b'Dwarf, Pike Guard \n'b'  Medium   humanoid  ( dwarf),  lawful neutral   \n'b'  Armor Class  16 (chain mail) \n'b' Hit Points  30 (4d8 + 12) \n'b' Speed  25 ft.\n'b' STATS STR: 14 (+2) DEX:  9 (\xe2\x80\x931)  CON:  16 (+3)  INT:  10 (+0)  WIS:  13 (+1)  CHA:  9 (\xe2\x80\x931)  \n'b'\n'b'\n'b'\n'b'\n'b'\n'b'\n'b'  Skills   Intimidation  +1,  Perception  +3 \n'b' Damage Resistances  poison \n'b' Senses   darkvision  60 ft., passive  Perception  13 \n'b' Languages  Common, Dwarvish \n'b' Challenge  1/2 (100 XP) \n'b' Proficiency Bonus  +2 \n'b' SPECIAL TRAITS \n'b'\n'b'  Forest of Pikes . If a pike guard is within 5 feet of at least one pike guard or pike guard captain, it has half  cover  against  ranged attacks . \n'b'\n'b' ACTIONS \n'b'\n'b'  Pike .  Melee Weapon Attack : +4 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.  Hit : 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage. \n'b'\n'b' REACTIONS \n'b'\n'b'  Brace Pike . When a creature enters the pike guard\xe2\x80\x99s reach, the pike guard can brace its pike. If it does so, it has advantage on its next  attack  roll against that creature. \n'b'\n'b' ABOUT \n'b' A heavily armored  dwarf  braces himself on one knee. A massive pike juts out ahead of him, warding off any who dare approach. \n'b' Anchoring the dwarven battle line, protecting besieged tunnels, and guarding its largest garrisons are the pike guards. Pike guards are dwarves armed with pikes, swathed in chain, and trained extensively in formation fighting. While not veterans, a mass of pike guards is a threat far greater than the sum of its parts. Massed pikes turn away arrows and spells as effectively as any  shield , while their officers can inspire a unit to hold against even the most horrific adversary. \n'b'  Stationary Guardians . A pike guard is trained to fight a defensive engagement, one where its  slow  speed and lack of ranged weapons doesn\xe2\x80\x99t work against it. When in battle, units of pike guards require support against ranged attackers or risk being picked apart by distant foes. \n'b'  Veteran Officers . A pike guard formation is held together by a pike guard captain, a veteran  dwarf  who\xe2\x80\x99s survived untold battles over its long life. Such captains are key to their units, as they can ensure their subordinates focus their blows and don\xe2\x80\x99t rout. However, this can make a unit of pike guards fragile if its captain is killed.'