monsters some with openly aloud for for lower

Orc

Species Player’s Handbook

, and churning seas and to face the monsters that lurk there. Even when they turn their devotion to other gods, orcs retain Gruumsh’s gifts: endurance, determination, and the ability to see in

darkness. Orcs are, on average, tall and broad. They have gray skin, ears that are sharply pointed, and prominent lower canines that resemble small tusks. Orc youths on some worlds are told about their

Wish

Spells Player’s Handbook

Wish is the mightiest spell a mortal can cast. By simply speaking aloud, you can alter reality itself. The basic use of this spell is to duplicate any other spell of level 8 or lower. If you use it

Deck of Many Things

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

one of your ability scores by 2. You can’t decrease an ability that has a score of 5 or lower. Alternatively, you can choose not to adjust your ability scores, in which case this card has no

your choice of History, Insight, Intimidation, or Persuasion. In addition, you gain rightful ownership of a small keep somewhere in the world. However, the keep is currently home to one or more monsters

Blazebear

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

, reach 10 ft., one creature casting a spell of 3rd level or lower. Hit: 22 (4d10);{"diceNotation":"4d10", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Antimagic Swipe", "rollDamageType":"force"} force damage

;terrifying!” —Clank, Warforged Merchant from Sharn On the world of Eberron, many strange, magic-warped monsters have emerged from the depths of the war-wracked Mournland. The blazebear is

Gold-Forged Sentinel

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

sentinel has advantage on saving throws against any spell that targets only the sentinel (not an area). If the sentinel’s saving throw succeeds and the spell is of 4th level or lower, the spell has

creations are now heirlooms of monarchs; others are lost to the sands of time or are guarded by ancient monsters. Constructed Nature. An anvilwrought doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.Fire, Poison

Daemogoth Titan

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

necromancy or enchantment school that is 8th level or lower. The bound creature can cast that spell using this pact, requiring no material components and using Intelligence as the spellcasting ability. When it

the titan doesn’t heal.Daemogoth titans are towering monsters that blight the land around them. A daemogoth grows in power over the course of decades spent feeding on sorrow and draining life from

Kolyarut

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

hits a creature with an Unerring Blade attack during this movement, each spell of 5th level or lower on the creature ends, and the creature has the incapacitated condition until the end of the kolyarut

: Monsters of the Multiverse) and punished in brutally decisive fashion. In cases where the terms of a contract or a foundational truth of an agreement come into question, the Kolyarut sends a component part

Halaster Blackcloak

Monsters Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

restrictions (see “Alterations to Magic”). Arcane Recovery (1/Day). When he finishes a short rest, Halaster recovers all his spell slots of 5th level and lower. Legendary Resistance (3

legendary actions at the start of his turn. Cast Spell. Halaster casts a spell of 3rd level or lower. Spell Ward (Costs 2 Actions). Halaster expends a spell slot of 4th level or lower and gains 5

Wish Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

Wish is the mightiest spell a mortal creature can cast. By simply speaking aloud, you can alter the very foundations of reality in accord with your desires. The basic use of this spell is to

duplicate any other spell of 8th level or lower. You don't need to meet any requirements in that spell, including costly components. The spell simply takes effect. Alternatively, you can create one of the

Theran Chimera

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

"} fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.The term chimera applies to a wide variety of disparate monsters that combine the features of multiple beasts. While many

Kalashtar Legacy

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

. Kalashtar Quirks 1d10 Quirk 1 You try to understand the motives and feelings of your enemies. 2 You prefer using telepathy over speaking aloud. 3 You feel a strong drive to

kalashtar communities focus on acts of devotion known as the Path of Light. But the dark powers of Dal Quor have their own plans for Eberron. Through the force known as the Dreaming Dark, these monsters

Sailor - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Baldur’s Gate was founded by sailors, and its harbor is still the city’s beating heart. Several patriars are descended from captains of yore, the commerce of the Lower City is built on

, characters with this background are common. You sailed on a seagoing vessel for years. In that time, you faced down mighty storms, monsters of the deep, and those who wanted to sink your craft to

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

cruel in victory, goblins are fawning and servile in defeat, just as in their own society lower castes must scrape before those of greater status and as goblin tribes bow before other goblinoids

out while still getting decent performance out of the slaves. But humanoids and monsters that are especially capable or that provide unusual services find themselves treated like favored (though

Folk Hero - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

their champion, and your destiny calls you to stand against the tyrants and monsters that threaten the common folk everywhere. Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival Tool

: SOCIAL VENGEANCE You’ve lived your entire life in the Lower or Outer City of Baldur’s Gate. You grew up seeing arrogant patriars flaunt their wealth while your hardworking neighbors

Cycle of Dread

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

Cycle of Dread Monsters and wild beasts mysteriously appear to menace the people of Yeonido A bitter spirit and strict local traditions trap Yeonido in a cycle of quiet suffering. While spirits

called gwishin are well known among the city’s populace, social mores prevent people from speaking openly about their dead ancestors. One vengeful gwishin takes advantage of this custom to torment the city.

Cave Descriptions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands

Cave Descriptions Each description of a cave has these sections: Getting Started. This section provides instructions for the DM and introduces the cave with thematic read-aloud text. Features

. Important features about the cave, such as its lighting, appear here. Locations. This section details the cave’s areas and its contents, including any monsters. DM’s Map of the Cave. This map displays the locations of monsters, traps, and treasure within the cave.

Wilderness

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands

Wilderness The wilds of the Borderlands teem with dangerous animals and ravenous monsters. DM Secret! This is for the Dungeon Master’s eyes only. Unless text appears in a read-aloud box (like the one below), don’t read it to the players. Ignatius Budi

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

Running the Adventure To run this adventure, you need the D&D fifth edition core rulebooks — the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual. Most of the monsters that

appear in the adventure are from the Monster Manual, along with a number of creatures from other books (including Volo’s Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes) plus a number of new creatures

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

meant to be read aloud or paraphrased for the players when their characters first arrive at a location or under a specific circumstance, as described in the text. The Monster Manual and Volo’s Guide to

Monsters contain stat blocks for most of the creatures found in this adventure. You don’t need the latter reference to run Tomb of Annihilation, as all the necessary stat blocks from Volo’s Guide to

Hunting for Star Spawn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention

spell on himself and instructs the characters to lure the monsters within into the planar beacon. When the characters enter the room, the monsters emerge from the mists to attack them. Any interplanar

back to the Material Plane and imprison it inside one of the dimensional cells. While the characters are dealing with the monsters, Gallio tries to unlock the ruinstone from its pedestal. After 5

Mythic Monsters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Mythic Monsters This section describes three of Theros’s most infamous terrors, beings whose might and dreadful deeds set them apart as menaces of legendary proportions. While many of Theros’s

greatest myths arise from storied terrors—like the hydra Polukranos or the dreaded titans—the monsters in this section have a feature that sets them apart: mythic traits. Mythic traits transform battles

Gothic Horror Monsters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Gothic Horror Monsters Creatures imbued with tragedy or abominable origins work well in gothic horror adventures. Often, lower-level monsters embody aspects of a more powerful villain’s evil, powers

, or background. For example, swarms of bats suggest a vampire’s connection to the creatures of the night, while werewolves speak toward a vampire’s bloodthirsty nature. Gothic Horror Monsters

Deck of Several Things

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

defeat the next hostile monster or group of monsters you encounter, you have advantage on ability checks made using one skill of your choice for the duration of the adventure. Otherwise, this card has no

to cast any spell of 5th level or lower, and can use that ability 1d3 times for the duration of the adventure. Rogue. An NPC of the DM’s choice becomes secretly hostile toward you. The

Running the Adventures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal

before the action starts. Text that appears in a box like this is meant to be read aloud or paraphrased for the players when their characters first arrive at a location or under a specific

circumstance, as described in the text. The Monster Manual contains stat blocks for most of the monsters and NPCs found in this book. When a monster’s name appears in bold type, that’s a visual cue pointing

Introduction

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation Supplement

Guide to Monsters and Tomb of Annihilation. Text that appears in a box like this is meant to be read aloud or paraphrased for the players when their characters first arrive at a location or under a

specific circumstance, as described in the text. The Monster Manual, Volo’s Guide to Monsters, and Tomb of Annihilation contain stat blocks for most of the creatures found herein, and a handful of new

Marsh, Unmellow

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

summoned. Monsters. Based on the number of rounds that the kraken priest chanted before being defeated, there is at least one water elemental, and a maximum of one water weird for every two characters

, including sidekicks. When the creatures arrive, set the scene using the following read-aloud text: The watery marshland bubbles and roils. Lightning flashes in the sky, revealing several humanoid forms

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

you flesh out the adventure’s default setting. It also presents new character backgrounds that work well for this adventure. Text that appears in a box like this is meant to be read aloud or

paraphrased for the players when their characters first arrive at a location or under a specific circumstance, as described in the text. The Monster Manual contains stat blocks for most of the monsters and

Gothic Horror Villains

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

creating the perfect poison, machine, or lifeform 4 A beloved magnate who abducts commoners to steal their blood for his beauty rituals 5 A celebrity who openly murders innocents but uses

terrible deeds 8 A poisoner who seeks to manipulate history through targeted killings 9 An artist who manufactures terrible accidents to provide inspiration and reference for her art 10 A monster hunter who accuses those they consider sinful of being monsters

Creating a Combat Encounter

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

2,400 4,900 7,300 10,900 20th 2,800 5,700 8,500 12,700 CHALLENGE RATING When putting together an encounter or adventure, especially at lower levels, exercise caution when using monsters whose

of 2, but it can kill a 1st-level wizard with a single blow. In addition, some monsters have features that might be difficult or impossible for lower-level characters to overcome. For example, a

Challenge

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

. Monsters that are significantly weaker than 1st-level characters have challenge ratings lower than 1. Experience Points (XP) The number of experience points a creature is worth is based on its Challenge. Typically, XP is awarded for defeating the monster.

Low-Level Followers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

monsters that are an appropriate challenge for higher-level characters can deal enough damage to instantly kill or incapacitate a low-level follower. The adventurers should expect to spend effort and resources protecting lower-level NPC party members and to provide healing when this protection fails.

Low-Level Followers Your campaign might allow player characters to take on lower-level NPCs as followers. For example, a paladin might have a 1st-level paladin as a squire, a wizard might accept a

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a7

Running the Adventure As clever players will gather from the information in the “Legend of the Tomb,” this dungeon has more tricks and traps than it has monsters to fight. This is a thinking person’s

the intervening time resting and recovering until play again commences. Since there are no monsters to be randomly encountered within the tomb, the party might be able to encamp close to the entrance

4: Smithy

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands

4: Smithy The smithy is where the keep’s residents purchase metal goods and have them repaired. When the characters arrive at the smithy, read the following boxed text aloud: The stench of hot

) Smithy Features The smithy has the following features: Forge. The large forge behind the counter fills most of the smithy’s lower floor. Water barrels and bellows flank the forge. Mundane Goods. A few

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

meant to be read aloud or paraphrased for the players when their characters first arrive at a location or under a specific circumstance, as described in the text. Most of the monsters that appear in

this adventure are from the Monster Manual, along with new creatures and NPCs, and monsters from Volo’s Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes. For easy reference, all the stat blocks for the

Investigating Rivergard

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

recruit thugs and monsters to join the Cult of the Crushing Wave. When the characters arrive at Rivergard, read the following text: A small castle overlooks the mighty Dessarin River, which is a good half

depends on why the characters are here and how they approach. Peaceful Approach If the characters approach openly and politely ask for admittance for almost any plausible reason, the cultists welcome

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