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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.

Biha Babir

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

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

whatever genie empire rises from the wreckage. Personality Biha Babir’s demeanor is like the ocean: seemingly placid on the surface, but dangerous and fierce deep below. Her amiable attitude hides

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

them into legions. Amnizu (Summoner Variant);Variant: Devil Summoning Some amnizus have an action that allows them to summon other devils: Summon Devil (1/Day). The amnizu summons 2d4

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

’t summon other demons. It remains for 10 minutes, until it or its summoner dies, or until its summoner dismisses it as an action. Spectral Dagger (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The drow

Dohwar

Monsters Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

: detect thoughtsDohwars are short, pudgy, flightless avians that look and move like penguins. Dohwars migrate from the Feywild to Wildspace, where they are typically encountered. They conduct their

affairs in secrecy, preferring to meet in dark alleys and out-of-the-way places even when their business isn't illegal or dangerous. They tend to dress in a garish mishmash of clothing, but many of them

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.

Boss Delour

Monsters The Book of Many Things

"} poison damage.Delour the wererat is a sly trickster and consummate thief who rules the Moonstalkers alongside his friend Boss Augustus;Augustus. Delour’s honeyed words and calculating mind make

him dangerous. He can smile and shake someone’s hand while simultaneously plotting to ruin that person. Expanding the guild’s activities beyond thievery was Delour’s idea. He

Geryon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Constitution saving throw or take 13 (2d12);{"diceNotation":"2d12","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Stinger","rollDamageType":"poison"} poison damage and become poisoned until it finishes a short or

. Enervating Screams. Howls and screams fill the air within 1 mile of the lair. Any creature that finishes a short or long rest in this area must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or derive no

Choker

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Aberrant Quickness (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The choker can take an extra action on its turn. Boneless. The choker can move through and occupy a space as narrow as 4 inches wide

choker is a subterranean predator far more dangerous than its small size and spindly, rubbery limbs would suggest. Chokers have cartilage rather than a bony skeleton. This flexible internal structure

Duergar Stone Guard

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

of Enlarge. Invisibility (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The duergar magically turns invisible for up to 1 hour or until it attacks, it forces a creature to make a saving throw, or its

neighbors. To this end, duergar warriors fulfill a variety of combat roles, often marrying their fury in battle with their psionic abilities or training dangerous Underdark creatures as mounts. Denigrated by

Returned Palamnite

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Returned palamnites. These Returned led violent lives, existences filled with such pain and hatred that violence now suffuses their deathless bodies. Such makes them exceptionally dangerous to the

living, as these aimless killers know only suffering and seek to spread it whenever the opportunity arises. While palamnites might wander the world as dangerous, lone murderers, many gravitate to Odunos

Duergar Soulblade

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Soulblade", "rollDamageType":"force"} force damage while under the effect of Enlarge. Invisibility (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The duergar magically turns

their psionic abilities or training dangerous Underdark creatures as mounts. Denigrated by some as joyless, duergar are in fact deeply passionate in all that they do—even if that passion rarely

Duergar Xarrorn

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

", "rollAction":"Fire Spray", "rollDamageType":"fire"} fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Invisibility (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The duergar magically

dangerous Underdark creatures as mounts. Denigrated by some as joyless, duergar are in fact deeply passionate in all that they do—even if that passion rarely manifests as mirth. They bring an

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

Norker

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

alone, hobgoblin warlords are loath to use these creatures, preferring to keep them around as disposable labor in mines and quarries. Nasty, Brutish, and Short. Even goblins bully and harass norkers

' strength and ferocity.. For this reason, norkers are likely encountered away from their brethren. Their natural armor and weapons make them dangerous foes even when relegated to menial labor. Only

Noble - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

visit prosperous Bloomridge to try a fashionable restaurant or boutique, or watch a spectacle at the Oasis Theater, the patriars have little reason to venture into the dirtier, more dangerous parts of the

; without question, and any corruption among guards or government officials tends to work in your favor, not against you—at least until you make some effort to expose it. Variant Noble: Knight A

Scissors of Shadow Snipping

Magic Items The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

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

consciousness and all its Strength after finishing a short or long rest. A creature whose shadow has detached from it is cursed. If a shadowless creature is subjected to any spell that ends a curse, or if

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

Crystal Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

) 6 Control. Everyone is welcome, as long as they follow my rules. (Lawful) Crystal Dragon Adventures The Crystal Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for stories and adventures

rain from the sky in a beautiful but dangerous display. Rumors quickly spread that a crystal dragon is responsible. 3 A crystal dragon invites the greatest bards and philosophers to partake in

Geryon Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

become poisoned until it finishes a short or long rest. The target's hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to half the poison damage it takes. If its hit point maximum drops to 0, it dies

. Howls and screams fill the air within 1 mile of the lair. Any creature that finishes a short or long rest in this area must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or derive no benefit from the rest

Noble Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

. Variant Noble: Knight A knighthood is among the lowest noble titles in most societies, but it can be a path to higher status. If you wish to be a knight, choose the Retainers feature (see the sidebar

.) Variant Feature: Retainers If your character has a noble background, you may select this background feature instead of Position of Privilege. You have the service of three retainers loyal to your

Ythryn Mythallar

Magic Items Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

hold. The largest mythallars are 150 feet in diameter. The Ythryn mythallar is a relatively small device—a mere 50 feet in diameter. To attune to this mythallar, a creature must finish a short

rest within 30 feet of it, meditating on the mythallar. Up to eight creatures can be attuned to it at one time; otherwise, the Ythryn mythallar follows the attunement rules in the Dungeon Master&rsquo

Norker War Leader

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

, and Short. Even goblins bully and harass norkers, as hobgoblins place the norkers at the bottom of the goblinoid ranks, yet the norkers' ferocity, tough hides, and sharp fangs allow them to rise up and

defeat goblinoids that underestimate the norkers' strength and ferocity.. For this reason, norkers are likely encountered away from their brethren. Their natural armor and weapons make them dangerous

Duergar Kavalrachni

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Invisibility (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The duergar magically turns invisible for up to 1 hour or until it attacks, it forces a creature to make a saving throw, or its concentration is

their fury in battle with their psionic abilities or training dangerous Underdark creatures as mounts. Denigrated by some as joyless, duergar are in fact deeply passionate in all that they do—even

Elkhorn

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

;s much more dangerous against creatures that are significantly bigger than he is. Valor's Call The noble adventuring party known as Valor’s Call was founded by Strongheart, a resolute human

","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Feint"} damage of the weapon’s type. Second Wind (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Elkhorn regains 12 hit points.

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

Amphibious. The dragon turtle can breathe air and water Blessing of the Sea (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If the dragon turtle would be reduced to 0 hit points, its current hit point total

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

Kalaraq Quori

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

eyes. The target can't be revived by any means short of a wish spell until the quori is destroyed. Mind Seed (1/Day). The quori touches one humanoid, which must succeed on a DC 21 Intelligence saving

Inspired (Kalaraq variant);Inspired.Cold, Necrotic, Poison, Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Duergar Mind Master

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

this end, duergar warriors fulfill a variety of combat roles, often marrying their fury in battle with their psionic abilities or training dangerous Underdark creatures as mounts. Denigrated by some

the materials used and honest about their purpose.PoisonReduce (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute, the duergar magically decreases in size, along with anything it is wearing or

Duergar Warlord

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

battle with their psionic abilities or training dangerous Underdark creatures as mounts. Denigrated by some as joyless, duergar are in fact deeply passionate in all that they do—even if that

their creations as cold and bare of ornamentation to the point of austerity, duergar see them as honoring the materials used and honest about their purpose.PoisonEnlarge (Recharges after a Short or Long

Sibriex

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

-shaping they provide. Variant: Flesh Warping Creatures that encounter a sibriex can be twisted beyond recognition. Whenever a creature fails a saving throw against the sibriex’s Warp Creature

turn into short tusks. 41–45 The target’s skin develops bark-like scales, granting it a +1 bonus to AC but reducing its Charisma by 2 (to a minimum of 1). 46–50 The

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

Giff are tall, broad-shouldered folk with hippo-like features. Some have smooth skin, while others have short bristles on their faces and the tops of their heads. As beings of impressive size and

character is a member of the human race or one of the game’s fantastical races. If you create a character using a race option presented here, follow these additional rules during character creation

Goblin

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

court of the Queen of Air and Darkness, one of the Feywild’s archfey. Goblins thrived in her dangerous domain thanks to a special boon from her—a supernatural knack for finding the weak

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 determining your

Kobold

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

dangerous those dragons can be and help others defend against draconic destruction. Whatever their relationship to dragons, kobold scales tend to be rust colored, although the occasional kobold sports

race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score

Alhoon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

these clues are easily missed by someone who hasn’t seen a mind flayer. However, in short order, an alhoon’s flesh withers away and its empty eye sockets gleam with cold pinpricks of light

trapping, but this is a dangerous proposition. Anyone who holds the periapt gains advantage on attacks, saving throws, and checks against the alhoons associated with its creation, and those alhoons in turn

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