Skeleton

The skeleton is the simplest undead: an emerald and a word of power set a stripped corpse back on its feet, usually with a rusted weapon in hand. It is slow-witted and brittle, and collapses into loose bones the moment its magic runs out. Yet it never sleeps or flees, and a necromancer can raise one per caster level. Its strength lies in numbers.

A Medium creature, the skeleton becomes available with Raise Undead at Level 3.

---

Skeleton (Raise Undead Template)

In this template, “DC” means the necromancer's spell DC. Values marked XX are variable: multiply the table value by caster level. The columns are indexed by the level of the Raise Undead spell.

Skeleton, Medium undead
Speed: XX ft
HP: XX
DR: XX
Saves: Reflex DC −25%, Fortitude—none, Will—no mind (body magic opposes the DC)

Attacks:

• Found Weapon (mundane): Weapon dice (see 11) + XX
• Bone Claws: Base damage 1d4+XX

Undead Nature An undead; see 3.

Standing Orders A skeleton follows only the simple, permanent orders of the necromancer who raised it (see Raise Undead).

Slow and Clumsy A stiff skeleton dodges and parries poorly, as represented by its reduced Reflex DC. It has no attack roll or AC: its blows land unless dodged or parried, and it defends itself only with its Reflex Save and DR.

Bare Bones Piercing and slashing weapons can pass between its bones. The GM may halve their damage. Bludgeoning weapons deal full damage.

Variable Stats by Spell Level

Variable	Level 3	Level 5	Level 7	Level 9	Level 10
HP per caster level	4	8	16	32	64
Attack Damage	8+CL	16+CL	32+CL	64+CL	128+CL
Number of attacks per turn	3	3	3	3	3
Speed	25ft	25ft	30ft	35ft	40ft
DR	2	4	8	16	32