The Grick in 5e: Our Guide for DMs & Players

Last Updated on November 9, 2023

There is no monstrosity more “pest-like” in nature than the Grick. These octopus-faced worms lie in wait in the rocky crags of the Underdark, just waiting for passersby to pass by and become their next meal.

Here’s the down-low on the Grick.

What Is a Grick?

Gricks are worm-like monstrosities that lurk the passageways that lead through the Underdark. These creatures are passive, ambush predators that lie in wait, concealed among the shadows of the rocky debris of the Underdark.

When potential food wanders by, they strike with their tentacles and beak to try and drag their prey away to be feasted upon.

Explorers may find that Gricks travel in packs led by one fat, overfed Grick around which the other Gricks in the pack congregate.

They make lairs in the tunnels between Underdark locations and follow their food.

Gricks are incredibly adept at camouflaging themselves among the rocky debris. Their rough, gray skin blends in very well and makes them exceptionally difficult to see, especially in the shadows of the Underdark.

The lairs of Gricks are often filled with the spoils of their hunts. Many of their hunts include sentient creatures that may have carried weapons, armor, or treasure with them.

While avoidance is the most popular way for the common folk to deal with Gricks, whether they’re Underdark residents or above-ground peasants, spunky adventurers have been known to seal off Grick lairs.

It will trap the Gricks inside their caves and starve them to death. Once the Gricks have perished inside their lairs, adventurers will ransack the Grick lair and take all the spoils of their previous hunts.

A Player’s Guide To Hunting Gricks

Gricks aren’t exactly easy to find. They’ve got extraordinary camouflage abilities and don’t make a habit of living in places inhabited by humanoids.

However, if you travel through any rocky outcrops of any kind, we can guarantee that a Grick will find you. Once you’ve found a Grick, it’s not much further.

Gricks don’t possess exceptionally high damage output. They can’t wield weapons. Their armor class is relatively low. Their HP pool is similarly low.

However, they are resistant to all non-magical physical damage. So, focus on magical damage for the best outcome.

Watch out for other Gricks. Gricks travel in packs, and while one Grick is barely even threatening to level 2 characters, several Gricks could threaten high-level characters. Keep an eye on the ceiling; Gricks can climb.

Gricks are most common in the Underdark but may be found above ground. When above ground, they may post up in rocky areas, climb into trees, or really find any place to hide and ambush their prey.

If you were thinking of trying to talk a Grick down from fighting you, don’t waste your breath. They can’t speak any known languages and have no means to communicate with humanoids. They’re pest animals for a reason.

Gricks can be a formidable foe at low levels, even with their truthfully very mediocre stat pool. However, most parties will quickly scale out of range for a single, lone Grick as they have no Area of Effect skills and low modifiers. 

Additionally, their multiattack relies on them to land the tentacle attack even to make the beak attack. So, characters with a high Armor Class don’t have much to worry about since the Grick probably won’t be able to hit them.

A Dungeon Master’s Guide to Gricks

Gricks don’t talk and do not qualify as intelligent life. So, don’t worry about having to roleplay as a Grick. The extent of your roleplay will likely be roaring, screaming, and screeching.

However, choosing to include Gricks in your campaign means working with their middling stats to create a compelling encounter.

One of the easiest ways to create a compelling Grick encounter is to multiply the number of Gricks.

Make sure you don’t add too many Gricks to this hunting pack, or you may end up killing your party by way of messing with the initiative order.

Still, too few Gricks is barely a challenge and may be over before your party can properly even get into “combat mentality.”

If the Gricks are above ground, they are likely to be found in a group. While Gricks generally travel in packs, above-ground Grick packs are more tightly knit than those traveling through the Underdark.

Gricks can’t be reasoned with as they don’t speak any language. However, if they understand one type of communication, it’s food.

If your party offers the Grick food, it could be reasonable to allow them to skip the encounter. If there are multiple Gricks, they may need to present food for each individual Grick before being allowed to pass.

So, good luck, have fun, and happy questing!