Skeleton

Skeletons were undead animated corpses similar to zombies, but completely devoid of flesh and did not feed on the living. They could be made from virtually any solid creature, and as such their size and power varied widely. In addition to the basic humanoid skeleton, there were also skeletons created from wolves, trolls, ettins and even giants.
==Description==
The undead form of skeletons was held by necromantic energy, which kept otherwise loose bones and joints together and conferred on the undead corpse a glimmer of vitality and rudimentary intellectual capabilities.
Although skeletons were most typically created from humanoid remains, many other varieties existed.
===Variations===
; Animal skeleton : A general term for skeletons created from the corpses of small to medium-sized vertebrate animals, such as warhorse skeletons.
; Baneguard : First developed by priests of Bane, these skeletons could phase in and out and hurl bolts of magical energy.
; Blazing bones : Fiery skeletal undead created when a spellcaster's contingency spell goes wrong.
; Bonebat : A bat-like skeletal creature, created from either the bones of several bats or one giant bat.
; Burnbones : Powerful priests of Cyric who have been transformed into their current undead state as a special favor from the Dark Sun. Their place within the church of Cyric is as the baneliches' within the church of Bane.
; Decrepit: A skeleton that was particularly old and slowly crumbling apart.
; Direguard : Baneguards improved by the Church of Cyric, these skeletons are wreathed in a shadowy field of force that functions as armor. They could also see invisible foes.
; Merrow skeleton : A skeletal undead form of the merrow.
; Minotaur skeleton : A skeleton created from the corpse of a minotaur.
; Skeleton warrior : Powerful skeletons were created from great warriors who retained all of their fighting skills and enslaved to magical circlets. Highly resistant to magic and difficult to command, skeleton warriors were rarely found in groups greater than two or three.
; Skeletal dragon : Created from a dragon and retained some of their deadly abilities. Not to be confused with a dracolich.
===Other Varieties===
Athach skeleton • Blazing skeleton • Bloody bones • Boneshard skeleton • Bonewretch skeleton • Death kin skeleton • Defiling skeleton • Dread • Dry bones • Frost skeleton • Gem eyes • Insectoid • Lightning skeleton • Marrowshriek skeleton • Monster skeleton • Obsidian skelton • Runeflame skeleton • Shattergloom skeleton • Skeletal tomb guardian • Skinwalker skelton • Skleros • Spine creep skeleton • Stonespawned skeleton • Tortured skeleton • Vicious skeleton
==Combat==
Animated skeletons were immune to mind-affecting spells; they could not be rendered unconscious and could not tire. Edged and piercing weapons, such as swords and arrows, were mostly ineffective against skeletons; only blunt weapons, such as warhammers, were effective at knocking the bones apart. 
Like other undead, skeletons could be repelled or destroyed outright by priests like paladins and clerics.
==Ecology==
===Creation===
The necromantic spell animate dead allowed spellcasters to create skeletons. They could also spontaneously rise in locations saturated with evil or necromantic powers.
==Appendix==
===Appearances===
===Gallery===
Skeleton spellfire.jpg|A depiction of a skeleton from Spellfire: Master the Magic.
Descent skeleton.jpg|A member of the Cassalanter family, plaguing Waterdeep as a skeleton.
Animal skeleton 1e.png|A reanimated skeletal animal.
Skeleton AFRT.jpg|A depiction of a skeleton from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Tokens
Skeleton chult.png|A skeleton from Chult.
Skeleton.png|A skeleton from 2nd edition.
Clattering Skeletons AFR.jpg|A depiction of several skeletons from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
Clattering Skeletons Alt AFR.jpg|A depiction of several skeletons from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
Skeletal Swarming AFR.jpg|Skeletons swarming a band of adventurers.
Skeleton planescape.jpg|A skeleton from Sigil's Mortuary.
Skeleton-wow.jpg|A skeleton from Warriors of Waterdeep.
SKeleton AOL.png|A skeleton depiction from Neverwinter Nights (AOL game).
Tresendar-skeletons.webp|Skeletons haunting the crypts of Tresendar Manor.
David-astruga-skelly.jpg|A dangerous-looking skeleton.
DeathKeep sksleton.png|A skeleton from Deathkeep.
Scully bg3.jpg|A well-armed skeleton from Baldur's Gate III.
===External links===
* 
===References===
de:Skelette
Category:Creatures found in any terrain
Category:Creatures found in any climate
Category:Creature templates