build before defenses cantrips resolve

Silverquill Professor of Shadow

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

wit and debilitating inky shadow. Whether weaving their magic through spoken incantations and scathing insults or through shadows, these teachers break down the resolve of their foes. The professors

focus on words that find the tiniest, most invisible cracks in an opponent’s defenses and break them. Silverquill Scholars The scholars of Silverquill College study the power of magic shaped

Fighter Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

and his companion, knocking the deadly blow aside. His companion, a half-elf in scale armor, swings two scimitars in a blinding whirl as she circles the ogre, looking for a blind spot in its defenses

Fighter As you build your fighter, think about two related elements of your character’s background: Where did you get your combat training, and what set you apart from the mundane warriors

Kobold

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

a scale color more akin to that of a chromatic or a metallic dragon. A kobold’s cry can express a range of emotion: anger, resolve, elation, fear, and more. Regardless of the emotion expressed

by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your

Lizardfolk

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

have lived on the worlds of the Material Plane since the worlds’ creation. Gifted by the gods with remarkable physical defenses and a mystical connection to the natural world, lizardfolk can

the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can

Bard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, making a bargain for a musical gift in addition to your life and freedom, but at what cost? QUICK BUILD You can make a bard quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your

highest ability score, followed by Dexterity. Second, choose the entertainer background. Third, choose the dancing lights and vicious mockery cantrips, along with the following 1st-level spells: charm

Wizard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

other wizard? Perhaps you’re simply eager to put your newfound magical skills to the test in the face of danger. QUICK BUILD You can make a wizard quickly by following these suggestions. First

background. Third, choose the mage hand, light, and ray of frost cantrips, along with the following 1st-level spells for your spellbook: burning hands, charm person, feather fall, mage armor, magic

Sorcerer Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, the lich who created you as an experiment, or the deity who chose you to carry this power. QUICK BUILD You can make a sorcerer quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your

highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the hermit background. Third, choose the light, prestidigitation, ray of frost, and shocking grasp cantrips, along with the 1st

Warlock Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

their patrons in dreams or waking visions, or deal only with intermediaries. QUICK BUILD You can make a warlock quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability

score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the charlatan background. Third, choose the eldritch blast and chill touch cantrips, along with the 1st-level spells charm person and witch bolt. The

Quick Build

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

Quick Build You can make a warlock quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the charlatan background

. Third, choose the eldritch blast and chill touch cantrips, along with the 1st-level spells charm person and witch bolt. The Warlock Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known Spells

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

the fringes of a society first test its defenses by stealing objects, and if these crimes go unpunished, they begin stealing people. Enslaved creatures receive the worst treatment the goblins can dish

goblin is a sorcerer with the wild magic origin whose every casting, including cantrips, is accompanied by a wild magic surge. Use the mage stat block in the Monster Manual to represent this goblin, adding

Quick Build

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

Quick Build You can make a sorcerer quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the hermit background. Third

, choose the light, prestidigitation, ray of frost, and shocking grasp cantrips, along with the 1st-level spells shield and magic missile. The Sorcerer — Spell Slots per Spell Level — Level

Quick Build

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

Quick Build You can make a bard quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Dexterity. Second, choose the entertainer background. Third

, choose the dancing lights and vicious mockery cantrips, along with the following 1st-level spells: charm person, detect magic, healing word, and thunderwave. The Bard —Spell Slots per Spell

Quick Build

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

Quick Build You can make a wizard quickly by following these suggestions. First, Intelligence should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution or Dexterity. If you plan to join the

School of Enchantment, make Charisma your next-best score. Second, choose the sage background. Third, choose the mage hand, light, and ray of frost cantrips, along with the following 1st-level spells for

Vistani

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

Vistani The Vistani (singular: Vistana) are wanderers, traveling about in horse-drawn, barrel-topped wagons, which they build themselves. Compared to Barovians, they are flamboyant, dressing in

are closely knit. They resolve disagreements through contests that end with reconciliatory singing, dancing, and storytelling. The Vistani are quick to act when their lives or traditions are threatened and are merciless when they believe they must be.

Settlements

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

does it serve in your game? How big is it? Who lives there? What does it look, smell, and sound like? Who governs it? Who else holds power? Is it part of a larger state? What are its defenses? Where

characters care about the settlement? The guidelines in this section are here to help you build the settlement you want for whatever purpose you have in mind. Disregard any advice here that runs counter to your vision for a settlement.

Actions in Exploration

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

in action.) In such situations, have the characters take turns, though it’s usually not necessary to roll Initiative as you would in a combat encounter. Resolve one character’s actions before moving

to the next. There’s no hard-and-fast rule about how long to spend on each character’s activity, but make sure no one is waiting for their turn for too long. You can build tension in an exploration

Creating a Wizard

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

other wizard? Perhaps you’re simply eager to put your newfound magical skills to the test in the face of danger. Quick Build You can make a wizard quickly by following these suggestions. First

. Third, choose the mage hand, light, and ray of frost cantrips, along with the following 1st-level spells for your spellbook: burning hands, charm person, feather fall, mage armor, magic missile, and

Quick Build

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

Quick Build You can make a druid quickly by following these suggestions. First, Wisdom should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the hermit background. The Druid

— Spell Slots per Spell Level — Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 1st +2 Druidic, Spellcasting 2 2

Quick Build

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

Quick Build You can make a cleric quickly by following these suggestions. First, Wisdom should be your highest ability score, followed by Strength or Constitution. Second, choose the acolyte

background. The Cleric —Spell Slots per Spell Level— Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 1st +2 Spellcasting, Divine

Using Your Journal

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

cameo to this halfling? This halfling could be tied to a bigger plot or have information that could help the characters resolve some conflict. Suddenly, a minor trinket foreshadows bigger events to come

whatever your players throw at you, and you can even borrow pieces of various ideas to incorporate into future adventures. Not every adventure needs to build on earlier plots; a good stand-alone

Expert Tunnelers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

’ living area and protecting vital areas of the lair with traps and other defenses. Some human communities hire kobolds to dig their sewer tunnels, paying them with food and tools the kobolds wouldn’t

have access to on their own. If they are treated well and left alone to do the job, the kobolds work industriously and build a network of passages beneath the streets, connecting them to a nearby

17. Sauna

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

playing them off against each other. If his bodyguards are defeated and he is facing death, Yahru offers small bits of information for the promise of freedom. In addition to the layout and defenses of the

an obelisk. (Yahru can provide directions.) Acererak slew the nine gods of Omu before enslaving the city’s human and minotaur inhabitants, which he used to build his tomb.

Welcome to Leilon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

of Leilon were content to leave his tower and the monsters within alone. The Spellplague, a divine phenomenon that twisted Faerûn’s magic, corrupted the tower’s defenses. The creatures sealed within

attempt to build docks for barges, made to cross the marsh and meet merchant ships in the sea. Outside of town, a settler camp nestles under the trees alongside the High Road. At the center of town, the

House Cannith

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

the house specializes in siege weaponry and defenses, though its most innovative experiments explore the creation of constructed undead—a hybrid of warforged and zombie. In addition to Karrnath, Cannith

inventions to fill the house’s coffers. Rumor has it the Sharn enclave conceals the last creation forge capable of producing warforged—and that Merrix plans to build another one in Stormreach, where the

2. Vast Cavern

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

four articulated metal legs. Zox Clammersham is using the scaladar under his control to build the Simulacrux and to defend it, should it come under attack. The Simulacrux is designed to replicate

, and immunity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons that aren’t made of adamantine. Destroying the arch all but dooms the project, since Zox lacks the resolve to start

Creating a Sorcerer

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

you to carry this power. Quick Build You can make a sorcerer quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the

hermit background. Third, choose the light, prestidigitation, ray of frost, and shocking grasp cantrips, along with the 1st-level spells shield and magic missile. Level Proficiency Bonus

Creating a Warlock

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

with intermediaries. Quick Build You can make a warlock quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the

charlatan background. Third, choose the eldritch blast and chill touch cantrips, along with the 1st-level spells charm person and witch bolt. Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known

Creating a Bard

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

bargain for a musical gift in addition to your life and freedom, but at what cost? Quick Build You can make a bard quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest

ability score, followed by Dexterity. Second, choose the entertainer background. Third, choose the dancing lights and vicious mockery cantrips, along with the following 1st-level spells: charm person

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

, the kobolds are usually put to work enlarging their masters’ living area and protecting vital areas of the lair with traps and other defenses. Some human communities hire kobolds to dig their

sewer tunnels, paying them with food and tools the kobolds wouldn’t have access to on their own. If they are treated well and left alone to do the job, the kobolds work industriously and build a

Creating a Druid

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

hopes of finding a new home or purpose. Quick Build You can make a druid quickly by following these suggestions. First, Wisdom should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second

, choose the hermit background. Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known — Spell Slots per Spell Level — 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

Acererak

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

necromantic device called the Soulmonger, then hid it in the heart of the tomb. ACERERAK’S TRAITS Ideal. “Why be a god when I can be a creator of gods?” Bond. “I build dungeons to trap and slay

powerful adventurers. Their deaths and souls are my nourishment.” Flaw. “I underestimate the resolve of my enemies.” Acererak Medium undead, neutral evil Armor Class 21 (natural armor) Hit Points

Deck of Many More Things

Magic Items The Book of Many Things

draw the same card multiple times. The DM can use the physical cards provided in The Deck of Many Things card set to build a combined Deck of Many Things and Deck of Many More Things, including

1 year passes, the revenant kills you, or you use a Wish spell to banish it permanently to the afterlife. Warrior. Your Strength score increases by 2 to a maximum of 22. Well. You learn three cantrips of your choice from any spell list.

Creating a Cleric

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

goals? Does your deity have a special task in mind for you? Or are you striving to prove yourself worthy of a great quest? Quick Build You can make a cleric quickly by following these suggestions

. First, Wisdom should be your highest ability score, followed by Strength or Constitution. Second, choose the acolyte background. Level Proficiency Bonus Features Cantrips Known

Cult of the Black Earth

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

, and unyielding resolve. They are deliberate and slow to act, careful to consider their plans and gather their strength before beginning any new enterprise. Once earth cultists resolve to act, they

overpower foes with direct assaults, although if they have the opportunity to undermine defenses or attack from below, they unhesitatingly put their skill at tunneling and mastery of burrowing

Neo-Noir Intrigue

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

. There are ways to resolve these problems, but the answers aren’t always simple or obvious. There can certainly be times when decisions are straightforward. If the Emerald Claw is about to detonate a

pieces of gold out of Khorvaire. There are spies who will do anything to protect their nations and petty criminals trying to build empires. There’s a place in Eberron for selfless heroes and truly vile

D&D Beyond

Search Results