is restrained, and takes 10 (3d6) poison damage at the start of each of its turns. When the groff moves, the engulfed target moves with it. The groff can have only one target engulfed at a time.

An engulfed target can repeat the saving throw at the end of its turns. On a success, the target escapes and enters the nearest unoccupied space.

Lore

Many a Strixhaven student wandering the bayou has stepped on a seemingly mundane patch of moss—only to discover that it was the back of a hungry groff lurking beneath the surface. These shaggy swamp creatures have canine faces and glowing blue eyes, and they are ravenous carnivores—with pest mascots being their favorite food. A handful of more intrepid Witherbloom mages have learned to follow groffs in order to track down pest mascots, but most of these mages have yet to find a way to capture…