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Deep Gnome (Svirfneblin) 5e: Monster Stat Block and Tactics
This page covers the deep gnome monster stat block from SRD 5.1 (2014), the one a DM uses to run a svirfneblin NPC or patrol, not the deep gnome player species, which isn't in either SRD. The deep gnome is a CR 1/2 Small humanoid with AC 15, 16 hit points, 120-foot darkvision, Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma saves against magic, and a handful of innate spells: Nondetection on itself at will, plus Blindness/Deafness, Blur and Disguise Self once a day. SRD 5.2.1 (2024) has no deep gnome stat block, so 2024 tables use this one or reskin another.
Stone Camouflage.The gnome has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.
Gnome Cunning.The gnome has advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
Innate Spellcasting.The gnome's innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 11). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: At will: nondetection (self only) 1/day each: blindness/deafness, blur, disguise self
Actions
War Pick.Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Poisoned Dart.Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success
Stat block from the SRD 5.1 (2014 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
Three things set it apart from other CR 1/2 humanoids. Nondetection at will (self only, no material components) means divination can't target it and scrying sensors can't see it, and the 25 gp diamond dust the spell normally eats isn't needed. Stone Camouflage gives Advantage on Stealth checks to hide in rocky terrain, on top of Stealth +4. And Gnome Cunning makes it a poor target for mind magic. It's neutral good, so in most campaigns it meets the party as a wary local, not a monster.
How Deep Gnomes Fight
Hide first. In a cave, a deep gnome rolls Stealth with Advantage at +4. Against a passive Perception of 12 it needs a 9 or better, which with Advantage comes up about 84% of the time. It sees 120 feet in the dark; most darkvision sees 60.
Open with the dart. The poisoned dart is +4 to hit (45% against AC 16) for 4 damage, and on a hit the target must make a DC 12 Constitution save or be poisoned for up to a minute, repeating the save at the end of each turn. Poisoned means Disadvantage on attacks and ability checks. Aim it at the fighter.
Use the spells in order.Blur (concentration) gives every attacker Disadvantage against the gnome unless they don't rely on sight. Blindness/Deafness isn't concentration, so the gnome can blind the party's archer (DC 11 Constitution save) while Blur is still running. Disguise Self is for before the fight: a "lost miner" who isn't.
Melee is a last resort. The war pick is +4 for 6 damage, and its speed is only 20 feet. A deep gnome caught in the open in melee is a 16-hit-point target. It retreats into tunnels the party can't follow quickly.
Running a Deep Gnome Encounter
Encounter
2024 rules
2014 guidelines (with multiplier)
2 deep gnomes vs four level 1 characters (200 XP)
Low
Hard
4 deep gnomes vs four level 2 characters (400 XP)
Low
Deadly
6 deep gnomes vs four level 3 characters (600 XP)
Low
Hard
The 2014 numbers come from our encounter calculator. Four deep gnomes with Blur and Blindness/Deafness are a real fight for level 2 characters, because four blinding spells can shut down half the party for a round or two. As allies or guides, they're worth more alive: use the NPC generator to give the patrol leader a name and a reason to trust the party.
How Players Beat Deep Gnomes
•Use physical saves. Gnome Cunning gives Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma saves against magic. Its Strength, Dexterity and Constitution saves are all +2 with no Advantage. Thunderwave and Burning Hands beat Hold Person here.
•Break concentration. Blur ends if its concentration breaks. Any hit forces a Constitution save (+2) against DC 10 or half the damage.
•Light the tunnel. Bright light doesn't hurt it, but Stone Camouflage and hiding need cover and darkness. Take those away.
•Forget divination. Nondetection stops locating spells and scrying. Track it the old way.
Deep Gnome Encounter Ideas
The mining dispute. A surface mining company has broken into a deep gnome gem gallery. The gnomes have been blinding the miners and stealing their picks. Both sides want the party to fix it. Only one side is telling the whole truth.
The guide who can't be scried. The party needs to cross deep caverns without their enemy watching through scrying. A deep gnome guide's Nondetection covers only himself, which is the joke he keeps making.
The disguised envoy. A "human merchant" at the town gate is a deep gnome using Disguise Self, here to warn the town about something rising from below. The disguise lasts an hour. The guard captain doesn't believe anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CR is a deep gnome in 5e?
CR 1/2, worth 100 XP, in the SRD 5.1 (2014) stat block.
Is there a 2024 deep gnome stat block?
Not in SRD 5.2.1. The 2024 SRD has no deep gnome monster, so this 2014 stat block is the one available under the SRD.
Is the deep gnome stat block the same as the player race?
No. This is the monster stat block for a deep gnome NPC. The playable deep gnome isn't in either SRD.
What does Gnome Cunning do for a deep gnome?
It gives Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma saving throws against magic. Spells that call for Strength, Dexterity or Constitution saves get no such resistance.
Stat blocks: System Reference Document 5.1 (2014), Wizards of the Coast, CC-BY-4.0. Tactics, encounter math and ideas are Loreify's own.
This page includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Loreify is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.