during instead are better

Grim Champion of Pestilence

Monsters The Book of Many Things

Spellcasting.Aleron was once a tiefling adventurer, but unlike so many victims of the Deck of Many Things, he never drew the Skull card. Instead, when one of his allies drew the card and faced the avatar of death

Undead in the Grim Harrow, considering himself better than all of them and unjustly condemned to the Gardens of Decay for an act of altruism. Though the weakest of the Harrow’s three leaders

Trapper

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

with its body, making them look like irregularities in the surface. The creature might instead attach itself to a nearby wall or a ceiling, using the remnants as bait; any creature that stops to

hibernation that can last for months, though it is still aware when prey comes near. A trapper on the verge of starvation might defy its instincts and abandon its old territory in search of better hunting.

Tearulai

Magic Items Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

limbs, with the effect of such loss determined by the GM. If the creature has no limb to sever, you lop off a portion of its body instead. In addition, you can speak the sword’s command word to

, fine art, and poetry. Vain, the weapon strives to improve its appearance. It craves gemstones and seeks out better ones with which to adorn itself. Most of all, it longs to return to the forests around

Leucrotta

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

":"piercing"} piercing damage. If the leucrotta scores a critical hit, it rolls the damage dice three times, instead of twice. Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +6;{"diceNotation":"1d20+6","rollType":"to

like doing their own killing, since leucrottas are meticulous in their cruelty and able to draw out kills for better and longer sport. And when there are no victims to be had, a leucrotta can mimic the

Auril (Third Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

to succeed instead. Magic Resistance. Auril has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Unusual Nature. Auril doesn’t require air, food, drink, or

to be cautious and avoid contact with other creatures that can harm her. Auril’s worshipers know better than to disturb her self-imposed isolation. Terrible blizzards have cut off Icewind Dale

Vecna the Archlich

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Vecna fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead. Special Equipment. Vecna carries a magic dagger named Afterthought. In the hands of anyone other than

scribe. He spent the better part of his childhood secretly educating himself in his masters’ arts. Once Vecna learned all he could, he massacred the wizards. He then recorded his every foul thought

Alustriel Silverhand

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

Resistance (3/Day). If Alustriel fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead. Special Equipment. Alustriel carries a magic staff known as the Staff of Silverymoon. In the hands of anyone other

Alustriel and her deeds better known than in the Silver Marches and its capital, Silverymoon. Alustriel ruled Silverymoon for centuries, once disguised as a wizard named Elué Dualen and then later

Auril (First Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

weather, detect thoughts, ice storm Legendary Resistance (2/Day in This Form). If Auril fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead. Magic Resistance. Auril has advantage on saving throws

weak and vulnerable. In her self-inflicted weakened state, Auril is inclined to be cautious and avoid contact with other creatures that can harm her. Auril’s worshipers know better than to

Lesser Star Spawn Emissary

Monsters Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

disappeared. The greater emissary uses the lesser emissary’s initiative count. Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the emissary fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. Unusual

and just as readily appear as people, animals, or other creatures—the more unassuming, the better. Should it reveal its true form, an emissary appears as a roughly bipedal mass of agitated organs

Orcus Legacy

Monsters Out of the Abyss

saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead. Magic Resistance. Orcus has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Magic Weapons. Orcus’s weapon attacks are magical

tampering with the dead in my search to better understand death.” 61–80 “I want to achieve the everlasting existence of undeath.” 81–00 “I am awash in

Iggwilv the Witch Queen

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

succeed instead. Magic Resistance. Iggwilv has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. (This trait is bestowed by her robe of the archmagi.) Special Equipment. Iggwilv wears

path to greatness began when she was adopted by the mother of all witches, Baba Yaga, who named her Natasha. On the worlds of the Material Plane, she was better known as Tasha, the inventor of Tasha's

Auril (Second Form)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

. Legendary Resistance (2/Day in This Form). If Auril fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead. Magic Resistance. Auril has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical

her to explode and die. A mephit that dies in this way does not use its Death Burst. Instead, each creature within 10 feet of the exploding mephit must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking

Keresta Delvingstone

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

can choose to succeed instead. Misty Escape. When she drops to 0 hit points outside her resting place, Keresta transforms into a cloud of mist (as in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling

);{"diceNotation":"1d8+4","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Unarmed Strike","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, Keresta can grapple the target (escape DC 18). Bite

Morkoth

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

can see within 120 feet of it. The spell targets the chosen creature instead of the morkoth. If the spell forced a saving throw, the chosen creature makes its own save. If the spell was an attack, the

fragments that make up the island’s core are also located. Sections of the lair and its center might be kept dry to better protect and preserve collected objects and creatures, but most of the lair

Claugiyliamatar (possessed)

Monsters Divine Contention

Amphibious. Claugiyliamatar can breathe air and water. Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Claugiyliamatar fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. Innate Spellcasting. Claugiyliamatar

underground city known as Southkrypt. For centuries, Kryptgarden Forest has been the home and hunting ground of the ancient female green dragon Claugiyliamatar, better known to many as Old Gnawbone. She

Adult Emerald Dragon

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

illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals tables to

Ancient Emerald Dragon

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

, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

Flint squinted into the setting sun. He thought he saw the figure of a man striding up the path. Standing, Flint drew back into the shadow of a tall pine to see better. The man’s walk was

-Elf Variants Some half-elves in Faerûn have a racial trait in place of the Skill Versatility trait. If your DM allows it, your half-elf character can forgo Skill Versatility and instead take the elf trait Keen Senses or a trait based on your elf parentage:

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

; Instead, aggressive, stronger creatures register to the lizardfolk as fearsome beings to be avoided if possible. If such creatures attack, lizardfolk flee, fighting only if cornered. Lizardfolk aren

’t scared of a troll; instead, they understand that a troll is a fearsome, dangerous creature and react accordingly. Lizardfolk never become angry in the way others do, but they act with

Zlan

monsters

instead. Magic Resistance. Zlan has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Next of the Seven (6/Year). If Zlan dies within 100 miles of a piece of chardalyn at least 4

Crenshinibon, better known as the Crystal Shard. Zlan Clervish was one of those seven liches, and that lich’s will predominates in the fused entity. All seven bodies are frozen together with ice and

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

the blood, as it once did. Because their population is so small, the yuan-ti are aware they are vulnerable in open warfare. Instead, their current plans assume they will never rule outwardly in

odds aren’t in their favor. A short retreat might be just the thing to reach a better tactical position, find allies, or to allow the yuan-ti the opportunity to study their opponents and

Firbolg Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

’ presence is marked by an absence of animals and a strange quiet, as if the forest wishes to avoid attracting attention to itself. The faster travelers decide to move on, the better. If these

adopt elven names when they must deal with outsiders, although the concept of names strikes them as strange. They know the animals and plants of the forest without formal names, and instead identify the

Morkoth Legacy

Monsters Volo's Guide to Monsters

within 120 feet of it. The spell targets the chosen creature instead of the morkoth. If the spell forced a saving throw, the chosen creature makes its own save. If the spell was an attack, the attack roll

core of the warren, where the pearly matter of the island is also located. Sections of the lair and its center might be kept dry to better protect and preserve collected objects and creatures, but most

Young Deep Dragon Legacy

monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Ideal"} Ideal 1 Understanding. True power comes from the ability to discern other creatures’ motivations better than they can discern yours

1 A young deep dragon has captured a number of kuo-toa and has decided to try them out as servants instead of eating them. 2 A young deep dragon maintains the guise of a handsome Humanoid

Silver Dragons

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

remaining watchful against evil. Silver dragons typically dwell amid snow-capped mountains, though aspirations and congeniality drive some to instead live among cosmopolitan societies. Disguised as

humanoids, they ally with artists, historians, knights, and humble leaders who learn from the past to create better futures. Silver dragons take inspiration from legendary heroes and have grand

Other Elements

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

Heironeous instead of Helm or Tyr. (They could be followers of Saint Cuthbert, but that would mean that one of the player character factions has an important stronghold in the region; better if they are

Adult Deep Dragon Legacy

monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

1 Understanding. True power comes from the ability to discern other creatures’ motivations better than they can discern yours. (Any) 2 Kindred. All dragons are kin to one another

A deep dragon lair might share the same basic structure as the sapphire dragon lair shown on map 5.12, but instead of being formed from stone, it might consist of chambers hollowed out within a fungus

The Athasian Cult

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

The Athasian Cult Elemental cults are widespread in Athas. In a world without gods, people instead worship the powers they see in the world around them: air, earth, fire, and water. Elemental priests

dedication to evil. An elemental priest protects and guides the common people, using elemental magic to better their lives. An elemental cultist demands abasement, sacrifice, and obedience. The element

Ancient Deep Dragon Legacy

monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

1 Understanding. True power comes from the ability to discern other creatures’ motivations better than they can discern yours. (Any) 2 Kindred. All dragons are kin to one another, and

share the same basic structure as the sapphire dragon lair shown on map 5.12, but instead of being formed from stone, it might consist of chambers hollowed out within a fungus network growing near an

Dissecting the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

the duergar doing something else instead. Alternatively, you could jettison everything but the map of the fortress, populating it with new creatures that better suit your campaign. Sometimes a good map is all a DM needs!

Goblin Legacy

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

new leader can act as the real boss. If the creature brushes aside such manipulation, the tribe falls into line behind the new tyrant—better to abide the new rule than conspire against it and be

Frequency of Bastion Turns

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide

take one now.” You can slow the frequency of Bastion turns to better serve the needs of your players and your campaign. For example, if the characters have months between adventures, you can call for

a Bastion turn every month instead of every 7 days, so the characters aren’t issuing so many orders or reaping too many benefits at once. Noor Rahman A Rogue’s Bastion on the outskirts of town contains a Guildhall, a Pub, and more!

Vidorant's Offer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

a moment, perhaps I can make you a better offer?” If the characters refuse to hear her deal, Vidorant attacks them. If they agree to listen to her deal, she continues speaking: “I could try to

dispatch you—and I might succeed—but more thieves will keep trying to interfere with my business. Instead, what if you went back and told everyone my vault was impenetrable and I thoroughly defeated you

Tactics

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

like goblins, which tend to squabble among themselves and cooperate only when threatened by a strong leader. Kobolds avoid combat on a large scale, instead sticking to hit-and-run raids using smaller

a sick or weak kobold who is otherwise unable to contribute to the tribe’s needs. Using hit-and-run maneuvers, fleeing between attacks to better or more secure vantage points. Often their goal is to

Roleplaying Strahd

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

believed, that he is the master of his own fate. When he was alive, Strahd could admit to letting his emotions get the better of him from time to time. Now, as a vampire, he is more monster than man

offering to turn that character into a full-fledged vampire after helping Strahd destroy the rest of the party. Ultimately, Strahd doesn’t honor his promise, instead turning the character into a vampire spawn under his control.

D&D Beyond

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