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Returning 35 results for 'defenses instead are barrier'.
Other Suggestions:
defense instead are barriers
defense instead are barren
Monsters
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
choose to succeed instead.
Shapechanger Savant. Lazav can use a bonus action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid he has seen. His statistics, other than his size, are the same in each form. Any
equipment he is wearing or carrying isn't transformed.
Psychic Defenses. Unless Lazav is incapacitated, he is immune to magic that allows other creatures to read his thoughts, determine whether he is
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
evil and good, fireball, invisibility (self only), major image, wall of fire
3/day each: blade barrier, dispel evil and good, finger of death
Teleport. Zariel teleports, along with any equipment
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
: dimension door, disguise self, sendingMagic Shield (3/Day). When the draconian is hit by an attack roll, it can create an invisible barrier of magical force around itself, granting it a +5 bonus to its
of draconians have wings.
When draconians die, they do not go quietly. Instead, their lifeless bodies unleash a last act of magical violence.
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
.
3
I secretly look forward to adventurers trying to infiltrate my lair. How else could I try out new defenses?
4
Give me a storied helmet or scimitar over a pile of gold any day.
5
No
Monsters
The Book of Many Things
Resistance (3/Day). If the corrupter fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Spider Climb. The corrupter can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
Lair
This villain resides in a place of power and safety, whether that’s a hidden thieves’ guildhall or a lavish manse. The lair is filled with clever defenses to disorient, weaken, and
Monsters
The Book of Many Things
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the infiltrator fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Veiled Presence. The infiltrator’s AC includes its Wisdom modifier, and the infiltrator
’s a hidden thieves’ guildhall or a lavish manse. The lair is filled with clever defenses to disorient, weaken, and kill intruders.
The villain’s challenge rating increases while the
Monsters
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
appearance), detect evil and good, fireball, invisibility (self only), wall of fire
3/day each: blade barrier, dispel evil and good, finger of death
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Zariel fails a saving
throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Zariel has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Regeneration. Zariel regains 20 hit points at the start of
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
adventurers trying to infiltrate my lair. How else could I try out new defenses?
4
Give me a storied helmet or scimitar over a pile of gold any day.
5
No creature can outsmart my defenses—if
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
instead resets to 350 hit points, and it recharges its Steam Breath. Additionally, the dragon turtle can now use the options in the "Mythic Actions" section for 1 hour. Award a party an additional
instead.
Unusual Nature. The dragon turtle doesn't require food or drink.Multiattack. The dragon turtle makes one Bite or Tail attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +16
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Shift Perception (1/Day). The dragon can cast hallucinatory terrain, requiring no spell components
defenses.
Emerald Dragon Lair Features
The emerald dragon lair shown in map 5.8 is a series of ancient vaults situated beneath a city built in the caldera of a dormant volcano. The vaults fell into disuse
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Tunneler. The dragon can burrow through solid rock at half its burrowing speed and can leave a 20
(and more paranoid) dragons employing several layers of such defenses.
Emerald Dragon Lair Features
The emerald dragon lair shown in map 5.8 is a series of ancient vaults situated beneath a city
Zariel
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Monsters
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
), detect evil and good, fireball, invisibility (self only), wall of fire
3/day each: blade barrier, dispel evil and good, finger of death
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Zariel fails a saving throw
, she can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Zariel has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Regeneration. Zariel regains 20 hit points at the start of her
Equipment
blades acting as a barrier against attacks. On a result of 15 or higher, you gain a +2 bonus, instead. On a failure, you deal slashing damage to yourself equal to your proficiency bonus and gain no bonus to your AC from the whirl this turn.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
Xonthal’s Tower Xonthal’s Tower is legendary among the wizards and tale-spinners of Faerûn for its unusual magical defenses, including a magical hedge maze that surrounds it. The cultists avoid the
been up to in the intervening decades, or whether he’s even still alive. Some think he must have become a lich, while others believe he’s just dead. All that’s certain is that the hedge maze remains a frustrating barrier, and the spells and wards protecting the tower against entry remain as powerful as ever.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
Xonthal’s Tower Xonthal’s Tower is legendary among the wizards and tale-spinners of Faerûn for its unusual magical defenses, including a magical hedge maze that surrounds it. The cultists avoid the
been up to in the intervening decades, or whether he’s even still alive. Some think he must have become a lich, while others believe he’s just dead. All that’s certain is that the hedge maze remains a frustrating barrier, and the spells and wards protecting the tower against entry remain as powerful as ever.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising
cap of water breathing while you hold it, and you can use it as a cube of force by choosing the effect, instead of pressing cube sides to select it. Sentience. Wave is a sentient weapon of neutral
insufficient charges remaining, nothing happens. Otherwise, a barrier of invisible force springs into existence, forming a cube 15 feet on a side. The barrier is centered on you, moves with you, and lasts
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Exact Change Difficulty: Hard This puzzle provides an elaborate, coin-based lock to any sort of door, vault, or other barrier. The door here is locked and has no handle. Instead, there is a slot in
Goblin
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
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
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
Part 2: Monastery of the Distressed Body The known route of Kwalish’s original expedition ends at the series of tunnels leading into the Barrier Peaks, with no sense of how that long-lost company
characters of 5th to 10th level. For lower-level parties, you can adjust the adventure as follows:
Part 1: Mission to the Barrier Peaks. Make sure the party has at least two of the NPCs with them
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
stopped in their tracks by the daunting defenses of the gate quarter. More than one reckless attack by orcs, trolls, or giants was driven back from the gate. In time, those savage foes found other ways
to attack the dwarves of the Sumber Hills, and the stronghold was finally abandoned. The gates of Tyar-Besil lie in ruin now, broken not by the siege engines of enemies but instead by the tremors
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
Giant Skeleton The animated skeleton of a giant is deadly not only because of its size and strength, but because it has defenses normally possessed only by undead of much greater power. GIANT
Giant but can’t speak
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Evasion. If the skeleton is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal
skeleton of a giant — deadly not only because of its size and strength, but because it has defenses normally possessed only by undead of much greater power. Undead Nature. A skeleton doesn’t require air
Languages understands Giant but can’t speak
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Evasion. If the skeleton is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
Ancient Blue Dragon Ancient blue dragons think beyond dominating groups of short-lived servants. Instead, they seek to claim their places above other dragons and their world’s most powerful
. Antonio José manzanedo Shattering the enemy’s defenses, an ancient
blue dragon leads its armies in conquest Ancient Blue Dragon Gargantuan Dragon (Chromatic), Lawful Evil
AC 22 Initiative +14 (24)
HP
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention
can mop up any crew left alive on deck (see “Dreadnaught Locations” for information on both these defenses). Characters whose ship was destroyed earlier are instead “rescued” by the galleon. When the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
Outside Combat As described in the Monster Manual, a beholder’s use of its eye rays in combat is random, governed by die rolls instead of by choice. This rule is an abstraction, designed to keep the
to the number of zombies a death tyrant can animate and control, it can pack its lair so full of undead that there is little space for anyone to walk, creating a shambling barrier of cadaverous
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
, Kalyth says the Cyran veterans would gladly take either option instead of the Docents. If Mercy offers the ring as well, Kalyth insists the characters keep either the art or the ring, whichever
powered not by a Docent, but by a device called a graymatter engine that incorporated part of an artifact—perhaps that’s what you seek? The graymatter engine was said to generate a magical barrier
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
against itself (real or imaginary), planning attacks against known rivals, and preparing its defenses against all possible threats. It considers itself the center of the world, in a narcissistic way
might be merciful and pacify the creature with a charm ray or a sleep ray instead of killing it outright. Of course, this mercy has a purpose; the defeated opponent is interrogated, subjugated, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
the small seaside city of Altrisos. Recently weakened by a triton raid, the city had no defenses left and would be destroyed by an attack. The people prayed to Ephara, and the large image of her face
on the city’s wall came to life. The walls of the city grew impossibly high and strong, and the kraken could do no more than dash its head against the impassable barrier. The monster soon returned to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
throughout the lab can access the armor’s controls given enough time. Even after accessing the controls, though, no one can approach the armor without setting off its automatic defenses. See the
concerns, and he believes that the secrets of the technology found in the Barrier Peaks hold a vast potential to advance knowledge. If questioned, he proudly details his experiments (including with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
the party to enter the castle undetected. Cultists haul the supplies to the kitchen (area 15) and carry the treasure chests down to the dragon’s main hoard chamber (area 25). Walls and Aerial Defenses
firing a javelin from a ballista makes the following attack instead of its regular javelin attack. Javelin. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 120 ft./480 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (3d8) piercing damage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
adventure as written, up to the monastery. Then forgo a second laboratory location, instead replacing the final brain in a jar in the treasury (area M10) with Kwalish, and conclude the adventure there
.
One-Shot (One Four-Hour Session). Give your players an adventure hook, assign them a guide (see “Part 1: Mission to the Barrier Peaks”), and start them at area C1, overlooking the bone devil’s monastery. Then as above, replace the treasury’s brain in a jar with Kwalish for an exciting conclusion.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
the party to enter the castle undetected. Cultists haul the supplies to the kitchen (area 15) and carry the treasure chests down to the dragon’s main hoard chamber (area 25). Walls and Aerial Defenses
firing a javelin from a ballista makes the following attack instead of its regular javelin attack. Javelin. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 120 ft./480 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (3d8) piercing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
. Issar does not deign to speak to the captives under his command. Instead, he’s chosen a Chultan boy named Khoti to translate his subtle, unspoken gestures. A twitch of the tail could be interpreted as an
(Persuasion or Intimidation) check. Armed captives who come to their senses try to slaughter as many yuan-ti as they can. They know the temple’s defenses and general layout, except with regard to areas 11 and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
Chapter 15: Throne A character who draws the Throne card from a Deck of Many Things gains ownership of a keep. But how big is the keep, and what are its defenses and layout? What lives in the keep
castle appears abandoned by its owners. Instead of courtiers and guards, spectral figures appear behind narrow windows, and a huge serpentine creature slithers through its courtyard. Nevertheless, the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
Cartophile’s hirelings join the expedition. Or, instead of front-loading hirelings at the start, these NPCs can be set up as independent explorers not connected to the Cartophile. You can stagger their
can earn his release from the coffin along the way — by any means possible. Value to the Party. Originally native to an area near the Barrier Peaks, Ctenmiir has much experience with the initial route