diff --git a/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json b/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..43a5d05be11b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+[
+  {
+    "type": "behavior",
+    "id": "monster_goals",
+    "strategy": "sequential_until_done",
+    "children": [ "absorb_items", "monster_special" ]
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "behavior",
+    "id": "absorb_items",
+    "strategy": "sequential",
+    "predicate": "monster_not_hallucination",
+    "children": [ "do_absorb" ]
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "behavior",
+    "id": "do_absorb",
+    "predicate": "monster_items_available",
+    "goal": "consume_items"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "behavior",
+    "id": "monster_special",
+    "predicate": "monster_has_special",
+    "goal": "do_special"
+  }
+]
diff --git a/src/behavior_oracle.cpp b/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
index a2f49f82e643e..297e8d93e74f7 100644
--- a/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
+++ b/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ std::unordered_map<std::string, std::function<status_t( const oracle_t * )>> pre
         { "npc_can_make_fire", make_function( &character_oracle_t::can_make_fire ) },
         { "npc_can_take_shelter", make_function( &character_oracle_t::can_take_shelter ) },
         { "npc_has_water", make_function( &character_oracle_t::has_water ) },
-        { "npc_has_food", make_function( &character_oracle_t::has_food ) }
+        { "npc_has_food", make_function( &character_oracle_t::has_food ) },
+        { "monster_has_special", static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )() const>( &monster_oracle_t::has_special ) },
+        { "monster_not_hallucination", static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )() const>( &monster_oracle_t::not_hallucination ) },
+        { "monster_items_available", static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )() const>( &monster_oracle_t::items_available ) }
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/monmove.cpp b/src/monmove.cpp
index a133d78a82d67..60646005406a7 100644
--- a/src/monmove.cpp
+++ b/src/monmove.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <unordered_map>
 
 #include "avatar.h"
+#include "behavior.h"
 #include "bionics.h"
 #include "cata_utility.h"
 #include "creature_tracker.h"
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "memory_fast.h"
 #include "messages.h"
 #include "monfaction.h"
+#include "monster_oracle.h"
 #include "mtype.h"
 #include "npc.h"
 #include "pathfinding.h"
@@ -629,10 +631,14 @@ void monster::move()
         return;
     }
 
+    behavior::monster_oracle_t oracle( this );
+    behavior::tree goals;
+    goals.add( type->get_goals() );
+    std::string action = goals.tick( &oracle );
     //The monster can consume objects it stands on. Check if there are any.
     //If there are. Consume them.
-    if( !is_hallucination() && ( has_flag( MF_ABSORBS ) || has_flag( MF_ABSORBS_SPLITS ) ) &&
-        !g->m.has_flag( TFLAG_SEALED, pos() ) && g->m.has_items( pos() ) ) {
+    // TODO: Stick this in a map and dispatch to it via the action string.
+    if( action == "consume_items" ) {
         if( g->u.sees( *this ) ) {
             add_msg( _( "The %s flows around the objects on the floor and they are quickly dissolved!" ),
                      name() );
diff --git a/src/monster.cpp b/src/monster.cpp
index 46b17bea90f5f..e8f40fb63b6bd 100644
--- a/src/monster.cpp
+++ b/src/monster.cpp
@@ -2014,6 +2014,19 @@ void monster::disable_special( const std::string &special_name )
     special_attacks.at( special_name ).enabled = false;
 }
 
+int monster::shortest_special_cooldown() const
+{
+    int countdown = std::numeric_limits<int>::max();
+    for( const std::pair<std::string, mon_special_attack> &sp_type : special_attacks ) {
+        const mon_special_attack &local_attack_data = sp_type.second;
+        if( !local_attack_data.enabled ) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        countdown = std::min( countdown, local_attack_data.cooldown );
+    }
+    return countdown;
+}
+
 void monster::normalize_ammo( const int old_ammo )
 {
     int total_ammo = 0;
diff --git a/src/monster.h b/src/monster.h
index 455a6acee525e..9d2df09381110 100644
--- a/src/monster.h
+++ b/src/monster.h
@@ -390,6 +390,8 @@ class monster : public Creature
         void set_special( const std::string &special_name, int time );
         /** Sets the enabled flag for the given special to false */
         void disable_special( const std::string &special_name );
+        /** Return the lowest cooldown for an enabled special */
+        int shortest_special_cooldown() const;
 
         void process_turn() override;
         /** Resets the value of all bonus fields to 0, clears special effect flags. */
diff --git a/src/monster_oracle.cpp b/src/monster_oracle.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..88ba91621bb38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/monster_oracle.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#include <string>
+
+#include "behavior.h"
+#include "game.h"
+#include "map.h"
+#include "monster.h"
+#include "monster_oracle.h"
+
+namespace behavior
+{
+
+status_t monster_oracle_t::has_special() const
+{
+    if( subject->shortest_special_cooldown() == 0 ) {
+        return running;
+    }
+    return failure;
+}
+
+status_t monster_oracle_t::not_hallucination() const
+{
+    return subject->is_hallucination() ? failure : running;
+}
+
+status_t monster_oracle_t::items_available() const
+{
+    if( !g->m.has_flag( TFLAG_SEALED, subject->pos() ) && g->m.has_items( subject->pos() ) ) {
+        return running;
+    }
+    return failure;
+}
+
+} // namespace behavior
diff --git a/src/monster_oracle.h b/src/monster_oracle.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..d4452d49e8205
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/monster_oracle.h
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#pragma once
+#ifndef CATA_SRC_MONSTER_ORACLE_H
+#define CATA_SRC_MONSTER_ORACLE_H
+
+#include "behavior_oracle.h"
+
+class monster;
+
+namespace behavior
+{
+
+class monster_oracle_t : public oracle_t
+{
+    public:
+        monster_oracle_t( const monster *subject ) {
+            this->subject = subject;
+        }
+        /**
+         * Predicates used by AI to determine goals.
+         */
+        status_t has_special() const;
+        status_t not_hallucination() const;
+        status_t items_available() const;
+    private:
+        const monster *subject;
+};
+
+} // namespace behavior
+#endif // CATA_SRC_MONSTER_ORACLE_H
diff --git a/src/monstergenerator.cpp b/src/monstergenerator.cpp
index 50fa7c11664ad..3331b85a98edc 100644
--- a/src/monstergenerator.cpp
+++ b/src/monstergenerator.cpp
@@ -328,6 +328,14 @@ void load_monster_adjustment( const JsonObject &jsobj )
     adjustments.push_back( adj );
 }
 
+static void build_behavior_tree( mtype &type )
+{
+    type.set_strategy();
+    if( type.has_flag( MF_ABSORBS ) || type.has_flag( MF_ABSORBS_SPLITS ) ) {
+        type.add_goal( "absorb_items" );
+    }
+}
+
 void MonsterGenerator::finalize_mtypes()
 {
     mon_templates->finalize();
@@ -368,6 +376,7 @@ void MonsterGenerator::finalize_mtypes()
         // Lower bound for hp scaling
         mon.hp = std::max( mon.hp, 1 );
 
+        build_behavior_tree( mon );
         finalize_pathfinding_settings( mon );
     }
 
diff --git a/src/mtype.cpp b/src/mtype.cpp
index 452e348c8d9b7..b5f102d6f8fa2 100644
--- a/src/mtype.cpp
+++ b/src/mtype.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cmath>
 
+#include "behavior_strategy.h"
 #include "creature.h"
 #include "field_type.h"
 #include "item.h"
@@ -235,3 +236,18 @@ std::string mtype::get_footsteps() const
     }
     return _( "footsteps." );
 }
+
+void mtype::set_strategy()
+{
+    goals.set_strategy( behavior::strategy_map[ "sequential_until_done" ] );
+}
+
+void mtype::add_goal( const std::string &goal_id )
+{
+    goals.add_child( &string_id<behavior::node_t>( goal_id ).obj() );
+}
+
+const behavior::node_t *mtype::get_goals() const
+{
+    return &goals;
+}
diff --git a/src/mtype.h b/src/mtype.h
index 3f1fad40b8031..ff41fad5143f1 100644
--- a/src/mtype.h
+++ b/src/mtype.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "behavior.h"
 #include "calendar.h"
 #include "color.h"
 #include "damage.h"
@@ -213,6 +214,8 @@ struct mtype {
         enum_bitset<mon_trigger> fear;
         enum_bitset<mon_trigger> placate;
 
+        behavior::node_t goals;
+
         void add_special_attacks( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member_name,
                                   const std::string &src );
         void remove_special_attacks( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &member_name,
@@ -385,6 +388,9 @@ struct mtype {
         int get_meat_chunks_count() const;
         std::string get_description() const;
         std::string get_footsteps() const;
+        void set_strategy();
+        void add_goal( const std::string &goal_id );
+        const behavior::node_t *get_goals() const;
 
         // Historically located in monstergenerator.cpp
         void load( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string &src );
diff --git a/src/panels.cpp b/src/panels.cpp
index bf455076ba0af..3e29eebf7bbb2 100644
--- a/src/panels.cpp
+++ b/src/panels.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "cata_utility.h"
 #include "catacharset.h"
 #include "character.h"
+#include "character_oracle.h"
 #include "character_martial_arts.h"
 #include "color.h"
 #include "compatibility.h"
diff --git a/tests/behavior_test.cpp b/tests/behavior_test.cpp
index 8aa66fd8f7175..65212cbc49566 100644
--- a/tests/behavior_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/behavior_test.cpp
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@
 #include "behavior_oracle.h"
 #include "behavior_strategy.h"
 #include "catch/catch.hpp"
+#include "character_oracle.h"
 #include "game.h"
 #include "item.h"
 #include "item_location.h"
+#include "monster_oracle.h"
 #include "npc.h"
 #include "player.h"
 #include "map_helpers.h"
@@ -176,3 +178,18 @@ TEST_CASE( "check_npc_behavior_tree", "[npc][behavior]" )
         CHECK( npc_needs.tick( &oracle ) == "idle" );
     }
 }
+
+TEST_CASE( "check_monster_behavior_tree", "[monster][behavior]" )
+{
+    behavior::tree monster_goals;
+    monster_goals.add( &string_id<behavior::node_t>( "monster_special" ).obj() );
+    monster &test_monster = spawn_test_monster( "mon_zombie", { 5, 5, 0 } );
+    behavior::monster_oracle_t oracle( &test_monster );
+    CHECK( monster_goals.tick( &oracle ) == "idle" );
+    SECTION( "Special Attack" ) {
+        test_monster.set_special( "bite", 0 );
+        CHECK( monster_goals.tick( &oracle ) == "do_special" );
+        test_monster.set_special( "bite", 1 );
+        CHECK( monster_goals.tick( &oracle ) == "idle" );
+    }
+}