Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 35 results for 'defeat instead are badly'.
Other Suggestions:
detect instead are body
detect instead are ball
defeat instead are body
detect instead are badge
defeat intend are body
Monsters
Princes of the Apocalypse
Fey Ancestry. Aerisi has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put her to sleep.
Howling Defeat. When Aerisi drops to 0 hit points, her body disappears in a howling
whirlwind that disperses quickly and harmlessly. Anything she is wearing or carrying is left behind.
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Aerisi fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead
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
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Cling to Life (Recharges after a Long Rest). The first time Zargash would drop to 0 hit points as a result of taking damage, he instead drops to 1 hit point.
Special Equipment. Zargash wears a bat
defeat seems inevitable, he casts gaseous form on himself and flees, leaving his allies to fend for themselves.
League of Malevolence
The League of Malevolence is an odious assemblage of villains
Monsters
Princes of the Apocalypse
Earthen Defeat. When Marlos drops to 0 hit points, his body transforms into mud and collapses into a pool. Anything he is wearing or carrying is left behind.
Earth Passage. Marlos can move in
shunted into the nearest space he last occupied.
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Marlos fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see Marlos&rsquo
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
shadow plays without weight or substance.
Returned Masks. Adventurers who defeat Returned foes might marvel at their fortune in claiming such rich spoils after a battle. The mask of a Returned is worth
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
.
Returned Masks. Adventurers who defeat Returned foes might marvel at their fortune in claiming such rich spoils after a battle. The mask of a Returned is worth approximately 100 gp, based on its
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
who defeat Returned foes might marvel at their fortune in claiming such rich spoils after a battle. The mask of a Returned is worth approximately 100 gp, based on its composition and craftsmanship
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
","rollDamageType":"acid"} acid damage.
Hold Breath. Polukranos can hold its breath for 1 hour.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Polukranos fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Multiple
the minds and lore of a people that, even after a hydra’s defeat, the beast might reappear as a Nyxborn being and begin its legend anew.Acid
Monsters
Candlekeep Mysteries
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Zikzokrishka fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Zikzokrishka has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical
Zikzokrishka hid her phylactery deep within the Scimitar Spires, a mountain range to the east of the necropolis of Azumar. If the characters defeat her, Zikzokrishka uses her phylactery to rematerialize
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the ki-rin fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The ki-rin has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical
working behind the scenes, or they might be champions of their master’s cause, out to defeat villainy wherever it is found.
When viewed from the outside, a ki-rin’s lair is indistinguishable
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime. You aren’t a soldier, directing your gaze outward at possible enemies. Instead, your
defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it.
5
Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for.
6
I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.
d6
Flaw
Lizardfolk
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
; Instead, aggressive, stronger creatures register to the lizardfolk as fearsome beings to be avoided if possible. If such creatures attack, lizardfolk flee, fighting only if cornered. Lizardfolk aren
’t scared of a troll; instead, they understand that a troll is a fearsome, dangerous creature and react accordingly.
Lizardfolk never become angry in the way others do, but they act with
Deck of Many Things
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Magic Items
Basic Rules (2014)
-handedly defeat the next hostile monster or group of monsters you encounter, you gain experience points enough to gain one level. Otherwise, this card has no effect.
Donjon. You disappear and become
, discard this card, and draw from the deck again, counting both draws as one of your declared draws. If losing that much XP would cause you to lose a level, you instead lose an amount that leaves you
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy
armor emerge from the academy onto the platform where your ship is moored. One clutches a greatsword, while the other holds a struggling, badly wounded Miken Haverstance.
Creatures The two
, and a follow-up swing with a greatsword is enough to decapitate him. If the characters defeat the githyanki before Miken can be killed, Miken crumples to the ground and weeps like a baby. He neither
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
to terms with Captain Grimzod Gargenhale, who confesses that Xaryxian vessels have all but destroyed his fleet. His badly damaged flagship, the Last Breath, is all that remains after multiple
engagements with the astral elves. The vampirate captain nevertheless still vows to destroy the Xaryxian Empire, but unbeknownst to him, his crew is on the verge of mutiny after their latest defeat.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
level. If the adventuring party is relatively weak, it’s up to the players to choose whether to flee instead of fight, negotiate instead of attack, or surrender instead of die. It’s up to you as the
DM to be flexible and keep the story moving forward as best you can. If an encounter is going badly for the adventurers, you can have the monsters suddenly withdraw, demand the party’s surrender, or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
with three archmages, one of whom appears to be Halaster. Turbulence is losing badly and has only 3 hit points remaining. Before the archmages can finish her off, the tiefling shouts, “I surrender!” On
casting spells that have verbal components. They can’t leave the room. They have the ice storm spell prepared instead of banishment, and the finger of death spell prepared instead of teleport. If
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
The Last Breath The will-o’-wisp leads the Second Wind to Gargenhale’s flagship. If the characters aren’t looking for Gargenhale, he finds them instead. In either case, the following scene occurs
on deck and cling to the rigging, staring at you with unblinking eyes.
The Second Wind and the Last Breath are 250 feet apart at the start of this encounter. The Last Breath, which is badly damaged
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
Challenge An appropriately equipped and well-rested party of four adventurers should be able to defeat a creature that has a challenge rating equal to their level without suffering any casualties
challenge rating. Typically, XP is awarded for defeating the creature, and characters gain levels as they accumulate XP. In Dragon of Icespire Peak, you don’t need to track experience points, as characters advance in level by completing quests instead of accumulating XP.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
source of ideas. The Villain table suggests an archetype along with an organization; consider both as as possibilities. A local crimelord could be tied to House Tarkanan or the Tyrants instead of
exactly like one of the player characters.
4 A former comrade in arms shows up. She’s badly injured, and her enemies are right behind her.
5 A gargoyle courier delivers a mysterious
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
an opportunity for the characters to engage with a creature that’s too strong to defeat in combat Reward clever characters who overcome a challenge with brains instead of brawn Make a villain, an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
their actions. In contrast, lizardfolk see emotions as traits assigned to other creatures, objects, and situations. A lizardfolk doesn’t think, “I’m scared.” Instead, aggressive, stronger creatures
register to the lizardfolk as fearsome beings to be avoided if possible. If such creatures attack, lizardfolk flee, fighting only if cornered. Lizardfolk aren’t scared of a troll; instead, they
Goblin
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
cruel in victory, goblins are fawning and servile in defeat, just as in their own society lower castes must scrape before those of greater status and as goblin tribes bow before other goblinoids
traps, snares, and nets to catch the unwary, and when their hunting patrols encounter other beings, they always look for ways to capture their foes instead of killing them. Goblins that run up against
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
lack sabotages the Wish spell exactly as the warlord hoped, allowing him to suggest an alternate course of action: reassemble the artifact called the Rod of Seven Parts and use it to defeat Vecna instead
facing the might of one of the multiverse’s most powerful good-aligned spellcasters, so the warlord devised a plot to trick Alustriel into helping him defeat Vecna. With the help of spies, Kas learned
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
spell’s level. Channel Divinity: Preserve Life Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to heal the badly injured. As an action, you present your holy symbol and evoke healing energy that
you reach 14th level, the extra damage increases to 2d8. Supreme Healing Starting at 17th level, when you would normally roll one or more dice to restore hit points with a spell, you instead use the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
. Channel Divinity: Preserve Life Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to heal the badly injured. As an action, you present your holy symbol and evoke healing energy that can restore a
level, the extra damage increases to 2d8. Supreme Healing Starting at 17th level, when you would normally roll one or more dice to restore hit points with a spell, you instead use the highest number possible for each die. For example, instead of restoring 2d6 hit points to a creature, you restore 12.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
the item for their lives. If Fenthaza lives, Ras Nsi makes the mistake of putting her in charge of the team sent to kill the characters, and she offers the party a deal instead. If the characters
agree to kill Ras Nsi, they can go free and keep whatever treasure they take from the fane except for the Black Opal Crown, which Fenthaza insists be given to her at once. If the characters defeat Ras
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath
Dealing with Gallio Elibro Gallio Elibro is a short-tempered male Rashemi mage (with the legend lore spell prepared instead of cone of cold). His relentless studies have pushed him to the brink of
tower, and scribbles in Thalivar’s old journal (area H9). If confronted, he uses Horrifying Visage to scare away his enemies or tries to defeat them in combat (see “Confronting Thalivar’s Ghost” for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
fight when they could talk instead and build on this ecosystem of wondrous cultures and fascinating traditions.
7 I owe the short-lived mortals I become friends with the responsibility of
watching over their progeny.
8 People must earn my respect—and they’re failing badly.
Silver Dragon Ideals d6 Ideal
1 Sensualism. I savor the world and consume its myriad delights
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
additional challenge for the characters, a vrock tumbles almost in front of them as they reach the cavern floor or move toward their chosen exit. The demon is badly wounded, but even with only 11 hit points
wing and launches itself back into the fight overhead. If the adventurers take on the fallen vrock and defeat or escape from it, award them a quarter of its usual XP value, or 575 XP, given its
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy
you, obscured by the smoke, are two gaunt figures in armor. One clutches a greatsword, while the other holds a struggling, badly wounded Miken Haverstance.
Hallway Features The hallway in the cadet
to 0 hit points, and a follow-up swing with a greatsword is enough to decapitate him. If the characters defeat the githyanki before Miken can be killed, Miken crumples to the ground and weeps like a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
Optional Encounter If the characters are struggling or you worry about their ability to defeat the dracolich at the end of the adventure, this encounter adds a “here comes the cavalry” possibility to
dragon turtle stat block with the following changes: It speaks Draconic and Terran. It lacks a swimming speed and the Amphibious trait. Its breath weapon is a 60-foot cone of abrasive sand instead of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
still breathe to survive). 3 You barely bleed, even when badly injured. 4 Your heart beats once per minute. This event sometimes surprises you. 5 You have trouble remembering that living creatures and
, you can see through the darkness created by the spell. Strength of the Grave Starting at 1st level, your existence in a twilight state between life and death makes you difficult to defeat. When damage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
wears a rusty chain shirt under his robe and likes to thwart enemy spellcasters by enveloping them in the area of a silence spell. If defeat seems inevitable, he casts gaseous form on himself and flees
Languages Common
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Cling to Life (Recharges after a Long Rest). The first time Zargash would drop to 0 hit points as a result of taking damage, he instead drops
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
dominion over this new reality. She struck Siberys without warning and tore him apart. Eberron wrestled with Khyber and bound the traitor in her coils but could not defeat her. So Eberron became a
alliance of dragons and celestials—eventually defeated the Overlords. But these fiends couldn’t be destroyed; instead, their immortal essences were bound in Khyber. Whatever the true details of this tale






