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    Bakeneko 化け猫

    Small or Medium fey (shapechanger, yokai), chaotic neutral

    Armor Class 15 (natural agility)

    Hit Points 78 (12d8 + 24)

    Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft. (in cat or hybrid form), 30 ft. (in humanoid form)

    STR 10 (+0) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 14 (+2) · INT 12 (+1) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 16 (+3)

    Saving Throws Dex +6, Cha +5

    Skills Deception +5, Perception +4, Stealth +6

    Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

    Condition Immunities charmed (optional, for a more formidable Bakeneko)

    Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

    Languages Common, Yokai Speech, understands Sylvan or regional dialects

    Challenge 6

    Traits

    Nimble Escape. In cat or hybrid form, the Bakeneko can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of its turns.

    Nine Lives (1/Day). When the Bakeneko is reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, it can drop to 1 hit point instead. It immediately shifts into cat form (if not already in that form), and gains advantage on Stealth checks for 1 minute.

    Inborn Spellcasting. The Bakeneko’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

    • At will: minor illusion (PHB p.260), prestidigitation (PHB p.267), mage hand (PHB p.256)

    • 3/day each: disguise self (PHB p.233), silent image (PHB p.276), charm person (PHB p.221)

    • 1/day each: fear (PHB p.239), invisibility (PHB p.254)

    (You can adjust these spells to suit your campaign or the Bakeneko’s personality—e.g., a heavier focus on illusions or enchantments.)

    Actions

    Multiattack. The Bakeneko makes two attacks, which can be Claw, Bite, or a mix of both.

    Claw (Cat or Hybrid Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

    Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage.

    Bite (Cat or Hybrid Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

    Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.

    Ghostly Flame (Recharge 5-6). The Bakeneko conjures eerie foxfire-like flames at a point it can see within 60 feet. Each creature in a 10-foot radius of that point must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 14 (4d6) fire damage, and the area is lit with pale, dancing flames until the start of the Bakeneko’s next turn. A creature within that flamesuffused area can’t benefit from being invisible.

    Necromantic Leap. As an action, the Bakeneko leaps over the corpse of a Small or Medium creature within 5 feet (the Bakeneko may move up to half its speed as part of this action). That corpse animates as a Zombie (per the Monster Manual) under the Bakeneko’s control. The zombie remains animate for 1 hour, after which it collapses into an inanimate corpse again. The Bakeneko can command the zombie telepathically (no action required), but only one such zombie can be active at a time.

    Bonus Actions

    Feline Dash. The Bakeneko can move up to its speed. Until the end of its turn, opportunity attacks against it have disadvantage.

    Reactions

    Deceptive Retreat. When the Bakeneko is targeted by an attack it can see, it briefly warps its appearance or conjures illusory duplicates (no material components needed). The attacker must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on the attack roll.

    Tactics & Behavior

    Bakeneko prefer to amush or deceive rather than fight head-on. They scout victims in cat form, gather information, and then move in with illusions.

    If it has access to fresh corpses, the Bakeneko can raise a zombie mid-fight to distract or corner foes.

    Rarely do Bakeneko fight to the death unless cornered. They love having a backup plan or an exit route, often using invisibility or illusions to flee.

    Lore

    Supernatural spirit cat with shape-shifting abilities and malicious or protective powers.

    The word “Bakeneko” literally means or “cat shapeshifter.” This phenomenon occurs when a cat grows old enough that it accumulates spiritual energy, crossing the boundary between ordinary beast and yokai. Typically, this transformation arises after thirteen years of life, though some stories claim it can happen as early as the ten-year mark—especially if the cat possesses unusual power, dwells in a place saturated with mystic energy, or bears a tricolor coat of black, white, and orange. Another widely recognized indication that a cat nears its transformation is excessive size—over one kan in weight (around 3.75 kg), a notably long tail, or even two tails. There is also a path tied to abuse: if a cat is mistreated or cast out, it may nurture a deep grudge, accumulate dark energy, and one day return as a Bakeneko to exact vengeance. In these stories, it may disguise itself in human form, infiltrate the household, and bring curses upon the entire family— causing disease, misfortune, or devouring its former owners in their sleep. Some say that if a cat dies harboring great bitterness, its spirit never finds rest and transforms into a Bakeneko. There are also tales of cats that awaken mystic abilities by living near Buddhist monasteries, suddenly speaking with monks or predicting the future before vanishing without a trace.

    Upon becoming a Bakeneko, a cat gains a host of supernatural powers. It may assume a human appearance, often that of a woman or a deceased family member. In certain legends, it drives people to strange, frenzied acts or lays curses to induce disease and wasting. Some say that if a Bakeneko leaps over a corpse, it can reanimate the dead— making the body walk and talk as though alive. Such a walking corpse is highly dangerous: its merest touch may prove lethal.

    From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 60 · Fern Flower Press