I have looked at the Incubus's stats, and it only is described as a fiend, and it can speak both infernal and abyssal. So what is it, a demon or a devil. And if it is neither, would it come more from the nine hells, or the abyss?
Have you read their description beneath their stat block?
Succubi and incubi inhabit all of the Lower Planes, and the lascivious dark-winged fiends can be found in service to devils, demons, night hags, rakshasas, and yugoloths. Asmodeus, ruler of the Nine Hells, uses these fiends to tempt mortals to perform evil acts. The demon lord Graz’zt keeps succubi and incubi as advisers and consorts.
In fairness, Markus asked what they were, not whom they served. A succubus is a female demon in earlier editions and under 4th edition rules, a devil. In 5e, they are just fiends without specification.
Don't demons and devils generally have different resistances/immunities, though? Also, this seems like it could be important info for RPing accurately.
What they're categorised as in previous editions are irrelevant. The terms of Demon and Devil have their own meanings in 5th Edition as defined by PHB, DMG and MM with further clarification in MToF. To summarise these books:
Demon: a fiend native to the Abyss
Devil: a fiend native to the Nine Hells
Incubi/Succubi: fiends that are neither demon nor devil and can be found in any of the Lower Planes.
There can be some monsters which are exceptions but they are very few and generally not relevant here. Point is, Incubi/Succubi are neither demon nor devil: they're just fiends.
The Blood War between demons and devils is still continuing according to D&D lore. So incubi and succubi are just...not involved? Secret agents? Fair weather mercenaries?
And part of the reason I bring this up is b/c damage and immunities ARE different for devils vs. demons. Devils, for instance, are vulnerable to silvered weapons. Demons are not. Their alignment is also different. Lawful evil behaves very differently from Chaotic evil, if one incorporates such things into one's campaigns then they matter.
The Blood War between demons and devils is still continuing according to D&D lore. So incubi and succubi are just...not involved? Secret agents? Fair weather mercenaries?
All of the above depending on which incubi/succubi you ask. Some don't participate, some are serve one side openly, some serve secretly as spies or double-agents, others are just loyal to whoever pays them enough.
Given their nature they are most common employed as spies or as... "consorts".
They are just neutral fiends. And they are not the only ones.
It's easy to demonstrate this too. Go to the monsters section of this website and display fiends. The vast majority are devils or demons and there are others that are neither.
Yugoloths such as the arcanaloth are still a thing. The simplest way to break it down mechanically is by looking at the specification in brackets after the creature size and type.
Devils will say "size fiend (devil)", demons will say "size fiend (demon)" and yugoloths say "size fiend (yugoloth)"
Succubi and inccubi say "size fiend (shapechanger)"
They are neither demons nor Devils, they are shapechangers that work in service to both.
They are just neutral fiends. And they are not the only ones.
It's easy to demonstrate this too. Go to the monsters section of this website and display fiends. The vast majority are devils or demons and there are others that are neither.
Right. Well, seeing as I don't have a paid subscription for the Monster Manual and don't like running games through DDB, that doesn't tell me much. Thanks for the reminder though.
They are just neutral fiends. And they are not the only ones.
It's easy to demonstrate this too. Go to the monsters section of this website and display fiends. The vast majority are devils or demons and there are others that are neither.
Right. Well, seeing as I don't have a paid subscription for the Monster Manual and don't like running games through DDB, that doesn't tell me much. Thanks for the reminder though.
Subscriptions do not unlock content. And there are a variety of demons, devils and neutral fiends that are available as part of the free basic rules: including incubi/succubi.
Right. Well, seeing as I don't have a paid subscription for the Monster Manual and don't like running games through DDB, that doesn't tell me much. Thanks for the reminder though.
You should check it out. Even with the completely free version of D&D Beyond, the monster compendium is a pretty useful tool.
I have looked at the Incubus's stats, and it only is described as a fiend, and it can speak both infernal and abyssal. So what is it, a demon or a devil. And if it is neither, would it come more from the nine hells, or the abyss?
Have you read their description beneath their stat block?
Succubi and incubi inhabit all of the Lower Planes, and the lascivious dark-winged fiends can be found in service to devils, demons, night hags, rakshasas, and yugoloths. Asmodeus, ruler of the Nine Hells, uses these fiends to tempt mortals to perform evil acts. The demon lord Graz’zt keeps succubi and incubi as advisers and consorts.
Part of the blurb on the Incubus page suggests they can be found in both places in service to both Demons and Devils.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
In fairness, Markus asked what they were, not whom they served. A succubus is a female demon in earlier editions and under 4th edition rules, a devil. In 5e, they are just fiends without specification.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Don't demons and devils generally have different resistances/immunities, though? Also, this seems like it could be important info for RPing accurately.
What they're categorised as in previous editions are irrelevant. The terms of Demon and Devil have their own meanings in 5th Edition as defined by PHB, DMG and MM with further clarification in MToF. To summarise these books:
Demon: a fiend native to the Abyss
Devil: a fiend native to the Nine Hells
Incubi/Succubi: fiends that are neither demon nor devil and can be found in any of the Lower Planes.
There can be some monsters which are exceptions but they are very few and generally not relevant here. Point is, Incubi/Succubi are neither demon nor devil: they're just fiends.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
The Blood War between demons and devils is still continuing according to D&D lore. So incubi and succubi are just...not involved? Secret agents? Fair weather mercenaries?
And part of the reason I bring this up is b/c damage and immunities ARE different for devils vs. demons. Devils, for instance, are vulnerable to silvered weapons. Demons are not. Their alignment is also different. Lawful evil behaves very differently from Chaotic evil, if one incorporates such things into one's campaigns then they matter.
All of the above depending on which incubi/succubi you ask. Some don't participate, some are serve one side openly, some serve secretly as spies or double-agents, others are just loyal to whoever pays them enough.
Given their nature they are most common employed as spies or as... "consorts".
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
They are just neutral fiends. And they are not the only ones.
It's easy to demonstrate this too. Go to the monsters section of this website and display fiends. The vast majority are devils or demons and there are others that are neither.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Weren't most of the neutral Fiends yugoloths? Is "yugoloth" not a thing anymore?
Yugoloths such as the arcanaloth are still a thing. The simplest way to break it down mechanically is by looking at the specification in brackets after the creature size and type.
Devils will say "size fiend (devil)", demons will say "size fiend (demon)" and yugoloths say "size fiend (yugoloth)"
Succubi and inccubi say "size fiend (shapechanger)"
They are neither demons nor Devils, they are shapechangers that work in service to both.
Right. Well, seeing as I don't have a paid subscription for the Monster Manual and don't like running games through DDB, that doesn't tell me much. Thanks for the reminder though.
Subscriptions do not unlock content. And there are a variety of demons, devils and neutral fiends that are available as part of the free basic rules: including incubi/succubi.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
You should check it out. Even with the completely free version of D&D Beyond, the monster compendium is a pretty useful tool.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
I have. Thank you to Cyb3rM1nd and yourself for pointing out how to find it.