Deer of Dusk

AC 13 Natural Armor Initiative +3 (13)

HP 28 (3d20)

Speed 50 ft.

		Mod	Save
STR	14	+2	+2
DEX	17	+3	+3
CON	14	+2	+2

		Mod	Save
INT	2	−4	−4
WIS	15	+2	+5
CHA	5	−3	−3

Skills +4

Vulnerabilities Force, Necrotic

Resistances Bludgeoning and Slashing from nonmagical attacks

Immunities ,

Senses 60; Passive Perception 18

Languages None

CR 1 (XP 200; PB +2)

Traits

Agile. The deer doesn’t provoke an Opportunity Attack when it moves out of an enemy’s reach.

Actions

Ram. *Melee Weapon Attack:* +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit:* 6 (1d8+2) bludgeoning damage. The deer lowers its massive, glowing antlers and charges forward to strike the target. If the deer moves at least 10 feet straight toward a target right before hitting it, the attack roll is made with advantage.

Blinding Buck. The Deer of Dusk rears back and slams its hooves down, causing its horns to emit a sudden, blinding flash of bright holy light. Each creature within 10 feet of the deer must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is blinded until the start of the deer's next turn and takes 7 (1d10+2) radiant damage, or takes half as much damage and isn't blinded on a successful one.

Bonus Actions

Celestial Leap. The Deer of Dusk uses the Dash action as a Bonus Action.

Reactions

Sentry (Recharge 4-6). As a Reaction, when any creature (including itself) within 20 feet of the Deer of Dusk is targeted by an attack, the deer grants that creature a +2 bonus to its Armor Class (AC), potentially causing the attack to miss. This ward lasts for 3 rounds. At the start of each of the warded creature's turns, excluding the turn the ward was created, the AC bonus decreases by 1 (becoming +1 on the next round, and +0 on the final round), after which the effect ends.

Description

A gleaming monochromatic, celestial mountain deer with big glowing horns and eyes, able to run as fast as a horse. Created by Helm, the Watcher, these deer were made to let Helm keep watch over the mortal world without needing his presence. These creatures do not care about morality, or who is good or bad in a situation. All they care about is whether someone or something is in danger, and they will immediately rush to protect them, no matter the cause. While the Deer of Dusk aren't much of a challenge to defeat, travelers and adventurers often choose to ignore them, as they do not want to risk the wrath of Helm.

Previous Versions

Name	Date Modified	Views	Adds	Version	Actions
Deer of Dusk	7/7/2026 8:20:02 PM	9	1	--	Coming Soon

Comments

Patchwork12
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- Join Date: 6/29/2026
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#16 Patchwork12

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Posted Jul 8, 2026
This is Version 2 of the Deer of Dusk. If you would like to use Version 1, just know that it is a cr0 creature, and thus is considerably weaker than Version 2, and has less abilities/traits/resistances.

The Deer of Dusk is made to pair exceptionally well with another Homebrew CR1/2 monster, the Beacon Beak: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/6599468-beacon-beak

This creature was made to pair well with another Homebrew CR3 monster, the Tentacle Terror: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/6601114-tentacle-terror

Quick note, I recommend making the Blinding Buck ability have a recharge of 5-6, as this ability could TPK a group of level one adventurers if it is used multiple times in a row.

The DM may (but doesn't have to) use this as a plot point to give attention from the gods (or just Helm) to the players/adventurers (after all, Helm may be upset to know one of his creatures were slain).

Can very easily be shown to be manipulated by a villain of some kind to protect it, despite being on the wrong side of the battle.

An easier explanation of Sentry ability is that it is a decaying shield. It gives +2 the first turn, then next turn it becomes +1, then +0, after which the effect ends.

In theory, the Ram ability's advantage condition could be met every round by making the Deer of Dusk move back (while preventing Opportunity Attacks) and then charging at the opponent, using Dash if it needs to. If you want this loop to be harder to do, change the condition to the full 50 or 60 ft of movement rather than 10 ft.

The main reason the Deer of Dusk is immune to being blinded or exhausted is because of its lore of being created by an all-seeing, never sleeping cosmic guardian (Helm). Feel free to remove these features if necessary.

I did not add it to the stat block, but obviously this creature can use an Opportunity Attack as a Reaction.
Last edited by Patchwork12: Jul 10, 2026

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