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Variant Rules

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Variant Rules A shared campaign might use some variant rules to handle certain aspects of the game. The Adventurers League, for instance, has variant systems for gaining levels and acquiring treasure

. These “house rules,” presented below, serve as a sort of common language, ensuring that the rewards all characters receive are equivalent no matter what kind of adventure a character experienced.

Find Steed

Spells Player’s Handbook

Initiative count, and it functions as a controlled mount while you ride it (as defined in the rules on mounted combat). If you have the Incapacitated condition, the steed takes its turn immediately

can see. Failure: The target has the Frightened condition until the end of your next turn. Fey Step (Fey Only; Recharges after a Long Rest). The steed teleports, along with its rider, to an unoccupied

Desert Clothing

Equipment

Clothing and not wearing Medium or Heavy armor, you automatically succeed on saving throws against the effects of extreme heat. See chapter 3 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for rules on extreme heat.

Warm Fungal Clothing

Equipment

Fungal Clothing, you automatically succeed on saving throws against the effects of extreme cold. See chapter 3 of the Dungeon Master's Guide for rules on extreme cold. One pound of fungus is sewn into

Biha Babir

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

following actions. Biha Babir regains all expended uses at the start of each of her turns. Misty Burst. Biha Babir teleports to an unoccupied space she can see within 30 feet of herself and makes one

again until the start of her next turn.Scheming Marid Ruler The calculating Biha Babir rules the pelagic city of Maran Saya in Calimshan. Though her physical form is as fluid as the ocean itself, she

Amnizu

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

it can see within 60 feet of it. Each target must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or take 26 (4d12);{"diceNotation":"4d12", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Blinding Rot", "rollDamageType

amnizu targets one creature it can see within 60 feet of it. That creature must succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence saving throw or take 26 (4d12);{"diceNotation":"4d12", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction

Living Portent

Monsters The Book of Many Things

willing creature the living portent can see within 30 feet of itself. The target’s hit point maximum and current hit points increase by 7 (1d8 + 3);{"diceNotation":"1d8+3", "rollType":"roll

: Divination, Greater RestorationPrice of Defiance. When the living portent is damaged by a creature that it can see within 120 feet of itself, radiant power sears the creature. The creature must make a

Drow Inquisitor

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

. Variant: Demon Summoning Drow Inquisitor (Summoner Variant);Variant: Demon Summoning Some drow inquisitors have an action that allows them to summon a yochlol. Summon Demon (1/Day). The drow

attempts to magically summon a yochlol (see the Monster Manual), with a 50 percent chance of success. If the attempt fails, the drow takes 5 (1d10);{"diceNotation":"1d10", "rollType":"damage

Githyanki Kith'rak

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the githyanki must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.Militarized githyanki cultures assign ranks and responsibilities to citizens

. Groups of ten warriors follow the commands of sarths (githyanki warrior;githyanki warriors; see the Monster Manual), while ten sarths obey the commands of a mighty kith’rak. These champions

Variant Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

If your campaign uses the optional feat rules from the Player’s Handbook, your Dungeon Master might allow these variant traits, all of which replace the human’s Ability Score Increase trait.

Drow Shadowblade

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

moment they attack—and then they are the last thing their victims see. A shadowblade gains their powers over shadow via a ritual in which they kill a shadow demon and mystically prevent it from re

-forming in the Abyss, siphoning its essence into themselves. drow shadowblade (summoner variant);Variant: Demon Summoning Some drow shadowblades have an action that allows them to summon a demon

Psi Crystal

Magic Items Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

This crystal grants you telepathy for as long as you remain attuned to it. See the introduction of the Monster Manual for rules on how this telepathy works. The crystal also glows with a purplish

inner light while you are attuned to it. The higher your intelligence, the greater the light’s intensity and the greater the range of the telepathy (see the Psi Crystal Properties table). Psi

Githyanki Buccaneer

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

lost the will to serve the Lich-Queen Vlaakith; they prefer to live by their own code or revel in their unbridled freedom. Githyanki Githyanki descend from an ancient people who were also the

Step"}. The githyanki teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.

Fraternity of Order Law Bender

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

"} force damage. Power of Authority. The law bender targets a creature it can see within 60 feet of itself. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Intelligence saving throw or take 10 (3d6);{"diceNotation

armor, mage hand, prestidigitationProbability Loophole (3/Day). When the law bender or a creature it can see makes an attack roll, a saving throw, or an ability check, the law bender can cause the roll

Gazer

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

magical eye rays at random (roll two d4s;{"diceNotation":"1d4","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Eye Rays"}, and reroll duplicates), choosing one or two targets it can see within 60 feet of it: 1: Dazing

beholders with wizard minions insist they take a gazer as a familiar because the beholders can see through the eyes of these creatures. A wild gazer (one living separately from a beholder) is

Githzerai Futurist

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

, requiring no spell components and using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15): At will: dispel magic, levitate (self only), mage hand (the hand is invisible), see invisibility 1/day each

: plane shift (self only), scrying (as an action), slow, telekinesisFuture Insight (3/Day). When the githzerai or a creature it can see makes an attack roll, a saving throw, or an ability check, the

Grung Elite Warrior

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

secrete a substance that is harmless to them but poisonous to other creatures, and sometimes that substance has a special effect based on the grung’s color (see “Variant: Grung Poison&rdquo

;). They also use this venom to poison their weapons. Variant: Grung Poison A creature poisoned by a grung can suffer an additional effect that depends on the grung’s color, as described below

Grung Wildling

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

gold. All grungs secrete a substance that is harmless to them but poisonous to other creatures, and sometimes that substance has a special effect based on the grung’s color (see “Variant

: Grung Poison”). They also use this venom to poison their weapons. Variant: Grung Poison A creature poisoned by a grung can suffer an additional effect that depends on the grung’s color, as

Molydeus

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target transforms into a manes (see the Monster Manual) if this reduces its hit

bipedal body has a slavering wolf’s head and a fanged serpent’s head. Its demon lord can speak and see through the serpent head; this master also uses the molydeus to guard treasures, slay

Githyanki Supreme Commander

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

forces. Most supreme commanders ride red dragons (see the Monster Manual) into battle. Githyanki Githyanki descend from an ancient people who were also the progenitors of githzerai. These tall

melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the githyanki must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.The githyanki can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one

Githyanki Star Seer

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

little concern to a star seer, who resides mainly on the Astral Plane. Githyanki Githyanki descend from an ancient people who were also the progenitors of githzerai. These tall, gaunt folk have

Wildspace to plunder the multiverse of its magic and riches.RadiantAstral Step (Recharge 4–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"recharge","rollAction":"Astral Step"}. The githyanki teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.

Young Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

explicitly include dragon turtles in the variant rules for making a dragon a spellcaster, you can apply those rules to these aquatic dragons.) Dragon Turtle Personality Traits d8

Githyanki Gish

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

battle. Their specialized capabilities make them well suited for assassination, raiding, and espionage. Githyanki Githyanki descend from an ancient people who were also the progenitors of

"}. The githyanki teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.

Githzerai Uniter

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

. The githzerai touches one creature it can see within 5 feet of itself. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Intelligence saving throw, or the githzerai chooses an action for that target: Attack, Magic

spells, requiring no spell components and using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14): At will: mage hand (the hand is invisible), see invisibility 1/day each: plane shift (self only

Grung

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

effect based on the grung’s color (see “Variant: Grung Poison”). They also use this venom to poison their weapons. Variant: Grung Poison A creature poisoned by a grung can suffer an

Dragon Turtle Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

characters, and use the Dragon Turtle Spellcasting table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon. (Though the Monster Manual doesn’t explicitly include dragon turtles in the variant rules for

making a dragon a spellcaster, you can apply those rules to these aquatic dragons.) Dragon Turtle Personality Traits d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Trait"} Trait

Githzerai Traveler

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

(the hand is invisible) 1/day each: jump, plane shift (self only), see invisibilityGithzerai travelers wander the multiverse to train and pursue cosmic enlightenment. These githzerai learn to

manipulate planar energies to create wondrous effects. Githzerai descend from an ancient people who were also the progenitors of the githyanki—all of whom were destroyed or transformed by mind

Orcus Legacy

Monsters Out of the Abyss

. A Taste of Undeath. Orcus casts chill touch (17th level). Creeping Death (Costs 2 Actions). Orcus chooses a point on the ground that he can see within 100 feet of him. A cylinder of swirling

Prince of Undeath, known as the Blood Lord. He takes some pleasure in the sufferings of the living, but far prefers the company and service of the undead. His desire is to see all life quenched and the

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society

; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you. Variant Criminal: Spy Although your capabilities are not much different

Cultist (Knights of the Black Sword)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Levistus, the archdevil who rules Stygia, the sixth layer of the Nine Hells, from the confines of an ice prison from which he cannot escape. Most of the cultists are Icewind Dale natives who would

wearer reaches Ten-Towns, the talisman loses its inner radiance, yet the cultists keep their amulets as signs of their devotion to the archduke of Stygia (see the “Chardalyn Amulets” sidebar).

Water Genasi

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Water genasi descend from marids, aquatic genies from the Elemental Plane of Water. Water genasi are perfectly suited to life underwater and carry the power of the waves inside themselves. Their

whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases When

Madcap

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

. Ironbound Pursuit. The madcap moves up to its speed to a creature it can see and kicks with its iron boots. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or take 20 (3d10 + 4);{"diceNotation

been. A redcap’s desire to slay is rooted in its will to survive. VARIANT: MADCAPS A madcap is a redcap that soaks its hat in demon ichor instead of blood. Contact with demon ichor makes the

Vargouille Reflection

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

Humanoid the vargouille can see within 120 feet of itself. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or take 10 (3d6);{"diceNotation":"3d6", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Horrific

disembodied Humanoid heads with wings. While most vargouilles roam the planes to curse Humanoids and create more vargouilles, a variant known as the vargouille reflection resides in Undersigil. When a

Scissors of Shadow Snipping

Magic Items The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

As an action, you make a few snips with these iron shears and cause the shadow of a Humanoid creature you can see within 5 feet of you to detach from its source. If the creature is unwilling to give

next dawn. The shadow (variant);detached shadow is rooted to the spot where it was snipped until you use a bonus action to cause it to behave in one of the following ways, either of which is possible

Githyanki Xenomancer

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

laboratories on the Astral Plane. Githyanki Githyanki descend from an ancient people who were also the progenitors of githzerai. These tall, gaunt folk have potent psionic powers and dwell, for the most

and riches.Astral Step (Recharge 4–6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"recharge","rollAction":"Astral Step"}. The githyanki teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.

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