The Mimic's Adhesive Trait
In D&D 5e, the Mimic’s Adhesive trait does exactly what the name promises. While in Object Form, it grapples any Huge or smaller creature that touches it, no attack roll required. The escape DC is 13. This is the tax for reaching into the treasure chest without asking questions first, and it is the whole reason the creature earns its ambush.
The trait is also the extent of its threat. The Mimic has AC 12 and 58 hit points, which is a soft target for any party that commits its damage in one round. Its speed is 20 feet, so it does not follow. A grappled character can spend an action to break free, but the character who never touched it has no such problem and is free to attack from range.
The counterplay is arithmetic. Refuse contact, keep distance, and stack attacks against a 12 AC that most level-appropriate parties hit on anything but a low roll. A Mimic that cannot pull anyone into melee and cannot chase is a stationary bag of hit points.
At the table: Have one player identify the chest with an Investigation or Perception check before anyone touches it, then open the fight with ranged and spell attacks from 30 feet away.
Related
- Monster Tactic: The Statblock Is Not the Fight
- Encounter Seed: The Monster Is the Question
- Stat Blocks Lie: Monster Tactic in DCC
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