battle before defense common rules

Sword of Kas

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

cast a spell, you can’t cast that spell again from it until the next dawn. Spirit of Kas. While the sword is on your person, you gain the following benefits: Battle Hunger. You add 1d10 to your

Initiative rolls. Blade of Defense. When you take an action to attack with the sword, you can transfer some or all of its attack bonus to your Armor Class instead. The adjusted bonuses remain in

Eye and Hand of Vecna

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

a lich. A treacherous lieutenant named Kas the Betrayer;Kas brought Vecna’s rule to an end in a terrible battle. Of Vecna, all that remained were one hand and one eye, grisly Artifacts that

minute. To you, solid objects within that radius appear transparent and don’t prevent light from passing through themselves. The vision can penetrate 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, or up to

Barbarian

Classes Player’s Handbook

deepest self. For every Barbarian, their Rage is a power that fuels not just battle prowess, but also uncanny reflexes and heightened senses. Barbarians often serve as protectors and leaders in their

Defense, Weapon Mastery 2 +2 2 2 +2 Danger Sense, Reckless Attack 2 +2 2 3 +2 Barbarian Subclass, Primal Knowledge 3 +2 2 4 +2 Ability Score Improvement 3 +2 3 5 +3

Cleric

Classes Player’s Handbook

, a Cleric can reach out to the divine magic of the Outer Planes—where gods dwell—and channel it to bolster people and battle foes. Because their power is a divine gift, Clerics typically

table. See the multiclassing rules to determine your available spell slots. Cleric Features ——Spell Slots per Spell Level—— Level Proficiency Bonus

Noggle Wild Mage

Monsters Lorwyn: First Light

. Such wild mages exist on the peripheries of noggle society as pariahs and vagabonds. Their innate magic becomes strongest when they are most desperate, such as in the heat of battle. Noggles Noggles

are bipedal, donkey-like Fey that delight in thievery and mischief. They enjoy stealing from other creatures not out of necessity, but out of principle. This principle can be summarized by a common

Bladesinger

Classes Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn

off harm and allow the Bladesinger to channel magic into devastating attacks and a cunning defense. Many who have observed a Bladesinger at work remember the display as one of the more beautiful

, Bladesingers take their talents all across the Realms to help common people and perform heroic deeds. Most communities greet the arrival of a Bladesinger as a good omen.

Biha Babir

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

again until the start of her next turn.Scheming Marid Ruler The calculating Biha Babir rules the pelagic city of Maran Saya in Calimshan. Though her physical form is as fluid as the ocean itself, she

a cunning mind. Biha Babir is politically savvy and prefers to outsmart her opponents rather than battle them, though she doesn’t shy from combat if necessary. Biha Babir covets opulence, but

Winged Bull

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

. Hit: 18 (2d12 + 5);{"diceNotation":"2d12+5","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Gore","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage.Archons always ride into battle on fearsome winged mounts. Some legends

suggest that the mount is actually a physical manifestation of the archon's will, allowing the pair to act with a single mind. The two most common archon mounts are winged bulls and winged lions.

Tempest Domain (PHB)

Classes Player’s Handbook (2014)

thunder, gods of earthquakes, some fire gods, and certain gods of violence, physical strength, and courage. In some pantheons, a god of this domain rules over other deities and is known for swift justice

delivered by thunderbolts. In the pantheons of seafaring people, gods of this domain are ocean deities and the patrons of sailors. Tempest gods send their clerics to inspire fear in the common folk

Blood Spear

Magic Items Curse of Strahd

Kavan was a ruthless chieftain whose tribe lived in the Balinok Mountains centuries before the arrival of Strahd von Zarovich. Although he was very much alive, Kavan had some traits in common with

vampires: he slept during the day and hunted at night, he drank the blood of his prey, and he lived underground. In battle, he wielded a spear stained with blood. His was the first blood spear, a weapon

Winged Lion

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

damage.Archons always ride into battle on fearsome winged mounts. Some legends suggest that the mount is actually a physical manifestation of the archon's will, allowing the pair to act with a single mind. The two most common archon mounts are winged bulls and winged lions.

Tempest Domain Legacy

Classes Player’s Handbook (2014)

thunder, gods of earthquakes, some fire gods, and certain gods of violence, physical strength, and courage. In some pantheons, a god of this domain rules over other deities and is known for swift

justice delivered by thunderbolts. In the pantheons of seafaring people, gods of this domain are ocean deities and the patrons of sailors. Tempest gods send their clerics to inspire fear in the common

Eldritch Knight Legacy

Classes Player’s Handbook (2014)

The archetypal Eldritch Knight combines the martial mastery common to all fighters with a careful study of magic. Eldritch Knights use magical techniques similar to those practiced by wizards. They

focus their study on two of the eight schools of magic: abjuration and evocation. Abjuration spells grant an Eldritch Knight additional protection in battle, and evocation spells deal damage to many

City Watch / Investigator

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime. You aren’t a soldier, directing your gaze outward at possible enemies. Instead, your

-wielding police force of the City of Splendors, protecting the common folk from thieves and rowdy nobility alike. Or you might have been one of the valiant defenders of Silverymoon, a member of the

Shadowfell Brand Tattoo

Magic Items Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Defense. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to become insubstantial for a moment, halving the damage you take. Then the reaction can’t be used again until the next sunset. Magic Tattoo

Coverage Tattoo Rarity Area Covered Common One hand or foot or a quarter of a limb Uncommon Half a limb or the scalp Rare One limb Very Rare Two limbs or the chest or upper back Legendary Two limbs and the torso

Soldier Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

or deck of cards, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Specialty During your time as a soldier, you had a specific role to play in your unit or army. Roll a d8 or choose

solution is the best path to success. d6 Ideal 1 Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) 2 Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just

Strahd's Animated Armor

Monsters Curse of Strahd

or value to anyone. The armor that Strahd wore into battle when he was alive lives on today as a headless, animated suit of plate armor. The armor is painted burgundy and adorned with golden angelic

number of permanent spell effects on it to make the armor a better castle defender. The armor understands Common but obeys only the commands of its master. Lightning, PoisonCold, Fire

Amnizu (Summoner Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

24 hours.Amnizus lead infernal legions into battle and command guardians at the gateways to the Hells. Amnizus are arrogant, bullying, and ruthless, but they’re also highly intelligent

desire to commit evil. The amnizus that patrol here drill the rules of the Nine Hells into the new arrivals’ minds and marshal them into legions.Fire, PoisonCold; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered

Harshnag the Grim

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

some and a hero to others. In Waterdeep, he’s remembered as the largest member of Force Grey, a notoriously destructive adventuring company that came to the city’s defense on more than one

talking. When he does speak outside of combat, he comes across as surprisingly calm and soft-spoken. While swinging his axe in battle, however, he bellows and laughs like a berserker. Harshnag knows the

Snapping Hydra

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

", "rollAction":"Bite"} to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5);{"diceNotation":"2d8+5", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Bite", "rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage. Shell Defense

, it’s never long before a hungry or curious creature arrives to investigate, leaping into battle with the hydra’s foes while the hydra makes an opportune exit.

Cradle of the Fire Scion

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

lava. As the scion dreams of battle—perhaps a battle to rouse Annam from seclusion by uniting the giants or a war to conquer all in Surtur’s name—the volcano rumbles and spews molten

. Veins of precious metals and ore are more common within 6 miles of the scion. Desertification. Precipitation is almost nonexistent within 6 miles of the scion, parching the land and withering most

Amnizu

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, the attacker is immune to the amnizu’s Instinctive Charm for 24 hours.Amnizus lead infernal legions into battle and command guardians at the gateways to the Hells. Amnizus are arrogant, bullying

have no personalities or memories; they’re driven only by the desire to commit evil. The amnizus that patrol here drill the rules of the Nine Hells into the new arrivals’ minds and marshal

High Fae Mage

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

among the fae, magically negotiating themselves advantages in battle. Like many high fae, these mages draw power from the latent energy found throughout the wilds of Eldraine. However, high fae mages

, embodying the natural splendor and danger of the wilderness. High fae have no regard for mortal values of honor and law, but they nonetheless operate under inviolable rules of their own: gifts must

Soldier - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

gaming set, vehicles (land) Equipment: An insignia of rank, a trophy taken from a fallen enemy (a dagger, broken blade, or piece of a banner), a set of bone dice or deck of cards, a set of common

the behaviors common to corrupt guards and military officers a mile away. While awareness of such corruption doesn’t equate to evidence of it, and your sense certainly isn’t foolproof, your

Mercenary Veteran

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

behind the life of a soldier for hire, but your skills are undeniably suited for battle, so now you fight on in a different way. MERCENARIES OF THE NORTH Countless mercenary companies

-states in the North are willing to field an army alongside the Chill, but several are happy to quietly pay the Chill to battle the Uthgardt, orcs, trolls of the Evermoors, and other threats to

Minotaur

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

carve their horns to sharpen their edges, etch symbols of power into them, or sheathe them in bronze to prevent them from shattering during battle. Thick hair extends down minotaurs’ necks and

choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases

Leucrotta

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

agree to carry the leader into battle and offer advice during the fight. Followers of Yeenoghu also see leucrottas as a form of entertainment. They enjoy watching a leucrotta work almost as much as they

of common deer. Second, it can duplicate the call or the vocal expressions of just about any creature it has heard. The monster uses its mimicry to lure in potential victims, then attacks while they

Needle Lord

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

Needle Defense. Each time a creature makes a melee attack against a needle lord, it takes 2 piercing damage. A creature can choose to make an attack with disadvantage to avoid this damage.Multiattack

wrap around the corpse to animate it, causing it to rise and lurch about like a zombie. Invasive Species. When a great battle is fought in a fey woodland, the plants of the wood sometimes take on the

Owlin

Species Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

character might be nocturnal. Or perhaps your character is simply prone to rise later, embodying the common nickname of night owl. Creating Your Character If you create an owlin character, follow these

additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one of those scores by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or

Armor Class Legacy

Rules

Your Armor Class (AC) represents how well your character avoids being wounded in battle. Things that contribute to your AC include the armor you wear, the shield you carry, and your Dexterity

, or both, calculate your AC using the rules in the Equipment section. Record your AC on your character sheet.

Scion of Surtur

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

plume of smoke to rise, sometimes lit from below by fiery bursts of lava. As the scion dreams of battle—perhaps a battle to rouse Annam from seclusion by uniting the giants or a war to conquer

the giant’s magic, creating one or more of the following effects: Abundant Ore. Veins of precious metals and ore are more common within 6 miles of the scion. Desertification. Precipitation is

Azuredge

Magic Items Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

defense against the axe, which passes through that spell’s barrier of magical force. When you hit a fiend or an undead with the axe, cold blue flames erupt from its blade and deal an extra 2d6

out to a range of 120 feet. The weapon communicates telepathically with its wielder and can speak, read, and understand Common. It has a calm, delicate voice. The weapon can sense the presence of non

Knight of Solamnia

Backgrounds Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Prerequisite: Dragonlance Campaign You have trained to be a valorous warrior known as a Knight of Solamnia. Strict rules guide your every action, and you work to uphold them as you strive to

, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Feature: Squire of Solamnia You gain the Squire of Solamnia feat. In addition, the Knights of Solamnia provide you free, modest lodging and food at any of their fortresses or encampments.

Cradle of the Frost Scion

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

its cradle is functionally identical to a glacier or iceberg, nestled in an alpine valley or drifting in a polar sea. In its wintry seclusion, the scion dreams of battle and glory. If it is disturbed

envelops the land within 6 miles of the scion (see the Dungeon Master’s Guide for rules on extreme cold). If the climate in the area already features extreme cold, the cold is numbing—creatures

Scion of Thrym

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

or drifting in a polar sea. In its wintry seclusion, the scion dreams of battle and glory. If it is disturbed, the scion’s cradle of the frost scion;cradle animates as a bipedal figure formed of

’s Guide for rules on extreme cold). If the climate in the area already features extreme cold, the cold is numbing—creatures in the area without immunity or resistance to cold damage have

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