The Mighty Awakened Tree in D&D 5e: Your Verdant Ally or Fearsome Foe?

When you think of Dungeons & Dragons, chances are you picture fire-breathing dragons, crafty wizards, or sneaky rogues. These iconic characters and creatures often steal the spotlight in campaigns.

But let’s talk about a creature you might not think of right away—the awakened tree.

Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a regular old tree that’s been hit with a little magical TLC, turning it into a living, mobile powerhouse.

Thanks to spells like Awaken, which gifts plants or animals with intelligence and mobility, this once-stationary tree can now smash, slam, or lend a hand in your next adventure.

Picture a towering oak uprooting itself, lurching into battle, and raining down blows with its massive limbs. Not only is it a force to be reckoned with in combat, but it also adds an unexpected twist to any encounter.

At first glance, it might seem like just a walking tree, but the awakened tree has way more personality (and power) than you’d expect.

With a newly-given intellect and the ability to communicate in its own way, this creature can develop quirks, habits, and motivations, making it far more than just another monster to fight.

Maybe it’s a grumpy protector of its forest, suspicious of anyone who gets too close. Or perhaps it’s curious and eager to explore the world it was once rooted in, searching for purpose alongside adventurers.

Whether you’re a Dungeon Master looking to spice up your encounters or a player wanting to shake up your next session, this leafy giant holds endless storytelling potential. It’s perfect for surprising your group, challenging them in unique ways, or even becoming an unlikely ally.

So, next time you’re crafting a campaign or building your character’s backstory, give the awakened tree a closer look—it might just branch out into a session you’ll never forget! Let’s dive in!

What Exactly is an Awakened Tree?

At a glance, the awakened tree looks like…well, an ordinary tree. Its defining feature? Its combination of sapience and mobility, granted by the magical awaken spell or similar sorcery.

Essentially, you’re taking a humble oak or pine and giving it the ability to think, feel, and move. Think Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy but more “smashy.”

Once awakened, the tree becomes a Huge Plant creature and inherits a basic intelligence, wisdom, and (limited) charm. It can communicate in one language its creator knows, making it both useful for communication and for intimidating those pesky goblins who get in your way.

But don’t be fooled by its woody demeanor—the awakened tree isn’t just for show. It’s a powerhouse with features that can catch unwary adventurers off guard.

The Stats That Pack a Punch

Let’s break down the awakened tree’s stat block to show just how versatile and formidable this creature can be:

Armor Class (AC): 13 (natural armor)

While not impossible to hit, this AC makes the tree sturdy enough to shrug off weaker blows.

Hit Points (HP): 59 (7d12+14)

That’s a lot of bark to chew through! With nearly 60 HP, awakened trees can take quite a beating before falling.

Speed: 20 feet

Don’t expect these wooden titans to set any records for speed, but they’re surprisingly mobile for something that should technically have roots.

Main Attributes:

• Strength (STR): 19 (+4)—This tree isn’t skipping gym day! Its attacks hit hard and can grapple like a pro.
• Dexterity (DEX): 6 (-2)—Not exactly nimble, but it’s a tree, so who can blame it?
• Constitution (CON): 15 (+2)—This gives the tree an impressive level of durability in battle.
• Intelligence (INT): 10 (+0)—Smart enough to hold conversations or execute basic plans (depending on its creator).
• Wisdom (WIS): 10 (+0)—Decent situational awareness.
• Charisma (CHA): 7 (-2)—Not the most charming bunch of sticks.
• Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning and piercing (nonmagical attacks). Good luck whittling this bad boy down with basic swords!
• Damage Vulnerabilities: Fire. Yes, setting it on fire might seem cliché, but it is incredibly effective.

With a Challenge Rating of 2, the awakened tree is ideal for low- to mid-level adventuring parties who want to fight something tougher than bandits but less terrifying than, say, a dragon.

Notable Abilities

Awakened trees come with a couple of simple but impactful abilities that DMs can use to great effect:

1. False Appearance: While motionless, the tree is absolutely indistinguishable from a normal tree. (Cue the creepy forest vibes.) Imagine your party strolling through an “ordinary” grove, only for one of the trees to suddenly uproot itself and swing a branch. False Appearance is essentially a free ambush mechanic, perfect for keeping players on edge.
2. Slam Attack: The awakened tree’s only offensive move is a melee weapon attack with a +6 to hit, a reach of 10 feet, and a whopping 14 (3d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage. A single hit can send squishier characters like wizards or rogues flying—literally.

Roleplaying the Awakened Tree

The awakened tree is more than a walking club; it has personality. How much personality, you ask? That depends a lot on its creator (usually a druid, wizard, or other spellcaster). When roleplaying an awakened tree, consider its origins:

• The Wise Guardian: Perhaps the tree was woken to protect a grove or ancient relic. It might have a deep, rumbling voice and a no-nonsense attitude, often seeing itself as a protector of nature.
• The Clueless Newborn: Imagine a tree that’s just been awakened—everything is new to it! It might ask your adventurers silly questions like, “What is ‘walking’?” or “Why do tiny meat creatures like fire?”
• The Friendly Giant: Some awakened trees may develop fondness for their creators, wanting to help in battles, assist with mundane tasks, or even make jokes (in their slow, tree-like fashion).

This flexibility makes the awakened tree an excellent NPC or potential ally. If your party has the right tools (like the awaken spell) and some creative thinking, you might even convince one to join you as part of your growing adventuring squad.

How to Use the Awakened Tree in Gameplay

For Dungeon Masters, the awakened tree offers so much potential for unforgettable encounters. Here are a few ideas to incorporate this unique creature into your campaign:

1. Forest Ambush

The party enters a dark, ancient forest rumored to be cursed. Unbeknownst to them, the “trees” around them include a handful of awakened allies protecting the area. The fight will catch them off guard and make them second-guess every innocent-looking plant they pass for the rest of their adventure. Bonus points if the forest itself is controlled by a powerful druid or dryad.

2. The Tree With a Grudge

What happens if an adventurer gets careless and chops down one too many trees in a sacred grove? A vengeful awakened tree can serve as an environmental lesson disguised as a battle encounter. It’s perfect for moral storylines where over-exploitation of resources has a cost.

3. Living Siege Weapons

Climactic boss battles often need a little extra oomph, right? An awakened tree (or several!) can be placed near an enemy’s fortress gates, both as an obstacle for players to deal with and as a strategic component of the encounter. Imagine an evil druid awakening trees to smash catapults and wreak havoc during an attack on a military compound.

4. An Ally for Your Party

Casting the awaken spell costs 1,000 gold pieces and plenty of downtime, but the results? Worth it. Having an awakened tree as a party ally can be hilarious and heartwarming. Picture your wizard befriending a sentient pine named “Needles” and bringing him along for dungeon crawls. Sure, the tree doesn’t fit well in tight corridors, but that’s half the fun.

5. The Mysterious Protector

Ancient forests often hide powerful secrets. Perhaps the awakened tree is a wise sage that passes knowledge or quests onto the party. Or maybe the tree reluctantly guides them through the woods with plenty of grumbly dialogue about “kids these days” and “small creatures being too impatient.”

How to Counter an Awakened Tree

For adventurers on the receiving end of this massive plant’s wrath, don’t panic (too much). Here’s how to counter one effectively:

1. Fire, Fire, and More Fire: Most adventurers carry torches or spells like Fire Bolt, making the tree’s vulnerability easy to exploit. Careful, though—an angry, burning tree may try to take you down with it.
2. Stay Nimble: With a speed of 20 feet and poor Dexterity, the tree can’t compete with fast-moving foes. Use ranged attacks or lure it into tight spaces it can’t maneuver through for an advantage.
3. Avoid Grouping Up: An awakened tree’s slam attack has a decent reach and deals huge damage. Make sure casters and healers stay out of its attack radius.
4. Target With Precision: Its AC and resistances mean weaker attacks will bounce right off. Focus your heavy-hitters on taking it down quickly before it crushes the party’s squishier members.

Final Thoughts

An awakened tree might not have the scare factor of a lich or the epic vibe of a dragon, but in the right campaign, it can totally steal the show.

With its unassuming looks, surprising strength, and a ton of quirky potential, it’s proof that you should never underestimate tree power.

Whether it’s smashing enemies alongside your party or being the big bad you’ve got to outsmart, an awakened tree is a perfect pick for any forest-themed adventure.

So next time you’re wandering through the woods, keep an eye out—you never know when a tree might be keeping an eye on you.

FAQ About the Awakened Tree

1. Can a player awaken a tree, or is it a DM-exclusive creature?

Absolutely! Players with access to the awaken spell, such as druids or bards, can create their own awakened trees. Just make sure you’ve got the 1,000 gold pieces and several hours of spare time required for the ritual.

2. Does the awakened tree have free will after being awakened?

Yes, once awakened, the tree is a sentient, independent being. While it’s typically loyal to its creator, how it behaves is ultimately up to the DM.

3. Are multiple awakened trees overpowered in battle?

They can be! A single tree is dangerous for low-level parties, and multiple trees can quickly become overwhelming. DMs should gauge the encounter difficulty carefully.

4. Can you roleplay an awakened tree as a player character?

It’s rare, but sure! With DM approval, you could play a tree granted sapience and mobility. You’d probably need a custom character sheet since it has unique strengths and limitations.

5. What languages does the awakened tree speak?

The tree speaks one language known by its creator (usually Common or a druidic tongue). This makes it an excellent communicator with forest dwellers or adventurers alike.