Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 35 results for 'defenses instead are bitter'.
Other Suggestions:
defense instead are better
defense instead are bitter
defender instead are better
defenders instead are better
defines instead are better
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
target to 0 hit points, the target drops to 1 hit point instead and has the petrified condition, turning into a frozen statue.
If the statue takes bludgeoning damage, it shatters, killing the frozen
creature. If the statue would take fire damage, it instead takes no damage and thaws, ending the petrification.
Icy Axe. Melee Weapon Attack: +10;{"diceNotation":"1d20+10", "rollType":"to hit
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
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
Curse of Strahd
","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, Vladimir can grapple the target (escape DC 14) provided the target is Large or smaller.
+2 Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack
battled Strahd's armies to the bitter end.
Deadly Vengeance. Unwilling to accept his failure, Vladimir returned as a revenant. So great was his hatred of Strahd and his thirst for vengeance that those
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
crawl over the structure, ensuring that no intruders breach their defenses.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Zariel can take one of the following lair actions; she can
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
Demilich (Variant)
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Monsters
Monster Manual (2014)
Avoidance. If the demilich 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 succeeds on the saving throw, and only half
damage if it fails.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the demilich fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Turn Immunity. The demilich is immune to effects that turn undead.Howl (Recharge
Monsters
Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1
wealth and power with a bitter mix of longing, regret, and shame, seeking always to replace the grandest treasures they once possessed. Simple coins, gems, or trade goods do nothing to satisfy the
giant’s desires. Instead, they seek out grand works of art, wondrous jewelry, and beautiful sculptures.
Reasonable Offers. Fog giants are powerful warriors, but they prefer to use threats and
Zariel
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Monsters
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
, 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
of all kinds crawl over the structure, ensuring that no intruders breach their defenses.
Lair Actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Zariel can take a lair action to cause one of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
-hardened hobgoblin warlord named High Graj Karkajuk. Bitter Breath drives a Tormentor that has an Infernal Screamer (see "Infernal Screamer") instead of a Harpoon Flinger. Hobgoblins round out the
Bitter Breath Bitter Breath is a resentful, vindictive warlord that fell prey to the cutthroat politics of Avernus. Formerly a pit fiend named L’zeth, it strove to undermine Zariel while courting Bel
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->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
horned devil named Bitter Breath, a human necromancer named Feonor, and a chain devil named Princeps Kovik. These warlords are as cruel and merciless as the hell they inhabit. All share a “survival of
inevitably rises to take its place. Bitter Breath, Feonor, and Princeps Kovik are merely the latest in a long series of warlords to plague the Avernian expanse. If Zariel wasn’t so busy fighting the Blood War
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
receive. Agency Contacts d8 Contact 1 A condescending career desk agent who views you as expendable tools 2 A bitter former field agent, now confined to a field office, who envies your work 3 A
those in the “good old days” 5 A hotheaded former soldier who would prefer a return to open warfare instead of this so-called “Shadow War” 6 A battle-scarred field agent who would do almost anything to
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->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
hatred and loathing of the living is sufficient to keep them roaming the wilds for years after their murderers are slain. A frostmourn looks like a desiccated corpse mummified by exposure to bitter cold
1 hit point instead and has the petrified condition, turning into a frozen statue.
If the statue takes bludgeoning damage, it shatters, killing the frozen creature. If the statue would take fire
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->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
stones were transparent instead of opaque. Characters who examine the campfire and succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom (Survival) check notice two sets of small, sooty hoofprints leading up to the stones where
Granite, Myzelda of Slate, Yanna of Basalt, Noll of Obsidian, and Malo of Marble. The korreds of Yon despise Endelyn Moongrave, whom they commonly refer to as Bitter End. If the characters convince
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->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
of the dead against the people of Khorvaire…
In the city of Sharn, a brilliant team of spies pull off an impossible scheme — breaking into the impenetrable vaults of House Kundarak. But instead of
adventure and adds a layer of neo-noir intrigue. Stories don’t always end well and there isn’t a perfect answer to every problem. The Last War turned old allies into bitter enemies and destroyed an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
unleash an army of undead. In the city of Sharn, a team of spies pulls off an impossible scheme—breaking into the impenetrable vaults of House Kundarak. But instead of gold, they find a secret that
and pulp adventure while adding a layer of noir intrigue. Stories don’t always end well, and there isn’t a perfect answer to every problem. The Last War turned old allies into bitter enemies and
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->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
whose patron ancestor was a bitter rival of yours? Also consider why you are traveling with a group of player characters (who are presumably not also members of your war band) instead of serving with the
scimitar as part of the Attack action on your turn, you can use a bonus action immediately after to make a melee attack with it. This attack deals 1d4 slashing damage on a hit, instead of 2d4.
Feat
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->Out of the Abyss
encounters instead of using the tables in chapter 2. Once every hour, roll a d20 and consult the table to determine what, if anything, the party encounters. Drow Defenses d20 Encounter 1–10 No
characters take Grin Ousstyl with them, not so much as a guide but to help the party talk its way past drow patrols. The demonic invasion has put Menzoberranzan’s defenses on high alert, making it even
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
prefer to hear instead of the truth, and Phenax is happy to give them what they want. He takes pleasure in finding ways to subvert or corrupt champions of law, order, and justice, turning them to his cause
Lord of the Underworld and the River Guide. Still bitter over Phenax’s deception, Erebos concocts ways to torment the upstart god. Were he to discover a method to slay Phenax and return him to the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Winter. In Theros’s earliest days, the people vociferously honored Heliod, Nylea, and Thassa for the comforts of nature. Gradually, Purphoros grew bitter that mortals never acknowledged his flames, which
. Ultimately, it was the mortal engineer Chersio who brought about the winter’s end. Instead of cursing the situation, Chersio sought a solution, creating a hypocaust system to bring warmth to her community
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
, prideful, or bitter enough to stay, even in the face of inevitable corruption. More often, a dragon is unknowingly swept up by the Shadowfell while asleep, awakening after a years-long rest to find
also deal necrotic damage instead of other damage types. At your discretion, a legendary (adult or ancient) shadow dragon can use the following additional lair action while in its lair: Banish Light






