before building direct continue rating

Harpy Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

song ends. The harpy must take a bonus action on its subsequent turns to continue singing. It can stop singing at any time. The song ends if the harpy is incapacitated. While charmed by the harpy, a

target is incapacitated and ignores the songs of other harpies. If the charmed target is more than 5 feet away from the harpy, the target must move on its turn toward the harpy by the most direct

Harpy Matriarch

Monsters Ghosts of Saltmarsh

. The matriarch must take a bonus action on its subsequent turns to continue singing. It can stop singing at any time. The song ends if the matriarch is incapacitated. While charmed by the matriarch, a

direct route, trying to get within 5 feet. It doesn't avoid opportunity attacks, but before moving into damaging terrain, such as lava or a pit, and whenever it takes damage from a source other than the

Aerisi Kalinoth

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

-Bin isn’t, Aerisi can take lair actions and has a challenge rating of 9. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Aerisi uses a lair action to cast one of her spells, up to 3rd level

, without using components or a spell slot. She can’t cast the same spell two rounds in a row, although she can continue to concentrate on a spell she previously cast using a lair action. Aerisi can

Vanifer

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

Actions If Vanifer is in the fire node while Imix isn’t, the tiefling can take lair actions and has a challenge rating of 12. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Vanifer uses a lair

action to cast one of her spells, up to 3rd level, without using components or a spell slot. She can’t cast the same spell two rounds in a row, although she can continue to concentrate on a

Abhorrent Overlord

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

can sense the direction to that site. If the gold is being moved, it knows the direction of the movement. It can't locate gold if any thickness of clay or lead, even a thin sheet, blocks a direct path

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

Gar Shatterkeel

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

can take lair actions and has a challenge rating of 13. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Gar uses a lair action to use his Multiattack or cast one of his spells, up to 3rd level

, without using components or a spell slot. He can’t cast the same spell two rounds in a row, but he can continue to concentrate on a spell he previously cast using a lair action. He can take no other

Eladrin Legacy

Species Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

Everything dies eventually. Why bother building anything that is supposedly meant to last? 2 Nothing matters to you, and you allow others to guide your actions. 3 Your needs come first. In

fancy passes with equal speed. 4 Anything worth doing is worth doing again and again. Summer d4 Summer Personality Trait 1 You believe that direct confrontation is

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

lair has a challenge rating of 23 (50,000 XP). Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the demilich rolls a d20;{"diceNotation":"1d20","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Take Lair

Morkoth

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

are tied to a particular place or group of locales, and still others move erratically through the cosmos. Occasionally, a morkoth learns to direct its island’s movement.A Morkoth’s Lair

is underwater. A morkoth encountered in its lair has a challenge rating of 12 (8,400 XP). Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the morkoth can take one of the following

Morkoth Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

of the lair is underwater. A morkoth encountered in its lair has a challenge rating of 12 (8,400 XP). Lair Actions When fighting inside its lair, a morkoth can invoke the ambient magic of the island

each of its turns to enter the lair and to move toward the morkoth's location (the target doesn't realize it's heading toward a creature). The target moves toward the morkoth by the most direct route

Ancient Deep Dragon Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

dragons, but we are superior beings and should not lower ourselves to direct conflict. 4 I have no interest in going to the surface world. It’s where one sends one’s servants. 5

, they use local settlements—and any competent visitors—as pawns in their struggle. 4 An ancient deep dragon has put the folk of a city to work building the dragon a metropolis to rule

Adult Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

foundations of creation. 5 To experience a thing is to truly understand it. Direct and personal experience is the most valuable form of knowledge. 6 I see a far more kaleidoscopic reality than

connect the main caves to the three chambers above. Each chimney appears to continue up through the ceiling of the upper level and down through the floor of the lower level, but the dragon’s

Ancient Amethyst Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

experience a thing is to truly understand it. Direct and personal experience is the most valuable form of knowledge. 6 I see a far more kaleidoscopic reality than you do … or than any of

ceiling, casting dim light in a 30-foot radius. Chimneys. Two chimneys connect the main caves to the three chambers above. Each chimney appears to continue up through the ceiling of the upper level and

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

. Ideals d6 Ideal 1 Guild. My guild is all that really matters. (Any) 2 Stoicism. All of us are part of the cyclical march of nature, which will continue with

the moss-covered building where I took part in my first reclamation mission. 5 I found something in the sewer that must never come to light. 6 I am forever grateful to the reclaimer who

Encounter Building

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

adventure, if you want to ensure that a foe isn’t too deadly for a group of characters, and if you want to understand the relationship between a character’s level and a monster’s challenge rating. Building an encounter using these guidelines follows a series of steps.

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

Dragon Adventures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Dragon Adventures Building on “Dragon Adventures” in chapter 3, this section starts with a collection of adventure hooks that might bring characters into contact with a dragon of a particular kind

, whether in conflict or as an ally or patron. Then, additional tables explore the relationships each kind of dragon has to other creatures of a similar challenge rating in their preferred environment

Challenge

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

Challenge A monster’s challenge rating tells you how great a threat the monster is, according to the encounter-building guidelines in chapter 3 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Those guidelines specify

the numbers of adventurers of a certain level that should be able to defeat a monster of a particular challenge rating without suffering any deaths. An appropriately equipped and well-rested party of

Creating a Monster Stat Block

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

use the proficiency bonus in later steps, so jot it down now or remember it. Step 7. Armor Class A monster’s Armor Class has a direct bearing on its challenge rating, and vice versa. You can

A monster’s hit points have a direct bearing on its challenge rating, and vice versa. You can determine your monster’s hit points in one of two ways. Use the Table. You can start with the monster’s

Adult Deep Dragon Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

dragons, but we are superior beings and should not lower ourselves to direct conflict. 4 I have no interest in going to the surface world. It’s where one sends one’s servants. 5

, or featuring larger mushrooms and plants in neatly organized displays. The challenge rating of a legendary deep dragon increases by 1 when it’s encountered in its lair. Lair Actions On

Step 3: Determine Numbers and Challenge Ratings

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

Step 3: Determine Numbers and Challenge Ratings The process for building fights that feature only one legendary monster is simple. The Solo Monster Challenge Rating table shows you which challenge

rating (CR) to use for a legendary creature opposing a party of four to six characters, creating a satisfying but difficult battle. For example, for a party of five 9th-level characters, a CR 12

First Session: Character Creation

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak

First Session: Character Creation Dungeons & Dragons is a game that requires several hours to play, but you can stop the game at any time and continue it later. The first session should focus on

, congratulate them on building their characters and begin the adventure with the next session. During character creation, your role as the DM is to let your players build the characters they want, and to help

Nyxborn Creatures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

into existence as the result of divine action, as the expression of abstract ideals, or as manifestations of the strength of shared belief. As mortals continue to tell their tales of creatures that

share certain characteristics: they resemble ordinary mortal creatures, but any part of their body that isn’t lit by direct light shows the starry gleam of Nyx. Nyxborn creatures typically act as the

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

yuan-ti know they can’t resort to direct attacks in order to reclaim their rightful place in the world. Operating out of the subterranean ruins of their buildings in foreign lands, yuan-ti

Trait 1 I see omens in every event and action. The serpent gods continue to advise us. 2 I have very high standards for food, drink, and physical pleasures. 3 I prefer to be alone

Plan of Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

for a direct assault, crashing through the front door. A more subtle approach sees them enter the inn a few at a time disguised as customers, then attacking when they have the characters outnumbered

and surrounded. The dragon is unlikely to enter the inn building, opting to use its breath weapon through the windows or attacking any characters or bystanders who step outside. Option 2: Attack on the

Step 4: Select Monsters

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

, you can come up with different options for building the encounter. Multiple Monsters: 1st–5th Level Character Level — — — — — — — — Challenge Rating — — — — — — — — 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1st 1:2

more of an art than a science. In addition to assessing monsters by challenge rating, it’s important to look at how certain monsters might stack up against your group. Hit points, attacks, and saving

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

created the orcs and continues to direct their destiny. He is aided and abetted by the other warrior deities, Bahgtru and Ilneval, who bring strength and cunning to the battlefield. The followers of all

who study its ebb and flow to expect the stalemate to continue. A different view is put forth by the archmage Tzunk, who notes that Maglubiyet has never faced a foe as ferocious and protective as

The Enemy of My Enemy

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

MARAUDERS ARE ATTACKING PATRONS FLEAING THE BURNING BUILDING! Will the Sharn Watch investigate this vicious assault not just upon our city, but upon the dragonmarked houses themselves? Or will they

continue to ignore the crime running rampant in our lower wards? Or, as too often seems to happen these days, will some disreputable inquisitives, working for a private agency, accomplish more than the

Plan of Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

for a direct assault, crashing through the front door. A more subtle approach sees them enter the inn a few at a time disguised as customers, then attacking when they have the characters outnumbered

and surrounded. The dragon is unlikely to enter the inn building, opting to use its breath weapon through the windows or attacking any characters or bystanders who step outside. Option 2: Attack on the

What Caused the Mourning?

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

the result of a century of extensive use of war magic. If the nations continue to use these magics, the Mourning will expand. The dragonmarked House Cannith made a fortune selling magical weapons to

Mournland and building its power, but soon it will be ready to act. As a DM, the question you need to ask is whether you want the mystery of the Mourning to be solved, and what the consequences would be

Starting the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

House, a well-appointed, two-story, mud-brick building painted pale blue. The characters have a full day to rest and explore Djaynai before they meet with the official who arranged their journey at

. Each is given a private room, and delicious meals are prepared and served in the common room. Anadoua is happy to share details from the “Djaynai and Janya Gazetteer” section or direct the characters toward the market for any mundane items they require.

Starting Out

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

Westbridge (80 miles) Travel southeast along the Stone Trail from Westbridge to the Stone Bridge, then continue east to Beliard (80 miles) Follow the Dessarin Road south from Beliard for about forty

much more dangerous and direct route through rugged, hilly terrain: They travel south from Yartar, through the Dessarin Hills, to the Stone Trail, staying west of the Dessarin River (110 miles) They

Awarding XP

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

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

point, use the rules for building combat encounters in chapter 4 to gauge the difficulty of the challenge. Then award the characters XP as if it had been a combat encounter of the same difficulty

Approaching the Vineyard

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

trail, which skirts north of a sprawling vineyard before bending south toward a stately building. The fog takes on ghostly forms as it swirls between the neatly tended rows of grapevines. Here and

beckoning figure is one of nine wereravens (LG male and female humans) hiding in the grove north of the vineyard. If the characters ignore the cloaked figure and continue on to the winery, the wereravens keep their distance and wait to see what happens.

Adult Topaz Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

from the sea, but the dragon is too proud to ask for help getting home. 6 A topaz dragon is building a tableau of desiccated creatures and has grown obsessed with catching one treasure hunter

interior chambers of their lairs meticulously dry. The challenge rating of a legendary topaz dragon increases by 1 when it’s encountered in its lair. Lair Actions On initiative count 20 (losing

Building Combat Encounters

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

Chapter 13: Building Combat Encounters When creating a combat encounter, let your imagination run wild and build something your players will enjoy. Once you have the details figured out, use

; the adjusted value’s only purpose is to help you accurately assess the encounter’s difficulty. When making this calculation, don’t count any monsters whose challenge rating is significantly below

D&D Beyond

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