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Returning 35 results for 'despite instead are best'.
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
fallen civilizations and great calamities.
Nagpas still fear the Raven Queen and do their best to avoid her and her agents. When it’s impossible to do so, they become cringing, fawning things, eager
.
Hungry to claim more power despite the Raven Queen’s curse, nagpas strive to bring about world-shaking destruction. From the shadows, they manipulate events to bring about ruin. They can bring to
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
its master.A curious impulse drives the gray render. Despite its hulking form and terrible appetite, it wants most of all to bond with an intelligent creature and, once bonded, to give its life to
reaching maturity, break off to begin life as young gray renders. They feel no obligation to their young and have no inclination to gather with others of their kind. Instead, each has an overpowering need
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
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
for new growth and construction.
Despite being competent swimmers and making their lairs on seacoasts and in brackish marshes, topaz dragons hate the water. Unfortunately, their favorite food is giant
company but their own, and they are usually indifferent at best even toward their own kind. Moreover, their unpredictability means that even if a creature proves itself useful to a topaz dragon, it
Monsters
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the archaic fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Unusual Nature. The archaic doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.Multiattack. The
target ends.Archaics are towering, multi-armed creatures overflowing with magic. Despite their solitude, archaics carry vast understanding of magic and the world’s history, as well as the ability
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If the beast fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Siege Monster. The beast deals double damage to objects and structures.Multiattack. The beast makes
nightmare beast’s legs end in claws, enabling it to climb well despite its size. Its skin is thick and tough, and its teeth are long and sharp. A pair of long, curved tusks jut from the sides of
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the archon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The archon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical
archon overhead is a clear signal that one is entering the wilds.
An archon appears as a hooded, spectral rider mounted on a winged elk with glowing antlers and gleaming eyes. Despite this
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
. Despite this, even the most languorous Returned defend themselves if threatened and might be pressed into the service of their more willful brethren.
Returned have escaped the Underworld and dwell among
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
Monsters
Keys from the Golden Vault
became a mediocre one instead, despite the help of several renowned tutors. Years later, Sythian resents their efforts, as the money his parents lavished on his education left him with many unpaid debts
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the amalgam fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The amalgam has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical
despite all obstacles.
Trolls’ rapid healing makes them subject to bizarre mutations, particularly when they regenerate in unusual environments or heal from extraordinary magical wounds. Troll
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures
Evasion. If the high fae 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
, the Kindly Lord. Talion is as strange, ancient, and fickle as the wilds of Eldraine, and the Kindly Lord demands fealty and respect from their followers. But despite their austere demeanor, the Kindly
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
", "rollAction":"Death Ray", "rollDamageType":"necrotic"} necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target instead takes 64
, and hippopotamus parts. Despite its ungainly physiology, a catoblepas resembles a natural animal in its behavior, ambling through its marshy home, munching choice vegetation, eating the occasional bit
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
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If the necrichor fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Rejuvenation. Unless its lifeless remains are splashed with Holy Water (flask);holy water or
sludge in the crypts of failed liches. Despite the loss of a solid physical form, these foul creatures retain their terrible intellects and aspire to megalomaniacal goals—the first of which
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
level or lower, the spell has no effect on the chimera and instead targets the caster.Multiattack. The chimera makes three attacks: one with its claws, one with its head, and one with its tail. When its
creation effortlessly, Keranos created another combination of deadlier beasts to challenge her. She slayed that beast, too. Despite countless attempts, Keranos was unable to create a beast that Renata
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
dust, clearing the way for new growth and construction.
Despite being competent swimmers and making their lairs on seacoasts and in brackish marshes, topaz dragons hate the water. Unfortunately
dragons rarely tolerate any company but their own, and they are usually indifferent at best even toward their own kind. Moreover, their unpredictability means that even if a creature proves itself
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
dragons’ preference for volcanic lairs often puts them in conflict with fire giant;fire giants. Despite their reluctance to reveal themselves to strangers, emerald dragons might approach experienced
is a magic in the retelling of stories. Each new teller adds a bit of themself to the spell. (Any)
4
Nurture. Rearing a child is our best chance to make sure our own stories are passed on. (Any
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
—a nervous disorder that manifests as trembling. It can affect her balance and her stride, but she has learned to cast her spells unimpeded by it.
Despite her firm grasp of the dark arts, she
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
The Book of Many Things
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Euryale fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Special Equipment. Euryale carries one half of a pair of Sending Stones; the other half of the pair
her petrifying gaze, rendering her immune to its effects and allowing her to use it while not in her medusa guise. Despite her alarming appearance in serpent form, Euryale remains a healer and
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
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
convinced that I deserve eternal life, despite all the suffering I've inflicted on others."Poison, ThunderNimble Escape. Bak Mei takes the Disengage or Hide action.
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
succeeds on this saving throw automatically if Bael wishes it or if he is incapacitated.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Bael fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance
interests at Mammon’s court, which leaves him free to pursue his battle lust.
Despite his lack of interest in affairs outside battle, or perhaps because of it, Bael has gained a small
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
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures
fae fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The high fae has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.Multiattack. The high fae makes two
Lord demands fealty and respect from their followers. But despite their austere demeanor, the Kindly Lord is also known for following their own mysterious whims, journeying to the farthest reaches of Eldraine to satiate their curiosity.Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
diseased plants to dust, clearing the way for new growth and construction.
Despite being competent swimmers and making their lairs on seacoasts and in brackish marshes, topaz dragons hate the water
Creatures
Topaz dragons rarely tolerate any company but their own, and they are usually indifferent at best even toward their own kind. Moreover, their unpredictability means that even if a creature
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
, a Vistana, is the protégé of Rudolph van Richten—despite the fact that her first encounter with the vampire hunter was anything but pleasant.
Witness to Tragedy. When Ezmerelda
them harm, he instead interrogated Ezmerelda’s mother and father on the whereabouts of his missing son. Satisfied with their answers, he spared their lives before departing with the information
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
.
Emerald dragons’ preference for volcanic lairs often puts them in conflict with fire giant;fire giants. Despite their reluctance to reveal themselves to strangers, emerald dragons might approach
. There is a magic in the retelling of stories. Each new teller adds a bit of themself to the spell. (Any)
4
Nurture. Rearing a child is our best chance to make sure our own stories are passed on
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
Demogorgon
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Monsters
Out of the Abyss
magic, major image
3/day each: dispel magic, fear, telekinesis
1/day each: feeblemind, project image
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Demogorgon fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead
form of two serpentine towers, each crowned 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
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Psychic Mirror. If the hulk takes psychic damage, each creature within 10 feet of the hulk takes that damage instead; the hulk takes none of the damage. In addition, the hulk’s thoughts and
seer nearby. A hulk appears to have little will of its own and is driven to protect its master.
Star Spawn
The Material Plane represents only one small part of the multiverse. Beyond the best
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
crumbling structures and diseased plants to dust, clearing the way for new growth and construction.
Despite being competent swimmers and making their lairs on seacoasts and in brackish marshes, topaz
.
Connected Creatures
Topaz dragons rarely tolerate any company but their own, and they are usually indifferent at best even toward their own kind. Moreover, their unpredictability means that
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
honeycombs of hidden passages, deceptively thin walls, and secret chambers that allow them to traverse the entire lair without ever being seen by intruders. The best-defended sapphire dragon lairs have no