before both decide combat rating - Search

True Polymorph

Spells Player’s Handbook

creature into another kind of creature, the new form can be any kind you choose that has a Challenge Rating equal to or less than the target’s Challenge Rating or level. The target’s game

kind of creature, as long as the creature’s size is no larger than the object’s size and the creature has a Challenge Rating of 9 or lower. The creature is Friendly to you and your allies

Find Familiar

Spells Player’s Handbook

You gain the service of a familiar, a spirit that takes an animal form you choose: Bat, Cat, Frog, Hawk, Lizard, Octopus, Owl, Rat, Raven, Spider, Weasel, or another Beast that has a Challenge Rating

touch, your familiar can deliver the touch. Your familiar must be within 100 feet of you, and it must take a Reaction to deliver the touch when you cast the spell. Combat. The familiar is an ally to

Find Steed

Spells Player’s Handbook

the steed’s creature type—Celestial, Fey, or Fiend—which determines certain traits in the stat block. Combat. The steed is an ally to you and your allies. In combat, it shares your

Initiative count, and it functions as a controlled mount while you ride it (as defined in the rules on mounted combat). If you have the Incapacitated condition, the steed takes its turn immediately

Portentia Dran

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Shortsword","rollDamageType":"slashing"} slashing damage. Change Shape. Portentia magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating equal to or less

search of a weapon to aid his captured sister. Whether in combat or social encounters, Portentia shifts frequently between different forms and mindsets, only some of which are fully humanoid. She fights

Marlos Urnrayle

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see Marlos until the start of its next turn, when it can decide to avert its

while Ogrémoch isn’t, Marlos can take lair actions and has a challenge rating of 12. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Marlos uses a lair action to cast earthquake without using

True Polymorph Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

creature’s challenge rating is 9 or lower. The creature is friendly to you and your companions. It acts on each of your turns. You decide what action it takes and how it moves. The GM has the creature

’t affected by this spell. Creature into Creature. If you turn a creature into another kind of creature, the new form can be any kind you choose whose challenge rating is equal to or less than

Half-Orc Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

-orcs hear the whispers of Gruumsh in their dreams, calling them to unleash the rage that simmers within them. Others feel Gruumsh’s exultation when they join in melee combat — and either

name for a human name. Some half-orcs with human names decide to adopt a guttural orc name because they think it makes them more intimidating. Male Orc Names: Dench, Feng, Gell, Henk, Holg, Imsh, Keth

Kelek

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

. “I must have Ringlerun’s staff! With it, the League of Malevolence will be unstoppable!” Flaw. “I trust no one, nor am I trustworthy.” Combat Notes Kelek uses Arcane

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

Elkhorn

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

dead.” Combat Notes Elkhorn’s challenge rating is based on him using Feint to improve his rather weak sword attack. Having been trained in his youth to fight ogres and trolls, he&rsquo

Initiative Legacy

Rules

Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant rolls Initiative; they make a Dexterity check that determines their place in the Initiative order. The DM

rolls for monsters.Surprise. If a combatant is surprised by combat starting, that combatant has Disadvantage on their Initiative roll. For example, if an ambusher starts combat while hidden from a

Rogue Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

variety of skills as they do to perfecting their combat abilities, giving them a broad expertise that few other characters can match. Many rogues focus on stealth and deception, while others refine the

skills that help them in a dungeon environment, such as climbing, finding and disarming traps, and opening locks. When it comes to combat, rogues prioritize cunning over brute strength. A rogue

Aurnozci

Monsters The Book of Many Things

in consumption. Periodically, the Eye of Aurnozci communes with their horrifying master or leads a ceremony of propitiation in the Firehive. In combat, Aurnozci screeches horribly and attacks any

chapter 20 for details about this realm. The challenge rating of Aurnozci is 23 (50,000 XP) when it’s encountered in its lair. Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties

Rak Tulkhesh

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Tulkhesh magically polymorphs into a humanoid, beast, or giant that has a challenge rating no higher than his own, or back into his true form. He reverts to his true form if he dies. Any equipment he

in combat, Rak Tulkhesh roars in rage as new weapons are spawned from his body, called forth by the Rage of War to slaughter all who dare stand before him. Khyber Shards. Rak Tulkhesh's soul is

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

coins Feature: Undercity Paths You know hidden, underground pathways that you can use to bypass crowds, obstacles, and observation as you move through the city. When you aren’t in combat, you

of my parents is an elite assassin, a member of the Ochran. 2 I learned combat from a kraul. 3 I know a medusa who is stationed in the guildhall. 4 I had a torrid romance with a

Awarding XP

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide

NPCs made the challenge easier. (See also “Nonplayer Characters” in chapter 3.) Noncombat Challenges You decide whether to award XP to characters for overcoming challenges outside combat. If the

Awarding XP Each monster has an XP value based on its Challenge Rating. When adventurers overcome one or more monsters—typically by killing, routing, capturing, or cleverly avoiding them—they divide

Challenge Rating

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

Challenge Rating Challenge Rating is defined in the “Rules Glossary”, while guidance on using CR to plan potential combat encounters is in the DM’s Toolbox. Experience Points The number of Experience

Points (XP) a monster is worth is based on its CR, as detailed in the Experience Points by Challenge Rating table. XP is awarded for defeating the monster in combat or otherwise neutralizing it

Challenge Rating

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

Challenge Rating Challenge Rating is defined in the Player’s Handbook, while guidance on using CR to plan potential combat encounters is in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Lists of monsters organized by

Challenge Rating appear in appendix B. Experience Points The number of Experience Points (XP) a monster is worth is based on its CR, as detailed in the Experience Points by Challenge Rating table. XP

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

others can be exploited through bribes, favors, or threats. As creatures devoid of emotion, yuan-ti exhibit behavior and use tactics that exemplify that outlook (or lack of one). Whether in combat

the gods or as food. Depend on Deceit Yuan-ti have no sense of honorable combat. They are naturally stealthy, and if they can sneak up on enemies, either in an ambush or to murder them in their sleep

Gear

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

usable. Beware of giving a monster combat-oriented magic items, since those might alter the monster’s Challenge Rating. If you do give a monster a magic item, the monster can have Attunement with magic

however you like, using the items in “Equipment” for inspiration. You decide how much of a monster’s equipment is recoverable after the creature is slain and whether any of that equipment is still

NPC Statistics

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

). Challenge Rating. An NPC built for combat needs a challenge rating. Use the rules in chapter 9 to determine the NPC’s challenge rating, just as you would for a monster you designed.

need an exhaustive list of equipment. An enemy meant to be faced in combat requires weapons and armor, plus any treasure the NPC carries (including magic items that might be used against the adventurers

Challenge Rating

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

Challenge Rating Challenge Rating (CR) summarizes the threat a monster poses to a group of four player characters. Compare a monster’s CR to the characters’ level. If the CR is higher, the monster is

. The Dungeon Master’s Guide provides guidance to the DM on using CR while planning potential combat encounters. See also “Stat Block.”

Challenge Rating

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

Challenge Rating Challenge Rating (CR) summarizes the threat a monster poses to a group of four player characters. Compare a monster’s CR to the characters’ level. If the CR is higher, the monster is

. The Dungeon Master’s Guide provides guidance to the DM on using CR while planning potential combat encounters. See also “Stat Block.”

Experience Points

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Experience Points Experience points (XP) fuel level advancement for player characters and are most often the reward for completing combat encounters. Each monster has an XP value based on its

challenge rating. When adventurers defeat one or more monsters — typically by killing, routing, or capturing them — they divide the total XP value of the monsters evenly among themselves. If the party

Creating a Monster Stat Block

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

d20 10½ Step 9. Damage Vulnerabilities, Resistances, and Immunities Decide whether your monster has vulnerability, resistance, or immunity to one or more types of damage (see the Combat section of

ability determines its ability modifier, as shown in the Ability Scores and Modifiers table in the Player’s Handbook. If you can’t decide what a monster’s ability scores should be, look for comparable

Skills

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

Dexterity (Stealth) checks. A skill bonus is the sum of a monster's relevant ability modifier and its proficiency bonus, which is determined by the monster's challenge rating (as shown in the

Proficiency Bonus by Challenge Rating table). Other modifiers might apply. For instance, a monster might have a larger-than-expected bonus (usually double its proficiency bonus) to account for its heightened

Gear

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

that equipment is still usable. Beware of giving a monster combat-oriented magic items, since those might alter the monster’s Challenge Rating. If you do give a monster a magic item, the monster can

gear however you like, using the equipment chapter of the Player’s Handbook for inspiration. You decide how much of a monster’s equipment is recoverable after the creature is slain and whether any of

Initiative

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

Initiative Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order. The DM makes one

among tied DM-controlled creatures, and the players decide the order among their tied characters. The DM can decide the order if the tie is between a monster and a player character. Optionally, the DM

Attack Rolls

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide

Attack Rolls In combat, an attack roll is used to determine whether an attack hits. You can also use attack rolls to resolve noncombat activities that are similar to attacks in combat, such as an

archery contest or a game of darts. Assign an Armor Class to the target, decide whether the character is proficient with the weapon used, then have the player make an attack roll. (See also “Degrees of Success” in this chapter.)

Initiative

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

Initiative Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order. The DM makes one

among tied DM-controlled creatures, and the players decide the order among their tied characters. The DM can decide the order if the tie is between a monster and a player character. Optionally, the DM

Character Advancement

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

. Fireball 3rd 4. Dragon Season 3rd–4th 5. Spring Madness 5th or higher 6. Hell of a Summer 5th or higher 7. Maestro’s Fall 5th or higher 8. Winter Wizardry 5th or higher If you decide to track

, roleplaying well, and surviving or avoiding deadly traps. Any such award should be no more than what the characters would earn for defeating a monster with a challenge rating equal to their level. For

Paladin Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

skills of combat, mastering a variety of weapons and armor. Even so, their martial skills are secondary to the magical power they wield: power to heal the sick and injured, to smite the wicked and the

while you were at prayer? Did another paladin sense the potential within you and decide to train you as a squire? Or did some terrible event—the destruction of your home, perhaps—drive you to

Creating Quick Monster Stats

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

challenge rating will help you figure out the monster’s proficiency bonus and other important combat statistics. Don’t worry about getting the challenge rating exactly right; you can make adjustments in

Creating Quick Monster Stats If all you need are simple stats for a monster of a particular challenge rating, follow the steps here. If you want to create something more akin to the monster stat

Noncombat Challenges

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Noncombat Challenges You decide whether to award experience to characters for overcoming challenges outside combat. If the adventurers complete a tense negotiation with a baron, forge a trade

agreement with a clan of surly dwarves, or successfully navigate the Chasm of Doom, you might decide that they deserve an XP reward. As a starting point, use the rules for building combat encounters in

Encounter Building

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Encounter Building This section introduces new guidelines on building combat encounters for an adventure. They are an alternative to the rules in “Creating Encounters” in chapter 3 of the Dungeon

encounter-building system assumes that, as DM, you want to have a clear understanding of the threat posed by a group of monsters. It will be useful to you if you want to emphasize combat in your

Tortured Earth

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

the area’s radius is 1,000 feet. The saving throw DC is 15. As the tremor ends, a young purple worm with 184 hit points (challenge rating 13) burrows out of the ground. Driven into a frenzy by the quake, it attacks other living creatures nearby. It retreats rather than perishing in combat.

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