Cowering

The creature is frozen in place by overwhelming fear and can take no actions whatsoever. Cowering is the most severe of the fear conditions.

Effects

• Cannot take any actions — no attacks, spells, movement, or free actions.
• –2 penalty to AC.
• Loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any).

Ending the Condition

• Cowering with a limited duration ends when that duration expires.
• Remove fear suppresses fear conditions (including cowering) for 10 minutes.
• Calm emotions suppresses fear effects for its duration.
• Heal and greater restoration remove ongoing fear conditions entirely.

The Fear Condition Chain

Pathfinder's fear conditions form a severity chain. A creature's fear can escalate along this track when additional fear effects are applied:

• Shaken — –2 on attacks, saves, and skill checks; the mildest fear condition.
• Frightened — flees if possible; –2 on attacks, saves, and checks.
• Panicked — drops items; flees; cannot take offensive actions.
• Cowering — frozen; cannot act at all; –2 AC; loses Dex bonus.

Common Sources

Cowering is typically caused by very powerful fear effects such as the fear spell on low-HD creatures, or certain monster special abilities (such as a dragon's frightful presence affecting creatures of significantly lower CR). It is a mind-affecting fear effect — creatures immune to fear or mind-affecting magic are unaffected.