AC 8
HP 22 (3d8 + 9; bloodied 11)
Speed 15 ft., climb 15 ft., swim 15 ft.
Proficiency +2; Maneuver DC 11
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire
Condition Immunities blinded , charmed , deafened , fatigue , frightened , prone
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 8
Languages —
Amorphous. The ooze can pass through an opening as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.
Corrosive Body. A creature or a metal object that touches the ooze takes 5 (2d4) acid damage. A nonmagical weapon made of metal that hits the black pudding corrodes after dealing damage, taking a permanent -1 penalty to damage rolls per hit. If this penalty reaches -5, the weapon is destroyed. Metal nonmagical ammunition is destroyed after dealing damage.
False Appearance. While motionless, the ooze is indistinguishable from wet stone.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the ooze has disadvantage on attack rolls .
Ooze Nature. An ooze doesn’t require air or sleep.
ACTIONS
Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) bludgeoning damage plus 5 (2d4) acid damage. Nonmagical metal armor worn by the target corrodes, taking a permanent -1 penalty to its AC protection per hit. If the penalty reduces the armor’s AC protection to 10, the armor is destroyed.
Combat
The ooze slides along damp stone walls or floors. It pauses when it senses prey approaching. It chases the closest creature it can reach, but flees from sunlight.
Legends and Lore
With an Arcana or Nature check, characters can learn the following:
DC 10 Mindless and able to squeeze through the narrowest of cracks, oozes inhabit dank, dark places all over the world.
DC 15 There are many different types of oozes. Perhaps the strangest is the gelatinous cube: a nearly transparent ooze that engulfs dungeon explorers who stumble into it.
DC 20 Oozes dissolve any organic matter they come into contact with. Some oozes, such as black puddings, corrode metal as well.
Apart from its wet sheen, a gray ooze is indistinguishable from limestone or granite . When it spreads itself flat against a stone surface, it can be hard to spot—until it extends a pseudopod to dissolve flesh, metal, and bone.
1–2 DC 13 Perception check: pristine floors or walls
2 A door missing its metal hinges (gray ooze), a door missing its lower half (black pudding), or a skeleton (gelatinous cube or ochre jelly)
3 A bit of writhing ooze stuck in a crack
4 Wet and dripping walls and floors. DC 14 Investigation or Survival: The area is completely free of lichen, fungus, and other life that might thrive in this environment
Ooze Encounters Oozes lurk in sunless areas such as caverns, dungeons, and the ocean depths, as well as in areas of the Abyss and the Bleak Gate.
CR 0–2 gelatinous cube ; ochre jelly ; 1 to 3 gray oozes ; gray ooze in pit trap
Treasure flat carnelian gem carved with a lion, possibly once part of a signet ring (75 gp)
CR 3–4 black pudding ; gelatinous cube in pit trap; 2 gelatinous cubes or ochre jellies ; ochre jelly with 1d4 flying swords
Treasure flint, chalk, marble chess pieces (125 gp), malachite gem (10 gp), 1 dagger enchanted with continual flame
CR 5–10 elder black pudding ; gelatinous wall ; black pudding with walking statue or mimic
Treasure 3 sealed wine bottles containing fine wine (100 gp each), 4 amethyst gemstones (100 gp each), 2 elemental gems (fire)
Oozes are ambulatory, predatory amoeboid creatures that infest caverns and other dark places. A gelatinous cube is an ooze.