Last Updated on November 15, 2023
Goristro
Huge fiend (demon), chaotic evil
- Size: Huge
- Creature Type: Fiend (Demon)
- Alignment: Chaotic Evil
- AC 19 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 310 (23d12 + 161)
- Speed 40 ft.
- STR: 25(+7) DEX: 11(+0) CON: 25(+7)
- INT: 6(-2) WIS: 13(+1) CHA: 14(+2)
- Saving Throws: Strength +13, Dexterity +6, Constitution +13, Wisdom +7
- Skills: Perception +7
- Damage Resistances: Cold, Fire, Lightning, Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing from nonmagical attacks
- Damage Immunities: Poison
- Condition Immunities: Poisoned
- Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17
- Languages Abyssal
- Challenge Rating 17 (18,000 XP)
Charge. If the goristro moves at least 15 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a gore attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 38 (7d10) piercing damage.
If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 20 feet away and knocked prone.
Labyrinthine Recall. The goristro can perfectly recall any path it has traveled.
Magic Resistance. The goristro has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Siege Monster. The goristro deals double damage to objects and structures.
Actions
Multiattack. The goristro makes three attacks: two with its fists and one with its hoof.
Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Hoof. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (3d10 + 7) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 45 (7d10 + 7) piercing damage.
What is a Goristro?
A goristro is a vicious Type 6 demon. It is one of the most powerful demons below an actual demon lord.
Goristro resemble demonic minotaurs and stand over 20 feet tall. Unlike other demons, they are more of a mindless beast than a thoughtful foe.
A goristro’s heavy hooves, sharp claws, and massive horns all point toward one very clear message: you should not be fighting this thing.
The minotaur qualities of the goristro don’t stop at its charming good looks. It uses its horns to gore its victims and is extremely well versed at making its way through a labyrinth.
Goristroi are extremely animalistic in nature and as such find themselves being used as tools of a demon army. Since these creatures are so large and adept at charging, they’re often used as living siege machines.
If a demon lord’s army is coming up on an enemy keep, you can expect at least a few goristroi to be leading the charge.
Interestingly enough, goristroi don’t have any supernatural abilities aside from their magical resistance and their preternatural sense of direction.
Unlike most demons, these creatures rely solely on their brute force to conquer any foes.
DM Guide to a Goristro
A goristro will likely never be alone. These beastly demons are far too unintelligent to be left unsupervised and are often found at the command of a demon lord or a molydeus.
Unfortunately for your players, a goristro without a master might be an even worse problem to deal with.
If you’re dealing with a large demon army or a small demonic battalion, you’ll likely want to have a goristro or two in the mix.
Since these creatures have such high CR, you won’t want to put them in the company of incredibly strong demons unless the PCs have amassed a significant allied force to their side.
Using the goristro as a tool of a more intelligent demon means putting their size to good use.
On a battlemat, goristro would take up 9 squares (3×3) when your PCs only take up one each. A goristro, then, makes an excellent distraction target.
With more than 300 HP, it’s going to be hard to take this creature down as it gores victims left and right at the behest of its commander.
Fighting a Goristro
Most of the tactics involved in defeating a goristro are focused on its incredible stupidity and hinge on that for survival.
Spells that demand intelligence saves are going to be the most effective on a goristro, since it has a whopping -2 modifier.
It does have advantage, but advantage mixed with a -2 averages out to only about a +2 modifier, meaning if you have a high enough DC you’re very likely to succeed on your casting.
Of course, imposing disadvantage isn’t a bad way to make your life a whole lot easier.
An excellent spell is the 8th-level Mental Prison spell. This spell creates an illusory effect that convinces the target that its surrounding area is unsafe.
No matter what the image, this deals 5d10 psychic damage when the effect is created and 10d10 psychic damage when the spell ends.
If you hold this for just a few turns and continue to deal damage to the restrained demon over the course of just a few turns, you’ll likely be able to kill it before it can even land a hit.
As always, happy adventuring.
As a kid, I was often told to get my head out of the clouds and to stop living in a fantasy world. That never really jived with me, so I decided to make a living out of games, stories, and all sorts of fantastical works. Now, as an adult, I aspire to remind people that sometimes a little bit of fantasy is all you need when life gets to be too much.
