before barely dealing class run

Onyx

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

. Dealing with Onyx. Onyx cannot be overcome or killed by combat. Any weapon attack against her that hits AC 12 makes contact but deals no lasting damage. However, if the attack would deal 10 or more

encounter on how to run it. Without the special circumstances from that encounter, Onyx can be considered a standard cat.

Ruin Spider

Monsters The Book of Many Things

Ruinous Acid. Any nonmagical weapon that hits the spider corrodes. After dealing damage, the weapon takes a permanent and cumulative −1 penalty to damage rolls. If its penalty drops to −5

, the weapon is destroyed. Nonmagical ammunition made of metal that hits the spider is destroyed after dealing damage. Spider Climb. The spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on

Vertebrae Sword

Equipment

The jagged vertebrae sword of a fishfolk warrior can barely be called a sword. Locals would say it’s better described as a makeshift weapon crafted from a fish skeleton and sea trash. Its poor

vertebrae sword, you can use a bonus action to rake and twist the weapon, breaking off some of the sword’s boney barbs and dealing an extra 1d8 piercing damage. The vertebrae sword can only be used in this way 5 times before it becomes unusable as a weapon.

Kelek

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

of the staff's charges, dealing an extra 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Staff of Striking","rollDamageType":"force"} force damage for each expended charge. Fiery

Defense to bolster his low Armor Class whenever possible, and his challenge rating is a reflection of the likelihood that he will use Fiery Explosion as often as he can. If one or more of his allies

Swarmkeeper

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

force in battle, as well as helpful company for the ranger. Some Swarmkeepers are outcasts or hermits, keeping to themselves and their attendant swarms rather than dealing with the discomfort of others

an exciting opportunity to explore your character’s narrative through their class abilities. For more guidance on customizing spells, see the “Personalizing Spells” section in

Swarmkeeper (TCoE)

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

force in battle, as well as helpful company for the ranger. Some Swarmkeepers are outcasts or hermits, keeping to themselves and their attendant swarms rather than dealing with the discomfort of others

an exciting opportunity to explore your character’s narrative through their class abilities. For more guidance on customizing spells, see the “Personalizing Spells” section in

Rogue Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

class, making a living as burglars, assassins, cutpurses, and con artists. Often, these scoundrels are organized into thieves’ guilds or crime families. Plenty of rogues operate independently, but

treasure. Creating a Rogue As you create your rogue character, consider the character’s relationship to the law. Do you have a criminal past—or present? Are you on the run from the law or from

Wizard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, defined and united as a class by the spells they cast. Drawing on the subtle weave of magic that permeates the cosmos, wizards cast spells of explosive fire, arcing lightning, subtle deception, and brute

clump of exotic materials, these surface components barely hint at the expertise attained after years of apprenticeship and countless hours of study. Wizards live and die by their spells. Everything

Sul Khatesh

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Her statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that

Khatesh understand what forces they are dealing with, or recognize the danger inherent in her gifts. The Queen of Shadows. An entity of shadow, Sul Khatesh can assume any form. Her favored shape is a twelve

Deck of Many Things Legacy

Magic Items Basic Rules (2014)

own avatar of death. A creature slain by an avatar of death can't be restored to life. Avatar of Death Medium undead, neutral evil Armor Class 20 Hit Points half the hit point maximum of its

. Turning Immunity. The avatar is immune to features that turn undead. Actions Reaping Scythe. The avatar sweeps its spectral scythe through a creature within 5 feet of it, dealing 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

with the law, the guild can’t shield you from the repercussions. Izzet Guild Spells Prerequisite: Spellcasting or Pact Magic class feature For you, the spells on the Izzet Guild Spells table

are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class. (If you are a multiclass character with multiple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.) Izzet Guild Spells Spell Level

Azorius Functionary

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

(though it might cause more problems than it solves when you’re dealing with incorrigible lawbreakers). If you abuse this privilege, though, you can get in serious trouble with your superiors and

even be stripped of your position. Azorius Guild Spells Prerequisite: Spellcasting or Pact Magic class feature For you, the spells on the Azorius Guild Spells table are added to the spell list of

Aarakocra Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

lies on the slopes of the Star Mounts’ southernmost mountains. At the headwaters of the Unicorn Run, the Last Aerie is home to several dozen aarakocra. Recently, aarakocra elders detected

. Great Purpose Aarakocra enjoy peace and solitude. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples and less interest in spending time on the ground. For this reason, it takes an

Strahd von Zarovich

Monsters Curse of Strahd

","rollAction":"Unarmed Strike","rollDamageType":"necrotic"} necrotic damage. If the target is a creature, Strahd can grapple it (escape DC 18) instead of dealing the slashing damage. Bite. Melee Weapon

intelligently and do everything you can to make him a terrifying and cunning adversary for the player characters. When you run an encounter with Strahd, keep the following facts in mind: Strahd

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

’t be found. Unearthing the deepest secrets of the multiverse can require an adventure or even a whole campaign. Simic Guild Spells Prerequisite: Spellcasting or Pact Magic class feature For you

, the spells on the Simic Guild Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class. (If you are a multiclass character with multiple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them

Dealing with Uldrak

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

Dealing with Uldrak Uldrak is a bitter creature who barely remembers his past. Long ago, he learned how to remove his curse, but the solution was so beyond him that he consigned himself to failure

Dangerous Pathways

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

characters’ progress. If the check is 14 or higher, or if any character with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 14 studies the fey after they’ve been spotted, the fey appear mean and grubby. The fey run off if they are noticed, shouting with barely disguised menace to “enjoy our sunny woods.”

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

traps, snares, and nets to catch the unwary, and when their hunting patrols encounter other beings, they always look for ways to capture their foes instead of killing them. Goblins that run up against

the tribe. If the creature is dimwitted, like a troll or ogre, the lower-class goblins give it obeisance, but before long the upper-class goblins begin to think that whoever can bend the ear of the

Ankylosaurus Zombie

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

Ankylosaurus Zombie This creature is slow and barely aware of its surroundings. Ankylosaurus Zombie Huge undead, unaligned Armor Class 14 (natural armor) Hit Points 68 (8d12 + 16) Speed 20 ft

Becoming a Calciform Creature

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lorwyn: First Light

a barely living, emotionless husk who eventually gains the Petrified condition. Use this effect to establish a ticking clock for characters who linger in eclipsed realms. At your discretion

, characters who linger in eclipsed realms might lose access to their class features before they gain the Petrified condition. Once characters leave eclipsed realms, any abilities they lost are immediately

Getting the Quest

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Getting the Quest The town sits quietly at the foot of Kelvin’s Cairn. A few bundled-up people shuffle between snow-battered houses, keeping their heads down, barely bothering to give you a look as

dragon in humanoid form. If the characters ask about the missing lantern, he offers to take them to the local inn so they can talk to the Shorard sisters, who run the establishment. He seems less

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

interest of maintaining the strength of their personal bloodline. The yuan-ti have abandoned their humanity and consider non-serpentine humanoids to be lesser creatures, barely more civilized than

get into places their normal forms couldn’t enter. Their immunity to poison gives all yuan-ti a tactical advantage in dealing with other creatures. A pureblood serving as a food taster for a

Standalone Adventures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

Standalone Adventures Rather than playing the four adventures as a campaign, you can run them as standalone adventures. A section near the start of each adventure tells you how to use the adventure

in this way. If you run any of these adventures separately, you should ask the players to create characters of the appropriate starting level for the adventure, as shown in the Adventure Levels table

Ruin Spider

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things

got nervous. I haven’t been able to find a good replacement since. Ruin Spider Large Monstrosity, Unaligned Armor Class 16 (natural armor) Hit Points 105 (14d10 + 28) Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft

Languages — Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 Ruinous Acid. Any nonmagical weapon that hits the spider corrodes. After dealing damage, the weapon takes a permanent and cumulative −1 penalty

Aundairian Characters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Talent. If you’re not going to play a magic-using class, consider creating a high elf or a human with the Magic Initiate feat. Whether you favor damage-dealing cantrips or more utilitarian ones, every

Pixie

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

Pixie Standing barely a foot tall, pixies resemble diminutive elves with gossamer wings like those of dragonflies or butterflies, bright as the clear dawn and as luminous as the full moonrise. Those

who wander through a pixie’s glade might never see the creatures, yet hear the occasional giggle, gasp, or sigh. Pixie Tiny fey, neutral good Armor Class 15 Hit Points 1 (1d4 − 1) Speed 10 ft

White Maw

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal

neutral Armor Class 5 Hit Points 217 (14d20 + 70) Speed 10 ft. STR 18 (+4) DEX 1 (–5) CON 20 (+5) INT 12 (+1) WIS 10 (+0) CHA 3 (–4) Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire

Maw corrodes. After dealing damage, the weapon takes a permanent and cumulative –1 penalty to damage rolls. If its penalty drops to –5, the weapon is destroyed. Nonmagical ammunition made of metal that

Episode 2: Fun in Phandalin

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

characters discover signs of recent rituals tapping into the power of the Far Realm — and take on the monsters the attackers left behind. After dealing with the threats in the dungeon, the characters run

Dealing with Agatha

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

Dealing with Agatha If the characters are respectful and polite, Agatha can be persuaded to help them with a successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check. The player whose character takes the lead in

, and you don’t need maps to run the encounters effectively. If you feel the need for a map, create your own using the adventure text as a guide.

Appendix D: Magic Items

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

. When an item’s charges run dry, its magic drains away — or the item might malfunction or explode, with effects determined by you. The “Alien Technology” section in chapter 9 of the Dungeon Master’s

Guide offers useful general guidelines for dealing with strange devices of the sort found in this adventure. If Kwalish’s notes can’t be deciphered (or if the inventor doesn’t show up when the

Customizing NPCs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

manner doesn’t alter an NPC’s challenge rating. Armor and Weapon Swaps. You can upgrade or downgrade an NPC’s armor, or add or switch weapons. Adjustments to Armor Class and damage can change an NPC’s

have a magic staff or wand, as well as one or more potions and scrolls. Giving an NPC a potent damage-dealing magic item could alter its challenge rating. Magic items, as well as adjusting a creature’s challenge rating, are described in the Dungeon Master’s Guide.

Customizing NPCs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

an NPC's challenge rating. Armor and Weapon Swaps You can upgrade or downgrade an NPC's armor, or add or switch weapons. Adjustments to Armor Class and damage can change an NPC's challenge rating

. Magic Items The more powerful an NPC, the more likely it has one or more magic items in its possession. An archmage, for example, might have a magic staff or wand, as well as one or more potions and scrolls. Giving an NPC a potent damage-dealing magic item could alter its challenge rating.

Dealing with Bazelsteen

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

Dealing with Bazelsteen Engine oil covers this horned devil, which constantly chews on a shard of smoking, red hot coal. Bazelsteen is more interested in machines than creatures and is willing to

requires that they help it complete a test (see “Test Run 221” below). If the characters perform this task well, Bazelsteen agrees to fully repair their infernal war machines. He also offers one free

Creating an Artificer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

role played by artificers in the campaign and the sort of organizations you might have ties to. ARTIFICERS IN OTHER WORLDS Eberron is the world most associated with artificers, yet the class can be

found throughout the D&D multiverse. In the Forgotten Realms, for example, the island of Lantan is home to many artificers, and in the world of Dragonlance, tinker gnomes are often members of this class

Deft Explorer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Deft Explorer 1st-level ranger feature, which replaces the Natural Explorer feature You are an unsurpassed explorer and survivor, both in the wilderness and in dealing with others on your travels

. You gain the Canny benefit below, and you gain an additional benefit below when you reach 6th level and 10th level in this class. A Halfling Ranger explores the wilds Canny (1st Level) Choose one of

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