Skeleton warrior

For The Cartoon TV-series, see Skeleton Warriors.

Skeleton warriors are a common fictional monster archetype common in western fantasy literature, television, and video games. They consist of animated human skeletons with human weapons and armor such as swords and shields. Because they are already dead, skeleton warriors can be very difficult to defeat. If they get smashed to pieces, often they can simply re-assemble.

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, skeleton warriors are a more powerful version of undead skeletons. Skeleton warriors are created from great warriors by powerful necromancy. Unlike their lesser kin, skeleton warriors retain all of their fighting skill and are highly resistant to magic. Skeleton warriors are difficult to command, and as such are rarely found in groups greater than two or three.

Lord Soth of Krynn was served by thirteen skeleton warriors, the cursed undead remnants of his loyal retainers.

Perhaps the most famous appearance of skeleton warriors was the stop motion sequence in the classic film Jason and the Argonauts.

In the Legend of Zelda video game series skeleton warriors are known as Stalfos knights.

See also

• Skeleton (undead)

References

• Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio (TSR, 1981).