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Yuan-ti Malison (Type 3) Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

time, the serpent gods heard those prayers, their sibilant voices responding from the darkness as they told the yuan-ti what they must do. The yuan-ti religion grew more fanatical in its devotion. Cults

, humanoid cultures make the fatal mistake of trusting the yuan-ti. They forget that a yuan-ti that acts honorably or lends aid in a time of trouble does so only as part of a grander design. Yuan-ti leaders

Hexblood Legacy

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

unusual crown, often called an eldercross or a witch’s turn. This living, garland-like part of a hexblood’s body extends from their temples and wraps behind the head, serving as a visible

player, unless the DM rules otherwise. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of one of the game’s fantastical races

Ancient Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

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 1 I speak slowly and deliberately

Kenku Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

master took away their voices. Once the entity was satisfied that they had been sufficiently punished, the kenku were set loose on the Material Plane. Since then, the kenku have wandered the world

. Flock leaders enforce discipline and minimize conflicts, but they fail at effective planning or crafting long-term schemes. Although unable to speak in their own voices, kenku can perfectly mimic any

Apocalyptic Subclasses August 21, 2025

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Unearthed Arcana

Apocalyptic Subclasses August 21, 2025 Get ready for the end of a world with the latest innovations from the D&D Game Design Team! This document presents four new subclasses for the Druid (Circle

of Preservation), Fighter (Gladiator), Sorcerer (Defiled Sorcery), and Warlock (Sorcerer-King Patron). The material uses the rules in the Player's Handbook. Learn more about this playtest directly from the designers in this article!

Credits

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth

Credits Lead Designer: Justice Ramin Arman Designer: Dan Dillon Rules Developer: Ron Lundeen Art Director: Fury Galluzzi Lead Editor: Judy Bauer Editor: Hannah Rose Graphic Designer

: Bill Benham, Siera Bruggeman, Robert Hawkey Product Manager: Natalie Egan D&D Beyond Product Manager: Jeff Turriff Digital Design Team: Jay Jani, Sean Stoves, Adam Walton

Domain Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ravenloft: The Horrors Within

Domain Features Hazlan is known for the following features: Eye of Hazlik. Inhabitants claim the eyelike design called the Eye of Hazlik bears Hazlik’s blessing and wards off dangerous magic. In

truth, the symbol is a sensor for Hazlik’s magical surveillance. Magocracy. The wizard Hazlik rules Hazlan. His apprentices have free rein to exploit the land and its people to further their magical

Improvised Weapons

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

if it’s wielded in a way contrary to its design; if you use a Ranged weapon to make a melee attack or throw a Melee weapon that lacks the Thrown property, the weapon counts as an improvised weapon. An

improvised weapon follows the rules below. Proficiency. Don’t add your Proficiency Bonus to attack rolls with an improvised weapon. Damage. On a hit, the weapon deals 1d4 damage of a type the DM

Improvised Weapons

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

if it’s wielded in a way contrary to its design; if you use a Ranged weapon to make a melee attack or throw a Melee weapon that lacks the Thrown property, the weapon counts as an improvised weapon. An

improvised weapon follows the rules below. Proficiency. Don’t add your Proficiency Bonus to attack rolls with an improvised weapon. Damage. On a hit, the weapon deals 1d4 damage of a type the DM

Secret

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

up serving, choose a Divine Domain that is appropriate for it, and if it doesn’t have a holy symbol, work with your DM to design one. The cleric’s class features often refer to your deity. If you

punishment for some unknown transgression. 6 In times of despair, you feel that you are but a plaything of the gods, and you resent their remoteness. SERVING A PANTHEON, PHILOSOPHY, OR FORCE The typical

The Role of Rules

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium

The Role of Rules Why even have a column like Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules

are meant to help organize, and even inspire, the action of a D&D campaign. The rules are a tool, and we want our tools to be as effective as possible. No matter how good those tools might be, they

The Role of Rules

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata

The Role of Rules Why even have Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules are meant to

help organize, and even inspire, the action of a D&D campaign. The rules are a tool, and we want our tools to be as effective as possible. No matter how good those tools might be, they need a group of

Character Advancement

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

Romeo and Juliet. It was a departure from the more expected adventure design of the time in that violent solutions to problems aren’t an automatic path to victory—inquisitive minds and compassionate

hearts carry the heroes further than strength of arms. This updated version of the adventure reimagines Caerwyn and Porphura’s—originally Porpherio’s—garden as the Eternal Garden, a domain in the Feywild, and the Green Man as the Gardener, the benevolent archfey who rules it.

Learning by Observing

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

Language. What gestures did the DM use when describing a scene? How did the DM’s body language change when playing different NPCs? DM Voice. Did the DM use different voices or mannerisms for NPCs? Did

unexpected direction? How did the DM handle it? Rules Adjudication. To what extent did the DM lean on the rules to adjudicate outcomes? Did the DM adjudicate situations wisely or in ways that made the

Learning by Observing

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

Language. What gestures did the DM use when describing a scene? How did the DM’s body language change when playing different NPCs? DM Voice. Did the DM use different voices or mannerisms for NPCs? Did

unexpected direction? How did the DM handle it? Rules Adjudication. To what extent did the DM lean on the rules to adjudicate outcomes? Did the DM adjudicate situations wisely or in ways that made the

Wandering Monsters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

encounter of your own design. Bear with Us A timid black bear shadows the characters, hoping to scavenge a tasty offering. If they feed the bear, it follows them like a companion and expects to be fed

catches sight of the party, he tries to feed on a lone straggler. If captured or cornered, he apologizes for his uncontrollable blood lust and offers to make amends by serving as a faithful guide

Introduction: How to Use a Monster

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

the rules for monster customization and encounter building in the Dungeon Master’s Guide—to build your own adventures. Consult appendix B for monster lists that will help your adventure building. What’s

New in the 2025 Version? This is the 2025 version of the fifth edition Monster Manual. If you’ve read the 2014 version, much of this book will feel familiar, since the fundamental rules and variety

Kenku

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

not to draw attention to their shameful forms. Once, the kenku held the wind in their wings, embracing the gusty sky and singing the sweet language of birdsong. Serving a master whose identity is

marketplace can reproduce the cacophony of hawking vendors, barking dogs, bleating sheep, and the cries of street urchins. When mimicking voices, they can only repeat words and phrases they have heard, not

Credits

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

Credits Designers: Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter Additional Design: Adam Lee Story Consultants: Pendleton Ward, James Lowder Story Creators: Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee

, Richard Whitters Lead Rules Developer: Jeremy Crawford Managing Editors: Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins Editors: Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray Editorial Assistance: Matt Sernett

Combat Encounters

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

Combat Encounters Design your adventure for one of the four tiers, as set forth in chapter 1 of the Player’s Handbook: tier 1 includes levels 1–4, tier 2 is levels 5–10, tier 3 is levels 11–16, and

2, five 13th-level characters for tier 3, and five 18th-level characters for tier 4. Use that assumption when creating combat encounters, whether you use the encounter-building rules in the Dungeon

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

dance to any tune. — Volo To feel the thunder of orcish war drums outside the gate and to hear a chorus of voices growling, “Gruumsh!” is the nightmare of every civilized place in

, injury, or age) often join these cults instead of facing daily humiliation, exile, or death. Serving as the bridge between the two parts of the tribe are the priestesses of Luthic, the orc goddess who

Prepare to Be Scared

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

, discuss with your group how much fear ties into the game’s rules. Would you prefer to keep frightful reactions narrative, or would you like to use game rules that present additional challenges and

benefits? Ask your DM about the possibility of using the rules for inspiration to motivate fearful character reactions, as detailed in the “Fear and Stress” section of chapter 4. Using this system, a

Credits

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

Credits Lead Designer: Justice Ramin Arman Art Director: Emi Tanji Designers: Dan Dillon, Carl Sibley Rules Developers: Jeremy Crawford, Makenzie De Armas, Ron Lundeen, Carl Sibley Lead

Design Department: Justice Ramin Arman, Makenzie De Armas, Amanda Hamon, Ron Lundeen, Ben Petrisor, Patrick Renie, F. Wesley Schneider, Jason Tondro, James Wyatt Editorial Department: Judy Bauer, Janica

Noteworthy Features

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

Noteworthy Features Those familiar with Hazlan know the following facts: The wizard Hazlik rules Hazlan. His apprentices have free rein to exploit the land and its people to further their magical

experiments. Inhabitants claim the eyelike design called the Eye of Hazlik bears Hazlik’s blessing and wards off dangerous magic. Magic is unreliable in Hazlan, resulting in dangerous side effects. The

Save Ends Effects

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer

). Behind the Design: Save Ends Effects Save ends effects are one way of saving space in stat blocks and making them less complex for GMs to run at the table. Much like how stat blocks just reference the

poisoned condition instead of spelling its rules out each time, we didn’t want to fill up the pages by repeating long sentences similar to this one: “A target poisoned in this way can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on themself on a success.”

The Fashion Show

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

the event. Fashion Show Rumors d6 Rumor 1 Another designer stole the student’s design and is trying to pass it off as their own work! 2 An alumni designer is here to watch and recruit models for

outfit’s value, along with some comparable outfits also being sold at the auction. Buying Fashions. A character can bid on a design being auctioned off, ultimately winning it for the price listed in the

10. Common Room

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

rattling sound, followed by shouts and groans and a sudden gabble of voices as wagers are paid. If the characters burst into the room, they automatically surprise its occupants. Several worn tables and

drinking heavily, and they are poisoned (see the appendix in the Basic Rules for the effects of being poisoned). The Redbrands immediately recognize characters wearing scarlet cloaks as impostors

Campaign Tracking

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

can help you design adventure content that provides opportunities for character development. Keep a running tally of the adventurers’ classes and levels, as well as any quests and downtime activities

notes might differentiate important people in a town by their different voices, as well as their names, the places where they live and work, the names of their family members and associates, and

Supernatural Gifts

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

rules from chapter 6 of the Player’s Handbook, your Dungeon Master might allow you to take a feat as a variant supernatural gift. You gain one feat of your choice. This list suggests twelve feats from

the Player’s Handbook, but you can choose any feat your DM allows: A snake emerged from my mouth before I took my first breath—an omen of my gift for deception. (Actor) I hear voices on the wind

Guilds and Guild Law

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

in the legal code of Waterdeep, but guilds are mentioned in the oldest surviving legal documents — penned by Ahghairon himself — and the rules of Guild Law are respected by wise city folk. Guilds

Stonecutters, Masons, Potters, and Tile-makers design and craft any decorative elements of wood, stone, or ceramics, and after the Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths and Metalforgers has manufactured

Fort Knucklebone

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

Knucklebones, serving as a garage where they build and repair infernal war machines. The Knucklebones answer to Mad Maggie, a night hag warlord who has an agreement with Zariel: the archduke of Avernus leaves

the fingers of which are caves where Mad Maggie oversees repairs to several infernal war machines (see appendix B for infernal war machine rules and stat blocks). Around this hill is a ring of debris

Modifying a Class

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

tell you how to design new class features. The best place to start is by looking at other class features, or at spells, feats, or any other rules for inspiration. You’re almost certainly going to have

some missteps, as features that seem good on the surface fall apart in play. That’s all right. Everything you design will need to be playtested. When introducing new class features, be sure the

How to Play

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

. Some DMs like to use music, art, or recorded sound effects to help set the mood, and many players and DMs alike adopt different voices for the various adventurers, monsters, and other characters they

Dice The game uses polyhedral dice with different numbers of sides. You can find dice like these in game stores and in many bookstores. In these rules, the different dice are referred to by the letter

Broken Silence

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

. Characters with no special interest in serving a deity might participate in the “Scales of War” prelude instead. The prelude unfolds in a surreal, dreamlike situation where characters can follow a

the vision was an amulet. The amulet bears a design they might not recognize, but is the symbol of the god the character’s player chose during character creation. The echoes of battle don’t mean

Battle Balloon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

an original design created by the Heuristic Arcane Research and Development department of Acquisitions Incorporated. But the wizards of Halruaa developed similar skyships in ages past, and the Cult of

. The standard design of an Acquisitions Incorporated-grade airship features an enormous balloon covered in a rope net. Trailing lines connect the balloon to the vessel of metal and wood suspended

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