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Returning 35 results for 'dealing instead are better'.
Spells
Player’s Handbook
You touch a creature and grant it a measure of protection from death. The first time the target would drop to 0 Hit Points before the spell ends, the target instead drops to 1 Hit Point, and the
spell ends.
If the spell is still in effect when the target is subjected to an effect that would kill it instantly without dealing damage, that effect is negated against the target, and the spell ends.
Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
Each time you make an attack roll with this magic weapon and hit, you can have it deal Lightning damage instead of Piercing damage.
Lightning Bolt. When you throw this weapon at a target no farther
than 120 feet from you, you can forgo making a ranged attack roll and instead turn the weapon into a bolt of lightning. This bolt forms a 5-foot-wide Line between you and the target. The target and
Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
ranged attack against a creature, you can try to restrain the target instead of dealing damage to it. If the arrow hits, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or have the Restrained
appears nocked and ready to fire. An arrow produced by this weapon deals Force damage instead of Piercing damage on a hit, and it disappears after it hits or misses its target. Until it disappears, the
Monsters
Monster Manual
":"Smother", "rollDamageType":"Bludgeoning"} Bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, the rug can give it the Grappled condition (escape DC 13) instead of dealing damage. Until
Monsters
Monster Manual
with the Astral Projection spell), the githyanki can cut the silvery cord that tethers the target to its material body instead of dealing damage.
Spellcasting. The githyanki casts one of the following
Spells
Player’s Handbook
), horns (Piercing), or hooves (Bludgeoning). When you use your Unarmed Strike to deal damage with that new growth, it deals 1d6 damage of the type in parentheses instead of dealing the normal damage for
Spells
Player’s Handbook
’s sanctum but instead viewed an illusion, or you are attempting to teleport to a location that no longer exists.
Mishap. The spell’s unpredictable magic results in a difficult journey
. Each teleporting creature (or the target object) takes 3d10 Force damage, and the DM rerolls on the table to see where you wind up (multiple mishaps can occur, dealing damage each time).
Similar
Magic Items
The Book of Many Things
You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic whip. When you hit a creature or object that is Large or smaller with this whip, you can pull that creature or object 5 feet toward you instead of dealing damage.
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Cold Absorption. Whenever the golem is subjected to cold damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit points equal to the cold damage dealt.
Immutable Form. The golem is immune to
brought to life through magic. Nonmagical weapons pass through its snowy form without dealing any appreciable damage to it, though heat is its doom.Cold, Poison; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical AttacksFire
Monsters
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
.
Personality Trait. “When dealing with outsiders, I present myself as a kindly old grandmother.”
Ideal. “Children are better off working for me than picking up lots of bad habits
Hourglass Coven. Better known as Granny Nightshade, she offers her assistance to those who are haunted by regret. Her deals often result in cruel twists; for example, a petitioner who asks to be reunited
Monsters
Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Vecna fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Special Equipment. Vecna carries a magic dagger named Afterthought. In the hands of anyone other than
response to being hit by an attack, Vecna utters a fell word, dealing 10 (3d6);{"diceNotation":"3d6", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Fell Rebuke", "rollDamageType":"necrotic"} necrotic damage to
Monsters
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Eldritch Staff","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage when used with two hands, and Skylla can expend up to 3 of the staff’s charges, dealing an
into allowing her to serve as the primary liaison between the League of Malevolence and the Hourglass Coven, claiming her pact with Baba Yaga made her better suited for the role than anyone else
Monsters
The Book of Many Things
Spellcasting.Aleron was once a tiefling adventurer, but unlike so many victims of the Deck of Many Things, he never drew the Skull card. Instead, when one of his allies drew the card and faced the avatar of death
Undead in the Grim Harrow, considering himself better than all of them and unjustly condemned to the Gardens of Decay for an act of altruism.
Though the weakest of the Harrow’s three leaders
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
until the start of the Returned’s next turn. If the target is missing any of its hit points, it instead takes 17 (2d12 + 2);{"diceNotation":"2d12+2","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Underworld
’t build meaningful relationships or establish new lives. Instead, most experience fleeting emotions and follow hollow routines, their existences reduced to shadow plays without weight or substance
Monsters
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
nature through their magic. They brew infusions of plants, fungi, and insects or other minuscule creatures that thrum with the essence of life, using these infusions to fuel their magic instead of using
the philosophy from different directions, with one methodology focusing on decay and the other dealing with growth.Poison
Monsters
Tomb of Annihilation
the atropal is struck by a vorpal sword, the wielder can cut the atropal's umbilical cord instead of dealing damage. If its umbilical cord is cut, the atropal loses this feature.
Turn Resistance Aura
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
a critical hit against a target in an astral body (as with the astral projection spell), the githyanki can cut the silvery cord that tethers the target to its material body, instead of dealing damage
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
with its body, making them look like irregularities in the surface. The creature might instead attach itself to a nearby wall or a ceiling, using the remnants as bait; any creature that stops to
hibernation that can last for months, though it is still aware when prey comes near. A trapper on the verge of starvation might defy its instincts and abandon its old territory in search of better hunting.
Magic Items
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
limbs, with the effect of such loss determined by the GM. If the creature has no limb to sever, you lop off a portion of its body instead.
In addition, you can speak the sword’s command word to
, fine art, and poetry. Vain, the weapon strives to improve its appearance. It craves gemstones and seeks out better ones with which to adorn itself. Most of all, it longs to return to the forests around
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
":"piercing"} piercing damage. If the leucrotta scores a critical hit, it rolls the damage dice three times, instead of twice.
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +6;{"diceNotation":"1d20+6","rollType":"to
like doing their own killing, since leucrottas are meticulous in their cruelty and able to draw out kills for better and longer sport. And when there are no victims to be had, a leucrotta can mimic the
Monsters
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
);{"diceNotation":"1d8+4","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Unarmed Strike","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, Keresta can grapple the target (escape DC 18).
Bite
can choose to succeed instead.
Misty Escape. When she drops to 0 hit points outside her resting place, Keresta transforms into a cloud of mist (as in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
perverted its magic, using it instead to animate her wooden hut.
Removing the gem from the hut renders the hut incapacitated. That task is easier said than done, however. The glowing green gem is
contained in a cavity in the stump, beneath the rotted floorboards of the hut. The floorboards can be ripped up with a successful DC 14 Strength check or smashed by dealing 10 damage to them. Once the
Monsters
Tales from the Yawning Portal
., one creature. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3);{"diceNotation":"2d4+3","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Claws","rollDamageType":"slashing"} slashing damage. Instead of dealing damage, Tloques-Popolocas can grapple
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
long-term memories, they generally can’t build meaningful relationships or establish new lives. Instead, most experience fleeting emotions and follow hollow routines, their existences reduced to
effectively another sapient being’s face. Convincing a merchant to buy a Returned mask, or dealing with the ramifications of such a sale, might prove to be an adventure in itself.
Returned Nature. The
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
’t build meaningful relationships or establish new lives. Instead, most experience fleeting emotions and follow hollow routines, their existences reduced to shadow plays without weight or substance
. Convincing a merchant to buy a Returned mask, or dealing with the ramifications of such a sale, might prove to be an adventure in itself.
Returned Nature. The Returned are undead. They need water
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Fist","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, Sir Godfrey Gwilym can grapple the target (escape DC 14) provided the target is
Monsters
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
":"1d8+4","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Unarmed Strike","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, Zorak can grapple the target (escape DC 18).
Bite. (Bat or Vampire
to succeed instead.
Misty Escape. When he drops to 0 hit points outside his resting place, Zorak transforms into a cloud of mist (as in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling unconscious
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
relationships or establish new lives. Instead, most experience fleeting emotions and follow hollow routines, their existences reduced to shadow plays without weight or substance.
Returned Masks. Adventurers
a Returned mask, or dealing with the ramifications of such a sale, might prove to be an adventure in itself.
Returned Nature. The Returned are undead. They need water and air but not food or sleep
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Chromatic Awakening (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If the greatwyrm would be reduced to 0 hit points, its current hit point total instead resets to 425 hit points, it recharges its Breath
instead.
Unusual Nature. The greatwyrm doesn’t require food or drink.Multiattack. The greatwyrm makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18;{"diceNotation":"1d20+18
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Chromatic Awakening (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If the greatwyrm would be reduced to 0 hit points, its current hit point total instead resets to 425 hit points, it recharges its Breath
instead.
Unusual Nature. The greatwyrm doesn’t require food or drink.Multiattack. The greatwyrm makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18;{"diceNotation":"1d20+18
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Chromatic Awakening (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If the greatwyrm would be reduced to 0 hit points, its current hit point total instead resets to 425 hit points, it recharges its Breath
instead.
Unusual Nature. The greatwyrm doesn’t require food or drink.Multiattack. The greatwyrm makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18;{"diceNotation":"1d20+18
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
silver cord instead of dealing damage.
Unusual Nature. The dreadnought doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.Multiattack. The dreadnought makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite
choose to succeed instead.
Sever Silver Cord. If the dreadnought scores a critical hit against a creature traveling by means of the astral projection spell, the dreadnought can cut the target’s
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Chromatic Awakening (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If the greatwyrm would be reduced to 0 hit points, its current hit point total instead resets to 425 hit points, it recharges its Breath
instead.
Unusual Nature. The greatwyrm doesn’t require food or drink.Multiattack. The greatwyrm makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18;{"diceNotation":"1d20+18
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Chromatic Awakening (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If the greatwyrm would be reduced to 0 hit points, its current hit point total instead resets to 425 hit points, it recharges its Breath
instead.
Unusual Nature. The greatwyrm doesn’t require food or drink.Multiattack. The greatwyrm makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18;{"diceNotation":"1d20+18
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Auril has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Unusual Nature. Auril doesn’t require air, food, drink, or
to be cautious and avoid contact with other creatures that can harm her.
Auril’s worshipers know better than to disturb her self-imposed isolation. Terrible blizzards have cut off Icewind Dale