Shiver Shade | Free 5e and PF2e Monster

Written by Luke Hart

Navigating through the ancient burial site, a sudden chill sweeps through the air, more unnerving than the cold that clings to these icy lands. A haunting figure suddenly emerges from a snowdrift. It resembles a frostbitten humanoid, its form almost translucent as though made from the very mist of one’s breath in the cold air. A trail of frost follows in its wake, crisping over the ground like a living freeze, and its eyes, empty voids filled with malevolence, seem to sap the warmth from one’s very soul. Nearby, snow-covered corpses begin to twitch ominously.

Shiver shades are ghostly figures resembling frostbitten humanoids. They haunt areas where travelers have met icy ends, often near ancient burial sites or old campfires. With their chilling touch, they drain life and warmth from the living and can raise frozen corpses to serve them.

Versions for both 5e and Pathfinder 2e are included.

If you're looking for more drag-and-drops like this or other 5e and PF2e resources, check out our entire collection of Lair Magazine issues. This particular monster came from the January 2024 issue, Tundra & Terror, where you can find even more game master resources!

Silver Shade - 5e

Medium undead, chaotic evil

Armor Class 12

Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5)

Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)

Skills Perception +2, Stealth +4

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison

Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages understands the languages it knew in life but can’t speak

Challenge 1 (200 XP)      Proficiency Bonus +2

Incorporeal Movement. The shiver shade can move through other creatures and objects as if in difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Snow and Ice Phasing. The shiver shade can pass through solid ice and snow as easily as it moves through air.

Actions

Warmth Drain. Melee Spell Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 3) cold damage. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the cold damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies and rises as a frost zombie on the next round if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

Raise Frost Zombie. The shiver shade targets a humanoid corpse within 30 feet that has been dead for no longer than 1 minute. The corpse rises as a frost zombie under the shiver shade's control until either it or the shiver shade is destroyed.

Shiver Shade - Pathfinder 2

Creature 0, CE, Medium, Undead, Cold, Incorporeal, Spirit

Perception +6; lifesense 60 feet

Languages understands the languages it knew in life but can’t speak

Skills Occultism +4, Religion +4, Stealth +5

Str -5, Dex +3, Con +2, Int +0, Wis +2, Cha +3

—

AC 15; Fort +3, Ref +9, Will +6

HP 15 (negative healing); Immunities death effects, disease, paralyzed, poison, precision, unconscious; Resistances all damage 3 (except force, ghost touch, or positive, double resistance against non-magical)

—

Speed fly 30 feet; the shiver shade can pass through solid ice and snow as easily as it moves through air.

Melee [one action] warmth drain +8 (agile, magical, curse), Damage 1d4+2 negative plus the target must succeed on a DC 13 Fortitude or gain doomed 1 (or doomed 2 if the creature is already doomed 1). If the target dies while doomed, it rises again as a frost zombie under the control of the shiver shade. If the shiver shade is destroyed before the creature dies, its doomed value decreases to 0.

Raise Frost Zombie [two actions] (magical, necromancy) The shiver shade targets a humanoid corpse within 30 feet that has been dead for no longer than 1 minute. The corpse rises as a frost zombie under the shiver shade's control until either it or the shiver shade is destroyed.

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