So I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this, but with the Leonin race recently introduced, I thought it would be a fun idea to come up with a build for a Manticore Player Character.
I'm sure it could if been done with tabaxi, but I feel Leonin fits better for obvious reasons. So Leonin for race, Draconic Sorcerer (Green/Poison) for breath attack and eventually wings at 14th level.
The manticore was a skilled predator, it had a humanoid face that would make noises or sing tunes which was typically a sign that it was nearby, razor sharp teeth, body of a lion and a scorpion's tail, usually with venomous barbs. The breath attack can be reflavored, although actually having a tail that shoots arrow-like barbs maybe too difficult to get.
My problem is, this character is either, a full sorcerer which I feel a Manticore wouldn't be a pure spell caster or, is a multiclass.
What would be the best way to achieve this concept? I'm thinking either Bard/Sorcerer, Paladin/Sorcerer or maybe even Warlock/Sorcerer. I'd really like to see what ideas anyone might come up with.
Manticore don't get poison attacks or a breath weapon according to their stat block in the monster manual.You get bite, claw and tail spike attacks (piercing damage, slashing damage and piercing damage respectively).
I think I'd go for a Druid, take Magic Stone but reflavour it to creating 3 manticore spikes instead of stones dealing 1d6 + spellcasting ability in piercing damage each, then go for circle of the moon and bat your eyes lovingly at your DM and ask if you can have the ability to wildshape into a Manticore from level 9 onwards (its a CR3 monster so should be doable its just a monstrosity instead of a beast).
For claw attacks take a scimitar.
Maybe multiclass to Ranger (Hunter or Gloomstalker) to get the two weapon fightign style to dual weild them.
Both are pretty similar to each other, both describe the Manticore as Man-Faced (sometimes red), has sharp teeth, body of a lion, a scorpion tail that can shoot arrow-like barbs.
I've seen the monster depicted with wings, but I'm not actually sure where the wings come from, maybe because the Manticore was a symbol of the devil in the Christian religion?
Either way I thought a winged beast would be fun to play, but it seems it's not necessary to have them.
Dragonborn had one that gave them wings so if that is something you want then have the Leonin, or possibly green dragonborn if posion is also a must, for the stats and reflavoured to "Half Manticore", have a curse somewhere in the backstory to explain it and then at level 4 poof! now I have wings.
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having a quiick think about a homebrew race to factor in some posion aspects and....
Half Manticore:
Half Manticores are under some form of curse, either from the gods or a hag coven, they are forever consumed with hunger for the flesh of their own kind. They become consumate hunters and often find their way into the service of more evil aligned creatures and many unfortunates with this affliction become evil themselves.
Regardless of the race they were before being cursed, the Half Manticore is humanoid in shape, powerfully built and has a tail with several spikes at the end. Their heads are more animalistic and their mouths have three rows of teeth, their body is more lion like being covered in short fur and their paw like hands have sharp claws.
stats/abilities as per Leonin from the Theros book but replace daunting roar for: Tail Spike: 1x SR/LR can shoot a spike from their tail, the spike deals 1d8 Piercing damage (+ str mod) and target makes a Cons save or takes a further 1d6 poison damage. The posion damage increases to 2d6 at level level 6, 3d6 at level 11 and to 4d6 at level 16. The DC for this save is 8 + your cons modifier + your proficiency bonus.
EDIT: forgot to put itn tail spike requires action to use and has range of 30/60.
Homebrew feats:
Manticore Hide,: You learn how to fully utilise your fang filled maw. If you use the attack action to make a weapon or claw attack you can make a bite attack as a bonus action. This attack deals 1d6 Piercing Damage (+str mod). Your body also takes on some of the natual hide of the Manticore, you can now calculate your AC 13 + Dex Mod.
Winged Manticore: You grow a pair of wings like a true manticore and gaina flying speed of 20ft as long as you are not wearing heavy armour or exceeding your carrying capacity. These wings are hard to hide and any armour or clothing worn will need to be specially made to compensate for them (DM note: recommend +25% cost to buying clothing/armour).
So I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this, but with the Leonin race recently introduced, I thought it would be a fun idea to come up with a build for a Manticore Player Character.
I'm sure it could if been done with tabaxi, but I feel Leonin fits better for obvious reasons. So Leonin for race, Draconic Sorcerer (Green/Poison) for breath attack and eventually wings at 14th level.
The manticore was a skilled predator, it had a humanoid face that would make noises or sing tunes which was typically a sign that it was nearby, razor sharp teeth, body of a lion and a scorpion's tail, usually with venomous barbs. The breath attack can be reflavored, although actually having a tail that shoots arrow-like barbs maybe too difficult to get.
My problem is, this character is either, a full sorcerer which I feel a Manticore wouldn't be a pure spell caster or, is a multiclass.
What would be the best way to achieve this concept? I'm thinking either Bard/Sorcerer, Paladin/Sorcerer or maybe even Warlock/Sorcerer. I'd really like to see what ideas anyone might come up with.
This seems like a great build for a Chimera character then a manticire character.
So I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this, but with the Leonin race recently introduced, I thought it would be a fun idea to come up with a build for a Manticore Player Character.
I'm sure it could if been done with tabaxi, but I feel Leonin fits better for obvious reasons. So Leonin for race, Draconic Sorcerer (Green/Poison) for breath attack and eventually wings at 14th level.
The manticore was a skilled predator, it had a humanoid face that would make noises or sing tunes which was typically a sign that it was nearby, razor sharp teeth, body of a lion and a scorpion's tail, usually with venomous barbs. The breath attack can be reflavored, although actually having a tail that shoots arrow-like barbs maybe too difficult to get.
My problem is, this character is either, a full sorcerer which I feel a Manticore wouldn't be a pure spell caster or, is a multiclass.
What would be the best way to achieve this concept? I'm thinking either Bard/Sorcerer, Paladin/Sorcerer or maybe even Warlock/Sorcerer. I'd really like to see what ideas anyone might come up with.
You might need to do some heavy reflavouring.
Manticore don't get poison attacks or a breath weapon according to their stat block in the monster manual.You get bite, claw and tail spike attacks (piercing damage, slashing damage and piercing damage respectively).
Stat block here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/manticore
I think I'd go for a Druid, take Magic Stone but reflavour it to creating 3 manticore spikes instead of stones dealing 1d6 + spellcasting ability in piercing damage each, then go for circle of the moon and bat your eyes lovingly at your DM and ask if you can have the ability to wildshape into a Manticore from level 9 onwards (its a CR3 monster so should be doable its just a monstrosity instead of a beast).
For claw attacks take a scimitar.
Maybe multiclass to Ranger (Hunter or Gloomstalker) to get the two weapon fightign style to dual weild them.
My fault for not clarifying, I had meant the Manticore from Persian/Greek myth.
But I really like your idea! I never considered doing it that way.
Well, I'll take a swipe at a greek/persian mythos version, have you got a particular version you are drawing your info from?
Both are pretty similar to each other, both describe the Manticore as Man-Faced (sometimes red), has sharp teeth, body of a lion, a scorpion tail that can shoot arrow-like barbs.
I've seen the monster depicted with wings, but I'm not actually sure where the wings come from, maybe because the Manticore was a symbol of the devil in the Christian religion?
Either way I thought a winged beast would be fun to play, but it seems it's not necessary to have them.
How does a Manticore go down to the pub and get information from the barkeep?
From the Stats of the D&D Manticore, it is a fighter. Strength and Con are it's good stuff.
If I were to make a humanoid version, I would keep the tail and drop everything else. No flight, no poison.
you could also nab and reflavour a feat from an old UA (racial feats: https://media.wizards.com/2017/dnd/downloads/RJSJC2017_04UASkillFeats_24v10.pdf)
Dragonborn had one that gave them wings so if that is something you want then have the Leonin, or possibly green dragonborn if posion is also a must, for the stats and reflavoured to "Half Manticore", have a curse somewhere in the backstory to explain it and then at level 4 poof! now I have wings.
having a quiick think about a homebrew race to factor in some posion aspects and....
Half Manticore:
Half Manticores are under some form of curse, either from the gods or a hag coven, they are forever consumed with hunger for the flesh of their own kind. They become consumate hunters and often find their way into the service of more evil aligned creatures and many unfortunates with this affliction become evil themselves.
Regardless of the race they were before being cursed, the Half Manticore is humanoid in shape, powerfully built and has a tail with several spikes at the end. Their heads are more animalistic and their mouths have three rows of teeth, their body is more lion like being covered in short fur and their paw like hands have sharp claws.
stats/abilities as per Leonin from the Theros book but replace daunting roar for: Tail Spike: 1x SR/LR can shoot a spike from their tail, the spike deals 1d8 Piercing damage (+ str mod) and target makes a Cons save or takes a further 1d6 poison damage. The posion damage increases to 2d6 at level level 6, 3d6 at level 11 and to 4d6 at level 16. The DC for this save is 8 + your cons modifier + your proficiency bonus.
EDIT: forgot to put itn tail spike requires action to use and has range of 30/60.
Homebrew feats:
Manticore Hide,: You learn how to fully utilise your fang filled maw. If you use the attack action to make a weapon or claw attack you can make a bite attack as a bonus action. This attack deals 1d6 Piercing Damage (+str mod). Your body also takes on some of the natual hide of the Manticore, you can now calculate your AC 13 + Dex Mod.
Winged Manticore: You grow a pair of wings like a true manticore and gaina flying speed of 20ft as long as you are not wearing heavy armour or exceeding your carrying capacity. These wings are hard to hide and any armour or clothing worn will need to be specially made to compensate for them (DM note: recommend +25% cost to buying clothing/armour).
This seems like a great build for a Chimera character then a manticire character.
Suggest looking at the UA Barbarian Path of the Beast, if you’d like some raging natural attacks that seem fitting.