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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.

Vampire Umbral Lord

Monsters Monster Manual

vampire takes 20 Acid damage if it ends its turn in running water.Stake to the Heart. If a weapon that deals Piercing damage is driven into the vampire’s heart while the vampire has the

, one creature the vampire can see within 30 feet that isn’t a Construct or an Undead. Failure: 14 (4d6);{"diceNotation":"4d6", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Sanguine Drain

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

Vampire Warden

Monsters Astarion's Book of Hungers

is driven into the vampire’s heart while the vampire has the Incapacitated condition, the vampire has the Paralyzed condition until the weapon is removed. Sunlight. The vampire takes 20 Radiant

).Resilient Flesh. Trigger: The vampire is hit by a melee attack roll from an attacker the vampire can see. Response: The vampire reduces the damage it takes from the attack by 11 (2d6 + 4);{"diceNotation

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

have no personalities or memories; they’re driven only by the desire to commit evil. The amnizus that patrol here drill the rules of the Nine Hells into the new arrivals’ minds and marshal

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 (Summoner Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, where it flows through Dis and Stygia. They collect the souls arriving in the form of lemure;lemures (see the Monster Manual). Lemures have no personalities or memories; they’re driven only by the

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

Nupperibo

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Cloud of Vermin","rollDamageType":"acid"} acid damage. A creature within the areas of two or more nupperibos makes the saving throw with disadvantage. Driven

suitable only to become nupperibos. These pitiful creatures shuffle across the landscape, driven to purposeful action only when the clouds of swarming vermin that surround them find them prey to destroy or

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

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

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

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

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth Tool Proficiencies: One

Guild took over your family business, ran it into the ground, and burned the building for insurance money. You were driven into crime yourself, but you’ll never work for the Guild. You take

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

Nothic Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

Gaze. The nothic targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw against this magic or take 10 (3d6);{"diceNotation":"3d6","rollType

":"damage","rollAction":"Rotting Gaze","rollDamageType":"necrotic"} necrotic damage. Weird Insight. The nothic targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must contest its

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

Mind Flayer Nothic

Monsters Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

until the end of its next turn. Weird Insight. The nothic targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must contest its Charisma (Deception) check against the nothic’s Wisdom

terrible talons and a single great eye. When driven to violence, it uses its horrific gaze to rot the flesh from its enemies’ bones.

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

Goliath Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

the responsibility to earn a place in the tribe or die trying. Driven Competitors Every day brings a new challenge to a goliath. Food, water, and shelter are rare in the uppermost mountain reaches. A

individual skill. They have a compulsion to keep score, counting their deeds and tallying their accomplishments to compare to others. Goliaths love to win, but they see defeat as a prod to improve their

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).

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

Silverquill Apprentice

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

: dancing lights, friends 1/day each: command, mage armorRousing Verse. When a creature the apprentice can see within 30 feet of it fails a saving throw, the apprentice magically weaves together

stirring prose, allowing the creature to reroll the saving throw and use the higher result.Stylish and driven, the students of Silverquill College—first as apprentices and then as silverquill

Satyr Legacy

Species Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Satyrs have a well-earned reputation for their good spirits, gregarious personalities, and love of revels. Most satyrs are driven by simple desires, to see the world and to sample its every pleasure

discourse. Satyrs feel that life is to be lived and experienced with all the senses. Satyrs see the world and everything in it as a book of delights, and they want to explore every page. See chapter 3

Peace Domain

classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

stand up against those forces that try to prevent peace from flourishing. See the Peace Deities table for a list of some of the gods associated with this domain. Clerics of the Peace Domain preside

’ magic aids those who are driven to fight for the way of peace. Peace Deities Example Deity Pantheon Angharradh Elven Berronar Truesilver Dwarven Boldrei Eberron

Peace Domain (TCoE)

classes Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

stand up against those forces that try to prevent peace from flourishing. See the Peace Deities table for a list of some of the gods associated with this domain. Clerics of the Peace Domain preside

’ magic aids those who are driven to fight for the way of peace. Peace Deities Example Deity Pantheon Angharradh Elven Berronar Truesilver Dwarven Boldrei Eberron

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

Investigator

backgrounds

Ability Scores: Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma Feat: Sharp Eye or a Dark Gift feat of your choice (see “Feats”) Skill Proficiencies: Insight and Investigation Tool Proficiencies

remarkable or terrible and now desire to unravel its mystery, or maybe you’re motivated by universal justice and honesty. Whether the cases you’re embroiled in are local crimes or eldritch conspiracies, you’re driven to reveal what others would keep hidden.

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