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Returning 35 results for 'defenses instead are brutal'.
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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
The Book of Many Things
few words. He shares leadership of the guild with Boss Delour and has a knack for planning heists. Guild members consider him a brutal but fair leader. Some perceptive guild members—like Kathra
mean nothing to him now. The violence grates on him, and he no longer empathizes with Delour’s fantasies of revenge. Instead, Augustus secretly longs to end his curse and integrate into society
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
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
occupied and uses the cradle’s initiative count.
Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If the cradle fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The cradle has advantage on
day to day, ranging from pleasantly sunny to brutal hailstorms.
If the scion dies, these effects end immediately.
Scions of Giants’ Gods
Giants are descended from the All-Father, Annam
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
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The scion has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Siege Monster. The scion deals double damage to objects and
of the scion gain a +8 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Extreme Weather. The weather within 1 mile of the scion dramatically shifts day to day, ranging from pleasantly sunny to brutal hailstorms
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
Equipment
Critical Hits on a natural roll of 19 or 20. If your Critical Range is already increased, instead increase it by 1 point (such as from 19-20 to 18-20). When you score a Critical Hit with a Brutal weapon against a creature, the weapon deals one additional die of damage.
feat.
This weapon has the following Mastery Property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Brutal. This weapon is designed for maximum damage. Brutal weapons score
Equipment
Critical Hits on a natural roll of 19 or 20. If your Critical Range is already increased, instead increase it by 1 point (such as from 19-20 to 18-20). When you score a Critical Hit with a Brutal weapon against a creature, the weapon deals one additional die of damage.
feat.
This weapon has the following Mastery Property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Brutal. This weapon is designed for maximum damage. Brutal weapons score
Equipment
weapons score Critical Hits on a natural roll of 19 or 20. If your Critical Range is already increased, instead increase it by 1 point (such as from 19-20 to 18-20). When you score a Critical Hit with a Brutal weapon against a creature, the weapon deals one additional die of damage.
Mastery of Advanced Weapons requires military training and skill. To use any of the special properties or the Weapon Mastery properties of the Fighting Chain, Brutal, you must take the Advanced
Equipment
Critical Hits on a natural roll of 19 or 20. If your Critical Range is already increased, instead increase it by 1 point (such as from 19-20 to 18-20). When you score a Critical Hit with a Brutal weapon against a creature, the weapon deals one additional die of damage.
Proficiency feat.
This weapon has the following Mastery Property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Brutal. This weapon is designed for maximum damage. Brutal weapons score
Zariel
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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->Player’s Handbook
Improvement 4 +2 3 9 +4 Brutal Strike 4 +3 3 10 +4 Subclass feature 4 +3 4 11 +4 Relentless Rage 4 +3 4 12 +4 Ability Score Improvement 5 +3 4 13 +5 Improved Brutal Strike 5 +3 4 14 +5 Subclass feature
5 +3 4 15 +5 Persistent Rage 5 +3 4 16 +5 Ability Score Improvement 5 +4 4 17 +6 Improved Brutal Strike 6 +4 4 18 +6 Indomitable Might 6 +4 4 19 +6 Epic Boon 6 +4 4 20 +6 Primal Champion 6 +4 4 Level
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Improvement 4 +2 3 9 +4 Brutal Strike 4 +3 3 10 +4 Subclass feature 4 +3 4 11 +4 Relentless Rage 4 +3 4 12 +4 Ability Score Improvement 5 +3 4 13 +5 Improved Brutal Strike 5 +3 4 14 +5 Subclass feature
5 +3 4 15 +5 Persistent Rage 5 +3 4 16 +5 Ability Score Improvement 5 +4 4 17 +6 Improved Brutal Strike 6 +4 4 18 +6 Indomitable Might 6 +4 4 19 +6 Epic Boon 6 +4 4 20 +6 Primal Champion 6 +4 4 Level
Weapon Property
A Brutal weapon is designed for maximum damage. Brutal weapons score Critical Hits on a natural roll of 19 or 20. If your Critical Range is already increased, instead increase it by 1 point (such as
from 19-20 to 18-20). When you score a Critical Hit with a Brutal weapon against a creature, the weapon deals one additional die of damage.
Goblin
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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->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
Orc
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
, injury, or age) often join these cults instead of facing daily humiliation, exile, or death.
Serving as the bridge between the two parts of the tribe are the priestesses of Luthic, the orc goddess who
Ruhk
Neega
Bone Crusher
7
Mobad
Baggi
Flesh Ripper
8
Shamog
Shautha
Doom Hammer
9
Mugrub
Ovak
Elf Butcher
10
Bajok
Vola
Spine Snapper
11
Rhorog
Engong
Death Spear
12
Jahrukk
Volen
The Brutal
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
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->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
demesne of the lich-king Larloch himself, who has also been called the Shadow King. Threats and Defenses I warn you: do not come to this place. And if you must, do not tarry, for its defenders are
brutal and bloodthirsty, as inimical to life as any plague or poison, and they take delight in the suffering of those who come into their reach. This place is rife with undead, of all varieties. In
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
almost as patient and stoic as the followers of the earth cult. They understand the value of outlasting formidable foes and slowly eroding their defenses. However, they are far more flexible and
. Instead, they feign retreats, regroup, and launch new attacks, wearing down their foes like storm-driven waves eating away at a sandy beach. Almost all water cultists are excellent swimmers skilled
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
Ravnican society. They shun the centers of civilization, which they see as a source of oppression and weakness, and instead haunt Ravnica’s alleyways, abandoned zones, and ruins. They want to see the
brutal state in which only the strong survive and the strongest rule. In a world covered with city streets and towering buildings, the Gruul are the most out of place, the most ill at ease, and the most
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
beholder is nearly unassailable thanks to the combination of its peerless intellect and the brutal effects of its eye rays. Some of the behaviors and motivations that beholders exhibit are analogous to
is the natural companion to eternal vigilance. Beholders are among the few creatures that can shape reality in their vicinity. In addition, beholders don’t truly sleep when they rest. Instead, a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
, Ulmed, once hunted monsters alongside a then-mortal Count Strahd von Zarovich. When the priests of Osybus corrupted Strahd, Ulmed forsook the vampire and refocused the inquisition’s mission. Instead
inquisitors’ zealous and sometimes brutal methods inspire terror in many communities throughout the multiverse. Each Ulmist inquisitor belongs to one of three orders that harness the power of psionics
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