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Returning 35 results for 'defense instead are best'.
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defense intend are best
defend instead are beast
Magic Items
Dungeon Master’s Guide
Initiative rolls.
Blade of Defense. When you take an action to attack with the sword, you can transfer some or all of its attack bonus to your Armor Class instead. The adjusted bonuses remain in
Monsters
Thieves’ Gallery
Equipment. Holga carries a darksteel greataxe, a magic weapon that grants her resistance to lightning damage while she carries it (included above).
Unarmored Defense. While Holga isn’t wearing
when her ire is up, Holga wields anything that comes to hand—from weapons to snacks. Her unwavering loyalty makes her a fierce defender of allies, particularly her best friend, Edgin Darvis;Edgin
Monsters
Princes of the Apocalypse
Evasion. If Hellenrae is subjected to an effect that allows her to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, she instead takes no damage if she succeeds on the saving throw, and only
end of Hellenrae's next turn.
Unarmored Defense. While Hellenrae is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, her AC includes her Wisdom modifier.
Unarmored Movement. While Hellenrae is wearing no armor
Monsters
Storm King's Thunder
Legendary Resistance. Once per day, when he fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Equipment. Harshnag wears plate, +3;+3 plate armor and wields Gurt's greataxe. The axe sheds light
human.
As an action, Harshnag can cast a version of the heat metal spell (save DC 13) that deals cold damage instead of fire damage. Once this power is used, it can’t be used again until the
Monsters
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
Special Equipment. Glasstaff wields a staff of defense (see appendix B). With the staff in hand, he can use an action to cast the mage armor spell and use his reaction to cast the shield
, magic missileA former member of the Lords’ Alliance, Glasstaff seized an opportunity in Phandalin to line his own pockets. Originally tasked with setting up a constabulary, he instead assembled
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Fire Absorption. Whenever the golem is subjected to fire damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit points equal to the fire damage dealt.
Immutable Form. The golem is immune to
. If the golem is left without instructions or is incapacitated, it continues to follow its last orders to the best of its ability. When it can't fulfill its orders, a golem might react violently — or
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
, gaunt folk have potent psionic powers and dwell, for the most part, on the Astral Plane. Among the best-known githyanki are the bellicose followers of the Lich Queen Vlaakith. They terrorize the Astral
Monsters
Candlekeep Mysteries
Unarmored Defense. While Steel Crane is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, his AC includes his Wisdom modifier.Multiattack. Steel Crane makes three attacks.
Force Strike. Melee Weapon Attack
","rollDamageType":"slashing"} slashing damage or, if the target is a creature, Steel Crane can grapple the target instead (escape DC 15). Steel Crane can’t make attacks with the whip while using
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Evasion. If the leonin is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half
, requiring no material components:
1/day each: banishment, detect evil and good
Unarmored Defense. While the leonin is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Wisdom
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Psychic Defense. While the githzerai is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Wisdom modifier.Multiattack. The githzerai makes three Unarmed Strike attacks.
Unarmed Strike
live apart from the rest of the cosmos, within the confines of fortresses floating through the chaos of Limbo. Instead of imposing their will on other peoples, they focus on controlling and manipulating their endlessly malleable home.
Monsters
Quests from the Infinite Staircase
target has the petrified condition until freed by the Greater Restoration spell or another effect, except it turns into a tree instead of stone. Any equipment the target is wearing or carrying is
of bark and wood indistinguishable from ordinary tree burls. Barkburrs often act in defense of a grove or forest.
Some barkburrs cling to the trees from which they sprouted, while others slowly wander
Monsters
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Special Equipment. Mirt wears bracers of defense and a ring of regeneration. He wields a longsword, +1 and a dagger, +1.
Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when Mirt hits with
it (included in the attacks below).
Evasion. If he is subjected to an effect that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, Mirt instead takes no damage if he succeeds on
Monsters
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Evasion. If the dolgaunt is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, the dolgaunt instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw
, and only half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it's incapacitated.
Unarmored Defense. While the dolgaunt is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Wisdom
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
hell hound without flinching.
6
I enjoy being strong and like breaking things.
7
I have a crude sense of humor.
8
I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to
Monsters
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
subjected to an effect that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, Jarlaxle instead takes no damage if he succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if he fails
succeed instead.
Master Attuner. Jarlaxle can attune to up to five magic items, and he can attune to magic items that normally require attunement by a sorcerer, warlock, or wizard.
Sneak Attack (1
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
;{"diceNotation":"1d4", "rollType":"roll", "rollAction":"Ice Wolves"} wolves made of ice (use the winter wolf stat block in the Monster Manual to represent them, but they are Elementals instead of
to Thrym.
True to their name, these ice shapers manipulate the raw elemental energy of air and water to wield ice in both offense and defense. They summon ice elementals in the shape of wolves, cloak themselves in icy armor, and just as quickly turn that armor into a hail of deadly ice shards.Cold
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the githzerai fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Psychic Defense. While the githzerai is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC
leader Zaerith Menyar-Ag-Gith are an ascetic people who live apart from the rest of the cosmos, within the confines of fortresses floating through the chaos of Limbo. Instead of imposing their will on
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
often unaware of being hunted until the orthon strikes. This invisibility can be disrupted when the devil is attacked, however, so a strong counterattack is often the best defense against it.
Orthons
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
damage.Animated objects are crafted with potent magic to follow the commands of their creators. When not commanded, they follow the last order they received to the best of their ability, and can act independently
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
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 2: Dragonlance Creatures
.
Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Ember fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Special Equipment. In battle, Ember dons magical plate armor custom-forged for his use. While wearing the armor
—but he is best known as the adviser of Dragon Highlord Verminaard, leader of the Red Dragon Army.
Empowered by Takhisis herself, Ember’s innate fire can sear those nearby, and his breath
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures
/Day). If the wurm fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Regeneration. The wurm regains 20 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point. If the wurm takes fire or
beanstalk wurms as a first line of defense against those who would ascend massive beanstalks—also known as Everstalks—to intrude on their lofty palaces. Beanstalk wurms lie coiled along the
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Legendary Resistance (1/Day). If the dragonborn fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Mental Defense. While the dragonborn is wearing no armor, its AC includes its Intelligence
Monsters
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he instead takes no damage if he succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if he fails. He can't use this trait if he's incapacitated.
Magic
Unarmed Strikes. Hlam's unarmed strikes are magical.
Unarmored Defense. While Hlam is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, his AC includes his Wisdom modifier.Multiattack. Hlam attacks three times
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
soon passes, they allow the hill giant to rejoin society. If not, the hill giant is instead starved to the point of desperation so Grolantor’s hunger can be given a mouth in the world.
A mouth
mouths of Grolantor are set loose is during a war, during a raid against an enemy settlement, or in a last-ditch defense of Grolantor’s faithful. When a mouth of Grolantor has slaughtered and eaten
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
victories.
2
A sapphire dragon is bound by an ancient pact to advise a monarchy on matters of defense—until someone bests the dragon’s security measures.
3
A sapphire dragon
Monsters
Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Master of the House. When Strahd is reduced to 0 hit points, he dissolves into mist and immediately
condition (escape DC 18) instead. Strahd can grapple only one creature at a time.
Blighted Fire (Recharge 5–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType":"recharge", "rollAction":"Blighted Fire"}. Strahd
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
Thanks to your noble birth, people are inclined to think the best of you. You are welcome in high society, and people assume you have the right to be wherever you are. The common folk make every
knighthood is among the lowest noble titles in most societies, but it can be a path to higher status. If you wish to be a knight, choose the Retainers feature (see the sidebar) instead of the
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Demogorgon fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Demogorgon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical
by a skull-shaped minaret. There, Demogorgon’s heads contemplate the mysteries of the arcane while arguing about how best to obliterate their rivals. The bulk of this palace extends deep
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
thought it was an accident. In the days that followed, Pidlwick II tried its best to fill its namesake's shoes, but the effigy's mere presence was upsetting to Tatyana, and it was never called on to perform
, instead assuming that the guests had died in their sleep.
But Strahd was not fooled. He came to realize fairly quickly that the clockwork effigy had begun to display a murderous nature. Rather than have
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Special Equipment. Vellynne wears bracers of defense and carries a wand of magic missiles (see “Actions” below).
Spellcasting. Vellynne is an 8th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting
at the kobolds’ expense.
Familiar. Vellynne’s familiar is a snowy owl, which the wizard uses as a scout. It uses the owl stat block in the Monster Manual but is a celestial instead
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the giant fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Fire Rune. The giant has a fire rune inscribed on a medallion or some other object in its
the heat of a volcanic environment and conjure raw elemental energy of fire and magma. In a fire giant community, these forgecallers oversee both forges and the community’s defense, often in
Monsters
Candlekeep Mysteries
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Bak Mei fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Special Equipment. Bak Mei carries a staff of striking with 10 charges.
Unarmored Defense. While Bak
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
strong and like breaking things.
7
I have a crude sense of humor.
8
I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success.
d6
Ideal
1
Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good)
2
Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful)
3
Independence. When people follow orders
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
a crude sense of humor.
8
I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success.
d6
Ideal
1
Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in
defense of others. (Good)
2
Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful)
3
Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede Zariel’s darkvision.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Zariel fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Magic
collecting souls from the greatest warriors on the Material Plane. She bargains hard, and there is little hope of wriggling out of a pact. However, she expects the best from her servants, so she