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Returning 35 results for 'battle being death could rather'.
Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
detrimental property
Spells. While the sword is on your person, you can cast the following spells (save DC 18) from it:
Call Lightning
Divine Word
Finger of Death
Once you use the sword to
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
Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
Vecna the Archlich;Vecna was a mighty wizard who, through magic and conquest, forged a terrible empire. For all his power, however, Vecna feared death and took steps to prevent his demise by becoming
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
Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
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
Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
rule Faerûn. His Cult of the Dragon devotes itself to helping evil dragons become dracoliches to bring this evil new age to fruition.
Sammaster was killed in battle, but had prepared contingencies
efficiently as he can. Sammaster personally checks in on the cult’s most important plots, often surprising his minions with his presence.
Rather than keep a soul jar as liches do, Sammaster keeps
Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
, Wall of Force
1/Day Each: Befuddlement, Clone, Finger of Death, Mind Blank (cast before combat), SimulacrumProtective Magic. Manshoon casts Counterspell or Shield in response to the spell’s
. That Manshoon is dead, and the current Manshoon is one of the original’s many clones. Being a magical copy rather than an original doesn’t make Manshoon any less of a threat, as he’s
Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
. His Cult of the Dragon devotes itself to helping evil dragons become dracoliches to bring this evil new age to fruition.
Sammaster was killed in battle, but had prepared contingencies for his demise
can. Sammaster personally checks in on the cult’s most important plots, often surprising his minions with his presence.
Rather than keep a soul jar as liches do, Sammaster keeps a magical soul
Gladiator
Legacy
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Monsters
Basic Rules (2014)
would hit it. To do so, the gladiator must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.Gladiators battle for the entertainment of raucous crowds. Some gladiators are brutal pit fighters who treat
each match as a life-or-death struggle, while others are professional duelists who command huge fees but rarely fight to the death.
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
domesticate steeders, particularly duergar. Typically the females serve as steeds in battle, while the males are used as draft animals.
Steeders attempt to tear apart perceived threats—and consider
begins shortly after the steeder hatches. As it grows, its rider works with it to direct its predatory instincts.
Rather than spinning webs, steeders excrete a viscous substance from their legs. This goo allows them to creep along walls and ceilings and to grapple prey.
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
.
Death Bolt (Recharge 5–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType":"recharge", "rollAction":"Death Bolt"}. The spirit hurls a magical lightning bolt in a 120-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in
that area must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 27 (6d8);{"diceNotation":"6d8", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Death Bolt", "rollDamageType":"lightning"} lightning damage plus 16 (3d10
Monsters
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
also make fine trackers and capable beasts of burden. Space swine that are trained for battle are typically outfitted with half-plate barding and are referred to as death squealers.
A fully grown
Monsters
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
):
At will: druidcraft, spare the dying
1/day each: antilife shell, bane, feign death, speak with deadProfessors of decay wield magic that drains and twists the essence of the professors&rsquo
their foes. In battle, they steal the essence of their enemies to heal their own wounds and create spears of sickly green life-draining energy.
Witherbloom teachers who espouse the decaying side of the
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Death Curse. When the fensir starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate, it releases a curse on those around it. Each creature within 30 feet of the fensir when it dies must
, the creature must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or take 11 (2d10);{"diceNotation":"2d10", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Death Curse", "rollDamageType":"psychic"} psychic damage
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
his criminal ventures by capturing him.
Rather than put Gant to death for his crimes in Icewind Dale, the Council of Speakers in Ten-Towns made a deal with representatives of the Lords' Alliance to have
Brotherhood but rather hatched by Gant himself, who intended to impress his superiors by pulling it off.
For a long time, Gant held out hope that the Arcane Brotherhood would apply pressure to secure his
Monsters
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
damage.Skeletal knights are powerful Undead that arise to serve even more wicked beings—often death knight;death knights. Those who become skeletal knights were typically virtuous in life but betrayed
free to pursue its own ends.
Skeletal knights are relentless in battle and difficult to destroy. They cling to the sins that curse them, and they fight until their skulls are reduced to shards. Their
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
domesticate steeders, particularly duergar. Typically the females serve as steeds in battle, while the males are used as draft animals.
Steeders attempt to tear apart perceived threats—and consider even
begins shortly after the steeder hatches. As it grows, its rider works with it to direct its predatory instincts.
Rather than spinning webs, steeders excrete a viscous substance from their legs. This goo allows them to creep along walls and ceilings and to grapple prey.
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
You are a member of a teeming horde — one small part of a sprawling organism. Just as you are part of the swarm, the swarm is part of a larger ecosystem, a never-ending cycle of life, death
Golgari, no fear of death or taboo about the dead, just a fierce affirmation of the cycle.
Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival
Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner’s kit
Languages
Monsters
Quests from the Infinite Staircase
see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.Champions of Madarua represent the most skilled warriors in the faction. Hardened by battle, they lead the charge into the fray and inspire their
, death, and the seasons. Each member bears a small tattoo of a sickle on the inside of their left wrist.
Warriors of Madarua recognize and respect the ever-changing complexity of life. In combat
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the start of the catoblepas’s next turn.
Death Ray (Recharge 5–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType":"recharge", "rollAction
":"Death Ray"}. The catoblepas targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking 36 (8d8);{"diceNotation":"8d8", "rollType":"damage
Monsters
Quests from the Infinite Staircase
wielding a melee weapon.Warriors are the foot soldiers of the faction. They thank Madarua for each battle they see and train daily with spears to follow her to victory.
Warriors of Madarua
Members
of the Warriors of Madarua wear bronze masks that depict the determined the face of Madarua, an ancient Cynidicean god of birth, death, and the seasons. Each member bears a small tattoo of a sickle on
Monsters
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
traditional material components. In battle, they flood their allies with vital essence, healing wounds and soothing ailments. Their foes face the wrath of nature itself, from grasping plants and
conjured poisonous vines to avatars of nature’s wrath.
These professors teach their students to focus on the growth side of the natural cycle of life and death and to avoid wasting resources. They
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
priest’s next turn.
Circle of Death (Spell; Recharge 5–6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"recharge","rollAction":"Circle of Death"}). Each creature in a 60-foot-radius sphere centered on a point
the priest can see within 150 feet of it must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 28 (8d6);{"diceNotation":"8d6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Circle of Death","rollDamageType":"necrotic
Monsters
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Cataclysmic Rush", "rollDamageType":"necrotic"} necrotic damage. A creature can take this damage only once per turn.Some death dragons manage to retain almost all
of their former selves, albeit twisted by their state of being. These greater death dragons scheme to achieve their ends, all the while amassing and jealously guarding treasure hoards as they did in
Monsters
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Death Throes. When the draconian is reduced to 0 hit points, its scales and flesh immediately shrivel away, and then its bones explode. Each creature within 10 feet of it must succeed on a DC 10
Dexterity saving throw or take 9 (2d8);{"diceNotation":"2d8", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Death Throes", "rollDamageType":"force"} force damage.
Glide. When the draconian falls and isn’t
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
points.Necromancers of deep evil, the priests of Osybus steal the souls of others to fuel the priests’ malevolent magic. Using this soul power, each priest can defy death and become an undead creature
Dark Powers and tapped into their immortal malice to fuel his apotheosis.
As his power grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
, the priests of Osybus steal the souls of others to fuel the priests’ malevolent magic. Using this soul power, each priest can defy death and become an undead creature, potentially cheating the
into their immortal malice to fuel his apotheosis.
As his power grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
’ malevolent magic. Using this soul power, each priest can defy death and become an undead creature, potentially cheating the grave over and over.
This unholy order of priests was founded
grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship. In time, his goal was achieved: he became a lich of almost godly
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
witnessing Strahd himself slay Vladimir's beloved, his fellow knight Sir Godfrey Gwilym. With the battle won, Strahd surrounded Argynvostholt. Rather than cower in his lair, Argynvost emerged and
Barovia would fade, allowing the spirits of Vladimir and his knights to enter the afterlife. Nevertheless, Vladimir would rather savor Strahd's torment than bring peace to his fallen order or peace
Monsters
Storm King's Thunder
ancient enemies: dragons. Duke Zalto has set his minions to the task of finding and unearthing fragments of a dragon-slaying colossus called the Vonindod (“titan of death”). Pieces of it were lost in
battle, while the rest was dismantled at the end of the ancient war between giants and dragonkind. Once all the pieces are found, Zalto plans to reforge the Vonindod and unleash it on the world
Goliath
Legacy
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Species
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
away in the night to seek the cold will of fate.
In some ways, the goliath drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in
seek out a larger, more powerful wyrm to battle. Few goliath adventurers reach old age, as most die attempting to surpass their past accomplishments.
Fair Play
For goliaths, competition exists only
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
death and become an undead creature, potentially cheating the grave over and over.
This unholy order of priests was founded centuries ago by Osybus, a mysterious figure of unfathomable ambition and evil
his life. He became a devotee of the Dark Powers and tapped into their immortal malice to fuel his apotheosis.
As his power grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
priests of Osybus steal the souls of others to fuel the priests’ malevolent magic. Using this soul power, each priest can defy death and become an undead creature, potentially cheating the grave over
their immortal malice to fuel his apotheosis.
As his power grew, he attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship. In time
Monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
; malevolent magic. Using this soul power, each priest can defy death and become an undead creature, potentially cheating the grave over and over.
This unholy order of priests was founded centuries ago
attracted disciples who also wished to defy life and death. He shared his dread secrets with them and demanded their worship. In time, his goal was achieved: he became a lich of almost godly power
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
without squeezing. Each foot of movement in water costs it 2 extra feet, rather than 1 extra foot. The mist can’t manipulate objects in any way that requires fingers or manual dexterity.
Sunlight
. In battle, a mist focuses its attacks on injured targets, since open wounds are a more ready source of blood.PoisonAcid, Cold, Lightning, Necrotic, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Eye and Hand of Vecna
Legacy
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Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
power, Vecna couldn’t escape his own mortality. He began to fear death and take steps to prevent his end from ever coming about.
Orcus, the demon prince of undeath, taught Vecna a ritual that
would allow him to live on as a lich. Beyond death, he became the greatest of all liches. Even though his body gradually withered and decayed, Vecna continued to expand his evil dominion. So formidable
Bugbear
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
natural state. Thanks to Grankhul, they can use their size and strength to work as stealthy assassins rather than blundering around like ogres.
Bullying, murder, and engaging in battle are all holy
.
Shiftless, Savage Layabouts
When they’re not in battle, bugbears spend much of their time resting or dozing. They don’t engage in crafting or agriculture to any great extent, or