before becoming death continue rites

Book of Vile Darkness

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

, foul rites that allow one to transform into a death knight or lich, or long-lost spells crafted by beings so evil their names ought never to be spoken aloud. Vile Speech. While the book is on your

attuned to the book, you can cast the following spells (save DC 18) from it: Animate Dead Circle of Death Dominate Monster Finger of Death Once you use the book to cast a spell, you can’t

Eye and Hand of Vecna

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

Concentration required), demanding that you commit an evil act. The hand might have a specific act in mind or leave it up to you. Hand of Vecna Spells Spell Charge Cost Finger of Death 5

Fighter

Classes Player’s Handbook

mercenaries—as Fighters, they all share an unparalleled prowess with weapons and armor. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and defying it. Fighters master various

broad ability and extensive specialization makes Fighters superior combatants. Becoming a Fighter... As a Level 1 Character Gain all the traits in the Core Fighter Traits table. Gain the

Cleric

Classes Player’s Handbook

prayers and rites that help them draw on power from the Outer Planes. Not every member of a temple or shrine is a Cleric. Some priests are called to a simple life of temple service, carrying out their

devotion through prayer and rituals, not through magic. Many mortals claim to speak for the gods, but few can marshal the power of those gods the way a Cleric can. Becoming a Cleric... As a Level 1

Druid

Classes Player’s Handbook

, individual Druids gain their magic from nature, a nature deity, or both, and they typically unite with other Druids to perform rites that mark the passage of the seasons and other natural cycles

regions of unspoiled nature, but when a significant danger arises, Druids take a more active role as adventurers who combat the threat. Becoming a Druid... As a Level 1 Character Gain all the

Kraul Death Priest

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

, with little grasp of metaphor or nuance. The death priests occupy the highest roles in kraul society. They lead the buzzing chants of the kraul rites. Their inscrutable clicks and buzzing can summon

Feed on Death. When a creature within 30 feet of the kraul drops to 0 hit points, the kraul or another creature of its choice within 30 feet of it gains 5 (1d10);{"diceNotation":"1d10","rollType

Spawn of Kyuss

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Orcus who plundered corpses from necropolises to create the first spawn of Kyuss. Even centuries after Kyuss’s death, his malign disciples continue performing the horrific rites he perfected

Gambler's Blade

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

;3) to your death saving throws. You can change this magical bonus each day at dawn. Curse. This weapon is cursed, and becoming attuned to it extends the curse to you. Until the curse is broken with a remove curse spell or similar magic, you are unwilling to part with the weapon.

Stonemelder

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

Death Burst. When the stonemelder dies, it turns to stone and explodes in a burst of rock shards, becoming a smoking pile of rubble. Each creature within 10 feet of the exploding stonemelder must

make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 11 (2d10);{"diceNotation":"2d10","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Death Burst","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as

Thessalar

Monsters Infernal Machine Rebuild

of life, resulting in such creatures as the thessalhydra and the owlbear. In recent years, he has also researched the prolonging of life—namely his own. Thessalar hopes that by becoming a lich

, his research and experiments can continue indefinitely. Over time, Thessalar has subjected himself to so many of his own experiments that his blood has taken on alchemical and magical properties. He regularly uses it as the basis for many of the reagents used throughout his labs.Acid, Poison

Bozak Draconian

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

Lady Illmarrow

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

island domain. Long ago, it was revealed that the elven line of Vol — a house that practiced the art of necromancy and bore the Dragonmark of Death — was engaged in secret blood rites

","rollAction":"Rejuvenation"} days, regaining all her hit points and becoming active again. The new body appears within two hundred miles of the location at which she was destroyed. Spellcasting. Illmarrow

Devourer

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

replacing all life with everlasting death. A lesser demon that proves itself to Orcus might be granted the privilege of becoming a devourer. The Prince of Undeath transforms such a demon into an 8-foot

creature is restrained and has disadvantage on death saving throws. If the creature dies while imprisoned, the devourer regains 25 hit points and immediately recharges Soul Rend. Additionally, at the

Dracophage Subject

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Death Throes. When the draconian is reduced to 0 hit points, it dissolves into acid that splashes on those around it. Each creature within 5 feet of the draconian must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity

saving throw or be covered in acid for 1 minute. A creature covered in the acid takes 7 (2d6);{"diceNotation":"2d6", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Death Throes", "rollDamageType":"acid"} acid

Kapak Draconian

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Death Throes. When the draconian is reduced to 0 hit points, it dissolves into acid that splashes on those around it. Each creature within 5 feet of the draconian must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity

saving throw or be covered in acid for 1 minute. A creature covered in the acid takes 7 (2d6);{"diceNotation":"2d6", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Death Throes", "rollDamageType":"acid"} acid

Aurak Draconian

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

advantage on saving throws made to avoid or end the frightened condition on itself. Death Throes. When the draconian is reduced to 0 hit points, its magical essence lashes out as a ball of lightning at

creature takes 9 (2d8);{"diceNotation":"2d8", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Death Throes", "rollDamageType":"lightning"} lightning damage and is stunned until the end of its next turn. On a successful

Sivak Draconian

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Death Throes. When the draconian is reduced to 0 hit points by a creature that is Large or smaller, the draconian crumbles into dust that then forms a spectral, shrieking image of the creature that

combination of warped alchemy and the Dragon Queen’s foul magic. The Dragon Armies closely guard the secret of the draconians’ creation, allowing Krynn’s metallic dragons to continue to think their eggs are being held hostage so they don’t oppose the Dragon Queen’s conquests.

Cairnwight

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

exclusion of all other tasks, retreating into a spacious cavern and blocking out all distractions. Creating a masterwork can become such a driving obsession that death can’t stop it: a giant who dies

while creating art might rise as a cairnwight and continue the work. Once the artwork is completed, the cairnwight remains as its undying guardian. A cairnwight looks much like an emaciated stone

Abhorrent Overlord

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

continue to flock around the demon, offering fealty and squabbling for scraps. Some foul souls can't let go of the miserable lives they had. Having been despicable in life, these spirits fester in death

creatures whose gray, leathery skin is in stark contrast to the gleaming jewelry made of Underworld gold that they adorn themselves with. Their appetite for pain and death is eclipsed only by their greed

Golgari Agent

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

Tarul Var

Monsters Tales from the Yawning Portal

"} days, regaining all his hit points and becoming active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of the phylactery. Spellcasting. Var is a 12th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is

(1 slot): circle of death * Conjuration spell of 1st level or higher Turn Resistance. Var has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.Paralyzing Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +9

Leather Golem Armor

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

resistance to lightning damage. Whenever you take lightning damage, you gain 5 temporary hit points. Curse. This armor is cursed, and becoming attuned to it extends the curse to you. Until

object, with preference for an object smaller than yourself. Once the armor causes you to go berserk, it cannot be removed. You continue to attack until you are incapacitated or until another creature is

Fire Hellion

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

, hoping to learn tactics the devils have fine-tuned over millennia and to acquire magical gifts to help the giant rise in the ordning. Over time, the giant is corrupted, becoming a Fiend in its own right

this way, the devil stands to gain a constant supply of souls from the giant’s enemies, as well as the promise that the giant will serve the devil as a smith in the Nine Hells after death. The

Baaz Draconian

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Controlled Fall. When the draconian falls and isn’t incapacitated, it subtracts up to 100 feet from the fall when calculating the fall’s damage. Death Throes. When the draconian is

to continue to think their eggs are being held hostage so they don’t oppose the Dragon Queen’s conquests.

Frostmourn

Monsters Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

keep them roaming the wilds for years after their murderers are slain. A frostmourn looks like a desiccated corpse mummified by exposure to bitter cold. It carries the marks of its death on its body: a

wound that seeps frosty vapor or vibrant, purple veins showing the ravages of poison. It can momentarily dissolve its body into a swirling blizzard to avoid harm, reforming at a distance to continue its assault.Cold, PoisonFire

Prismari Professor of Expression

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

teachers channel the elements of wind, flame, and lightning to accompany them. Their magic is fast and beautiful, which becomes swift death in battle, mesmerizing in its energetic flow. Devastating

lightning strikes and searing lashes of flame meet the professors’ foes head on. Professors who embrace the Prismari philosophy of expression focus on magic becoming art in the moment. Whether to

Reborn

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Death isn’t always the end. The reborn exemplify this, being individuals who have died yet, somehow, still live. Some reborn exhibit the scars of fatal ends, their ashen flesh or bloodless

veins making it clear that they’ve been touched by death. Other reborn are marvels of magic or science, being stitched together from disparate beings or bearing mysterious minds in manufactured

Demilich (Variant) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

souls of the insolent intruders to his tomb, magically transferring them to his phylactery. Liches who follow Acererak’s path believe that by becoming free of their bodies, they can continue

its existence. Few liches seek to become demiliches, for it means an end to the existence they hoped to preserve by becoming undead. However, time can erode the lich’s reason and memory, causing

Phantom

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Many rogues walk a fine line between life and death, risking their own lives and taking the lives of others. While adventuring on that line, some rogues discover a mystical connection to death itself

. These rogues take knowledge from the dead and become immersed in negative energy, eventually becoming like ghosts. Thieves’ guilds value them as highly effective information gatherers and

Phantom (TCoE)

Classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Many rogues walk a fine line between life and death, risking their own lives and taking the lives of others. While adventuring on that line, some rogues discover a mystical connection to death itself

. These rogues take knowledge from the dead and become immersed in negative energy, eventually becoming like ghosts. Thieves’ guilds value them as highly effective information gatherers and

Memory Web

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

can continue to feed on a corpse’s memories for days after its death. If a memory web is slain, any memories it consumed over the last day are discharged from its body in a telepathic deluge

White Abishai

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

opportunity attacks.White abishais fight with a reckless fury, making them ideally suited for bolstering the ranks of Tiamat’s armies. White abishais fight without fear, becoming whirlwinds of

destruction on the battlefield. Abishais Each abishai was once a mortal who somehow won Tiamat’s favor before death and, as a reward, found its soul transformed into a draconic devil to serve at her

Mind Flayer Lich (Illithilich) Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

":"1d10","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Rejuvenation"} days, regaining all its hit points and becoming active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of the phylactery. Spellcasting. The lich is an 18th

, scrying 6th level (1 slot): disintegrate, globe of invulnerability 7th level (1 slot): finger of death, plane shift 8th level (1 slot): dominate monster, power word stun 9th level (1 slot): power

Undercity Medusa

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

at the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The petrification lasts until the creature is freed by a greater restoration spell or similar magic.The

undercity like hungry predators. LUDMILLA, THE TUNNEL VIPER Ludmilla is the last surviving member of the Sisters of Stone Death, the trio of power-hungry medusas who slew Svogthir, the original

Lich Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

":"1d10","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Days"} days, regaining all its hit points and becoming active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of the phylactery. Spellcasting. The lich is an 18th-level

6th level (1 slot): disintegrate, globe of invulnerability 7th level (1 slot): finger of death, plane shift 8th level (1 slot): dominate monster, power word stun 9th level (1 slot): power word

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