brutal bards diffusing cunning require

Cultist of Bhaal

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

. Cultists of Bhaal sometimes form cabals of assassins or mercenaries, but they perform their brutal slaughter for the perverse love of bloodshed and honor to their sinister god rather than for

financial recompense. These cunning serial killers and mass murderers remain a step ahead of investigators, at least until the cultists’ zealous bloodlust overwhelms their senses. Cultists The

Boss Augustus

Monsters The Book of Many Things

cursed with lycanthropy. While cursed in this way, the target retains its alignment, languages, and equipment but otherwise uses the werewolf stat block, excluding actions that require equipment the

few words. He shares leadership of the guild with Boss Delour and has a knack for planning heists. Guild members consider him a brutal but fair leader. Some perceptive guild members—like Kathra

Boneless

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

doesn’t require sleep.Multiattack. The boneless makes two Slam attacks. If both attacks hit a Large or smaller creature, the creature is grappled (escape DC 13), and the boneless can use

rise from the bodies of those who’ve suffered brutal ends, such as deliberate skinning or crushing. Deathless malice infuses what remains, their husks flopping and slithering in pursuit of

Crab Folk

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

. Long ago, a green hag gathered a small army of ogres to serve as her enforcers along the desolate coast she had claimed. The hag found the ogres' simple minds and brutal strength useful, but too often

, their lack of cunning foiled her plans. Many tumbled into the sea and drowned, too simpleminded and impatient to learn how to swim. Others smashed caravans and crushed their defenders most effectively

Oblex Spawn

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

until the end of its next turn. Unusual Nature. The oblex doesn’t require sleep.Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +5;{"diceNotation":"1d20+5","rollType":"to hit","rollAction":"Pseudopod"} to hit

, the oblex—a slime capable of assaulting the minds of other creatures. These pools of jelly are cunning hunters that feed on thoughts and memories. The sharper the mind, the better the meal, so

Kakkuu Spyder-Fiend

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

combine the worst attributes of wolves and spiders, spyder-fiends scuttle about with bloated, spiderlike bodies and gnash with wolflike heads. Spyder-fiends are usually coated with gore, as brutal killing

is their favorite pursuit. They spin durable webs and are ingenious in how they employ their webs against prey. Spyder-fiends are organized into a hierarchy based on might and cunning, with higher

Phisarazu Spyder-Fiend

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

. Spyder-fiends are usually coated with gore, as brutal killing is their favorite pursuit. They spin durable webs and are ingenious in how they employ their webs against prey. Spyder-fiends are organized

into a hierarchy based on might and cunning, with higher-ranked spyder-fiends dominating lower ranks. Spyder-fiends of equivalent rank scheme against each other for advancement and eagerly turn against

Quavilithku Spyder-Fiend

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

brutal killing is their favorite pursuit. They spin durable webs and are ingenious in how they employ their webs against prey. Spyder-fiends are organized into a hierarchy based on might and cunning

Raklupis Spyder-Fiend

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

of wolves and spiders, spyder-fiends scuttle about with bloated, spiderlike bodies and gnash with wolflike heads. Spyder-fiends are usually coated with gore, as brutal killing is their favorite

pursuit. They spin durable webs and are ingenious in how they employ their webs against prey. Spyder-fiends are organized into a hierarchy based on might and cunning, with higher-ranked spyder-fiends

Gem Stalker

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Spider Climb. The gem stalker can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check. Unusual Nature. The gem stalker doesn’t require food or

that amount.When a gem dragon kills an aberrant creature from the Far Realm, the dragon sometimes reshapes the alien corpse into a gem stalker—a cunning predator capable of traversing the

Forlarren

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

, chaotic, and temperamental nature they all share. When its diabolical aspect shines through, a forlarren is a cunning, calculating, and brutal enemy. It might use its natural charm to worm its way

Stone Cursed

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Cunning Opportunist. The stone cursed has advantage on the attack rolls of opportunity attack;opportunity attacks. False Appearance. If the stone cursed is motionless at the start of combat, it has

the stone cursed isn’t a statue. Unusual Nature. The stone cursed doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.Petrifying Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5;{"diceNotation":"1d20+5", "rollType

Boss Delour

Monsters The Book of Many Things

but otherwise uses the wererat stat block, excluding actions that require equipment the target doesn’t have. During any night when there’s a full moon in the sky, the target becomes an NPC

hybrid, a Medium giant rat, or his humanoid form. His statistics, other than his size and speed, are the same in each form. Any equipment he is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. He reverts to his humanoid form if he dies. Cunning Action. Delour takes the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Faction Agent

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

operated openly or secretly, depending on the faction and its goals, as well as how those goals mesh with your own. Becoming an adventurer doesn’t necessarily require you to relinquish membership

knowledge, rather than brute force. Harper agents are often proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and

Adult Oblex

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

until the end of its next turn. Unusual Nature. The oblex doesn’t require sleep.Multiattack. The oblex makes two Pseudopod attacks, and it uses Eat Memories. Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +7

flayers created a special breed of Ooze, the oblex—a slime capable of assaulting the minds of other creatures. These pools of jelly are cunning hunters that feed on thoughts and memories. The

Elder Oblex

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

until the end of its next turn. Unusual Nature. The oblex doesn’t require sleep.Multiattack. The elder oblex makes two Pseudopod attacks, and it uses Eat Memories. Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack

jelly are cunning hunters that feed on thoughts and memories. The sharper the mind, the better the meal, so oblexes hunt targets more likely to be intelligent, such as wizards and other spellcasters. When

Spyder-Fiends

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

usually coated with gore, as brutal killing is their favorite pursuit. They spin durable webs and are ingenious in how they employ their webs against prey. Spyder-fiends are organized into a hierarchy

based on might and cunning, with higher-ranked spyder-fiends dominating lower ranks. Spyder-fiends of equivalent rank scheme against each other for advancement and eagerly turn against one another if

Spyder-Fiends

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

usually coated with gore, as brutal killing is their favorite pursuit. They spin durable webs and are ingenious in how they employ their webs against prey. Spyder-fiends are organized into a hierarchy

based on might and cunning, with higher-ranked spyder-fiends dominating lower ranks. Spyder-fiends of equivalent rank scheme against each other for advancement and eagerly turn against one another if

Spyder-Fiends

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

usually coated with gore, as brutal killing is their favorite pursuit. They spin durable webs and are ingenious in how they employ their webs against prey. Spyder-fiends are organized into a hierarchy

based on might and cunning, with higher-ranked spyder-fiends dominating lower ranks. Spyder-fiends of equivalent rank scheme against each other for advancement and eagerly turn against one another if

Signature Style

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

using more energy than you need. 2 Brutal. Your attacks rain down like hammer blows, meant to splinter bone or send blood flying. 3 Cunning. You dart in to attack at just the right moment and use small

Bardic Colleges

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

the bards, each of which is named after one of the colleges. See chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for the game statistics of these magic instruments. Long ago, bards who sought the rank of

tradition fell when the colleges went into decline, but some bards dream of restoring it. College of Fochlucan The original College of Fochlucan once stood on the northeastern edge of Silverymoon. Many years

Bardic Colleges

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

the bards, each of which is named after one of the colleges. See chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for the game statistics of these magic instruments. Long ago, bards who sought the rank of

tradition fell when the colleges went into decline, but some bards dream of restoring it. College of Fochlucan The original College of Fochlucan once stood on the northeastern edge of Silverymoon. Many years

Signature Style

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

using more energy than you need. 2 Brutal. Your attacks rain down like hammer blows, meant to splinter bone or send blood flying. 3 Cunning. You dart in to attack at just the right moment and use small

Bardic Colleges

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

the bards, each of which is named after one of the colleges. See chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for the game statistics of these magic instruments. Long ago, bards who sought the rank of

tradition fell when the colleges went into decline, but some bards dream of restoring it. College of Fochlucan The original College of Fochlucan once stood on the northeastern edge of Silverymoon. Many years

Signature Style

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

using more energy than you need. 2 Brutal. Your attacks rain down like hammer blows, meant to splinter bone or send blood flying. 3 Cunning. You dart in to attack at just the right moment and use small

Oblex

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

of other creatures. Cunning hunters, these pools of jelly stalk prey, searching for the memories they so desperately crave. When oblexes feed on those thoughts, sometimes killing their victims, they

plunders the creature’s mind, leaving its prey befuddled and confused. Ooze Nature. An oblex doesn’t require sleep.

Oblex

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

of other creatures. Cunning hunters, these pools of jelly stalk prey, searching for the memories they so desperately crave. When oblexes feed on those thoughts, sometimes killing their victims, they

plunders the creature’s mind, leaving its prey befuddled and confused. Ooze Nature. An oblex doesn’t require sleep.

Oblex

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

of other creatures. Cunning hunters, these pools of jelly stalk prey, searching for the memories they so desperately crave. When oblexes feed on those thoughts, sometimes killing their victims, they

plunders the creature’s mind, leaving its prey befuddled and confused. Ooze Nature. An oblex doesn’t require sleep.

Nagas