Welcome back everyone! While others may be exploring a new universe, we're celebrating the Season of Champions with a trip through Ysgard and the Upper Planes!
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This month, we're giving DMs quite a few maps from the Upper Planes, some Ysgardian foes, and some stickers to help you cement the feel of a battlefield!
Monsters
Dread Linnorm (CR 17). These twin-headed dragons fight with a mix of ice and fire and are eager to tear heroes apart, limb from limb. Artist: David Astruga
Firre (CR 4). These celestial beings are ardent champions of art and innocents across the Upper Planes and the Material Plane. Artist: David Astruga
Valkyrie (CR 9). These fierce warriors are born from the blood spilled from gods in battles and wield the power of divine justice. Artist: David Astruga
Maps
Celestial Mountain Slope. A gently flowing brook meanders down this heavenly mountainside, offering you a moment’s respite before the next fight. It can be found under Wilderness > Mountain. Cartographer: Mike Schley.
Musicians’ Amphitheater. In this celestial amphitheater, can you put on a performance worthy of the gods? It can be found under Urban > Park. Cartographer: Mike Schley.
Yggdrasil’s Roots. Explore the World Tree's roots, where paths to every plane twist beneath your feet. It can be found under Wilderness > Forest. Cartographer: Mike Schley.
Stickers
Ysgard Sticker Pack. We also have 6 new (each with a variant, for a total of 12) battle-inspired stickers for you to customize your maps with! Artist: Mike Schley
Detect Thoughts: DM Options
When I learned that we were doing the Season of Champions, I knew that we had to shine a light on the Heroic Domains of Ysgard, and by extension, the Upper Planes as a whole! Terrifying combatants await your players – and the maps we've added this month will help you set the stage (heh) for unforgettable experiences on the Upper Planes.
I'm already making plans to use the Celestial Mountain Slope map as the backdrop of an Ysgardian battle!
Fun Thanksgiving-related fact: last month we released the Roadside Rescue Drop-in Encounter. The level 6 version of the encounter includes an owlbear named Gobbler. Gobbler is a turkey-headed owlbear (the Storied Encounter text will reflect this fact, once uploaded). Most people I've told this to has told me how horrifying the mental image is.
For Players
Irina Nordsol
This month, we're bringing back another species, new Planar Pact feats, and for the first time in Drops: brand-new weapons!
Species
Bariaur: Bariaurs are native inhabitants of Ysgard that never shy away from a battle. Artist: Irina Nordsol
Feats
Upper Planes Pact: Make a pact with an entity from the Upper Planes and draw upon some of its powers.
Elysium Diplomat: Call upon the tranquility of Elysium to calm hostile hearts and slip away when talks turn sour.
Ysgardian Warrior: Build upon your pact with the Upper Planes by embracing the fighting spirit of Ysgard.
Weapons
Of course, you'll need weapons at your side with which to do battle! We have 3 new weapons:
Bola (Martial Ranged). Bolas are two weights secured to a short length of leather or rope used in hunting.
Pitchfork (Simple Melee). Pitchforks are a popular farming instrument consisting of two or three sharp tines at the end of a long handle.
Weighted Chain (Martial Melee). Weighted chains are a long chain that loops behind the wielder’s back and extends past each hand.
Ysgard Backdrop
And of course – how could we call this a monthly Drop complete without giving you some snazzy new backdrops, themed around Ysgard!
Detect Thoughts: Player Options
We have a number of new things this month! First, we're bringing back the Bariaur: a species native to Ysgard that hasn't been a playable option since 3.5e's Planar Handbook!
Then, we decided to mix it up for the Planar Pact feats. Until now, these feats have been tied to an extraplanar concept or creature type. This month, they're explicitly tied to the Upper Planes (rather than something like Celestial), with General feats themed around specific planes. Let us know whether you like this change, or if the more abstract themes like creature type felt more compelling.
Lastly, we knew we had to give you all new weapons for the Season of Champions! With pitchfork in hand, your characters can finally join in any angry mobs they come across.
Survey
To mix things up (and to celebrate Drops' 6-month anniversary), we also have a public-facing survey to fill out! While most of it will focus on the contents of the October Drop (as our surveys often cover the previous month's Drop), there are several additional questions asking for feedback about the Drops program itself. I would appreciate any and all responses (even if you don't use Drops and want to use it as a way to tell me how stinky I am).
Before we end this blog, I wanted to take a moment because this Drop marks the 6-month anniversary of when we launched Drops! I'm continually humbled, awestruck, and beyond giddy that I'm able to help charter the course for Drops. I'm always excited and touched whenever I see anyone engaging with or talking about Drops content (I constantly do the Leonardo DeCaprio pointing meme when I see that happening in the wild).
Whether your attitude toward Drops has been negative, positive, or wholly indifferent, I want to thank you regardless. Without all of you, this wouldn't be possible.
The feats all feel pretty anemic, especially Ysgardian Warrior - you'd expect a feat-chain feat to have some oomph, and this certainly does not deliver. The Bariaurs as well - 35ft movement is certainly nice, but resistance to prone is incredibly situational and both other features are ribbon at best, as Ram shoehorns this species into monks and... dance bards, I guess? The new WoW species have certainly set the bar high for cool features, and this misses the mark for me. The new weapons are really cool though.
I hope not because I don't think it would be that OP because those classes would still need at least 13 STR to use it and it opens up some interesting combinations! You can combine those feats you mentioned with Defensive Duelist as well!
I can’t believe they’re wasting the chance to include the scythe as a simple weapon that deals slashing damage and has the versatile property (essentially serving as the slashing counterpart to the spear and the quarterstaff).
These look amazing! Maybe slightly underpowered on some accounts, but really cool!
However, I don't see any of these on the character creator. Am I missing them or have they just not yet been added? I can get to the link but not the species, nor can I add the feat (Celestial Pact) through the Pact Seeker background. I have ensured that "DDB Drops" is on as well.
My question is do i need 13 str for the Chain or can i use my dex regarding the heavy property + Finesse
By the rules of the heavy property, you need 13 strength for a melee weapon with the heavy property. However I do get the confusion with it having finesse since it makes it a weapon that focuses on dex. Doing a quick check and there no icon or signal anywhere on DNDBeyond that says the weapon is at disadvantage. So RAW I would say "yes you do", but if the website isn't gonna bother checking, then personally I say it's fair game to say you don't need to and you should 100% build a rogue that sneaks attacks with a chain and break all your enemies shins with them. :V
I feel like the bola should at least be a 1d4 damage, a sling is 1d4. And a bola is basically just a sling that keeps the rope attached to tangle folks. AND you are already nerfing it from being just a sling by making it such short range. so why also make it do basically no damage?
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Posted Nov 5, 2026Super, super cool!!! I love seeing some Celestial Eladrin back, and the Bariaur species is nice!! New weapons are a nice touch, too!
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Posted Nov 5, 2026I think the winner of this Drop is definitely the weighted chains. A d8 bludgeon damage weapon with Heavy, Reach, Graze AND FINESSE?! That is dope!
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Posted Nov 5, 2026Wait does polearm master work with the heavy chain?
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Posted Nov 5, 2026the new version of the dread linnorm is sick, great artwork
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Posted Nov 5, 2026New weapons are really cool. Glad to see the repertoire being expanded!
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Posted Nov 5, 2026The feats all feel pretty anemic, especially Ysgardian Warrior - you'd expect a feat-chain feat to have some oomph, and this certainly does not deliver. The Bariaurs as well - 35ft movement is certainly nice, but resistance to prone is incredibly situational and both other features are ribbon at best, as Ram shoehorns this species into monks and... dance bards, I guess? The new WoW species have certainly set the bar high for cool features, and this misses the mark for me. The new weapons are really cool though.
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Posted Nov 5, 2026Amazing content! I love the weapon additions
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Posted Nov 5, 2026Please give us even more new weapons in the future, absolute peak
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Posted Nov 5, 2026Rogues w/ Polearm Master are going to love this.:)
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Posted Nov 5, 2026I definitely think that might be an error. If it has Heavy, that means a rogue or a monk can take GWM with it and do some decent damage!
Heavy & reach makes it eligible for PAM as well. We got PAM rogues before GTA 6!
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Posted Nov 5, 2026https://www.dndbeyond.com/feats/2158476-purple-dragon-commandant vs Ysgardian Warrior...
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Posted Nov 5, 2026I hope not because I don't think it would be that OP because those classes would still need at least 13 STR to use it and it opens up some interesting combinations! You can combine those feats you mentioned with Defensive Duelist as well!
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Posted Nov 5, 2026New WEAPONS!!! My martial loving heart thanks you. Please keep on feeding the martial fans. We have been starved for too long.
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Posted Nov 5, 2026I can’t believe they’re wasting the chance to include the scythe as a simple weapon that deals slashing damage and has the versatile property (essentially serving as the slashing counterpart to the spear and the quarterstaff).
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Posted Nov 5, 2026My question is do i need 13 str for the Chain or can i use my dex regarding the heavy property + Finesse
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Posted Nov 5, 2026These look amazing! Maybe slightly underpowered on some accounts, but really cool!
However, I don't see any of these on the character creator. Am I missing them or have they just not yet been added? I can get to the link but not the species, nor can I add the feat (Celestial Pact) through the Pact Seeker background. I have ensured that "DDB Drops" is on as well.
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Posted Nov 5, 2026By the rules of the heavy property, you need 13 strength for a melee weapon with the heavy property. However I do get the confusion with it having finesse since it makes it a weapon that focuses on dex. Doing a quick check and there no icon or signal anywhere on DNDBeyond that says the weapon is at disadvantage. So RAW I would say "yes you do", but if the website isn't gonna bother checking, then personally I say it's fair game to say you don't need to and you should 100% build a rogue that sneaks attacks with a chain and break all your enemies shins with them. :V
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Posted Nov 5, 2026I feel like the bola should at least be a 1d4 damage, a sling is 1d4. And a bola is basically just a sling that keeps the rope attached to tangle folks. AND you are already nerfing it from being just a sling by making it such short range. so why also make it do basically no damage?
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Posted Nov 5, 2026It's heavy and melee, so you would need the minimum strength, just like warlocks do when using pact of the blade.
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Posted Nov 6, 2026Will we get more Planes of Existence later