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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.

Divination

Spells Player’s Handbook

be a short phrase or cryptic rhyme. The spell doesn’t account for circumstances that might change the answer, such as the casting of other spells. If you cast the spell more than once before

Contact Other Plane

Spells Player’s Handbook

one word, such as “yes,” “no,” “maybe,” “never,” “irrelevant,” or “unclear” (if the entity doesn’t know the answer to the

question). If a one-word answer would be misleading, the DM might instead offer a short phrase as an answer. On a failed save, you take 6d6 Psychic damage and have the Incapacitated condition until you finish a Long Rest. A Greater Restoration spell cast on you ends this effect.

Sending

Spells Player’s Handbook

You send a short message of 25 words or fewer to a creature you have met or a creature described to you by someone who has met it. The target hears the message in its mind, recognizes you as the

planes of existence, but if the target is on a different plane than you, there is a 5 percent chance that the message doesn’t arrive. You know if the delivery fails. Upon receiving your message

Rifle, Hunting

Equipment

the training rules in the Player’s Handbook to acquire proficiency, assuming that they have enough ammunition to keep the weapons working while mastering their use. This weapon has the

the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn’t exceed 10 feet.

Rifle, Automatic

Equipment

the training rules in the Player’s Handbook to acquire proficiency, assuming that they have enough ammunition to keep the weapons working while mastering their use. This weapon has the

the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn’t exceed 10 feet.

Laser Rifle

Equipment

the training rules in the Player’s Handbook to acquire proficiency, assuming that they have enough ammunition to keep the weapons working while mastering their use. This weapon has the

the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn’t exceed 10 feet.

Sahuagin Baron

Monsters Monster Manual

Blood Frenzy. The sahuagin has Advantage on attack rolls against any creature that doesn’t have all its Hit Points. Limited Amphibiousness. The sahuagin can breathe air and water, but it must

":"damage", "rollAction":"Fiendish Blood", "rollDamageType":"Acid"} Acid damage, and the target is cursed until it finishes a Short or Long Rest. While cursed, the target can’t benefit from the

Moonblade

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

. Every Moonblade longs for a bearer whose disposition and goals are compatible with its own. If you try to attune to a Moonblade that doesn’t want you as its bearer, the weapon not only

minute. A creature repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. You can’t use this property again until you finish a Short or Long Rest. 96-99

Beast of Malar

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

start of its turn. If the beast takes Radiant damage or damage from a Critical Hit, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the beast’s next turn. The beast dies only if it starts its

turn with 0 Hit Points and doesn’t regenerate.Multiattack. The beast makes three attacks, using Bite or Claws in any combination. Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +9;{"diceNotation":"1d20+9", "rollType

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

a cunning mind. Biha Babir is politically savvy and prefers to outsmart her opponents rather than battle them, though she doesn’t shy from combat if necessary. Biha Babir covets opulence, but

Vampire Infernalist

Monsters Astarion's Book of Hungers

sap the body and mind. Creatures (excluding the vampire and its allies) that finish a Short or Long Rest while within 1 mile of the lair make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature

can’t spend Hit Point Dice at the end of the rest and doesn’t regain Hit Points, Hit Point Dice, or spell slots at the end of the rest. Tenacious Lore. Within 1 mile of the lair, flame

Amnizu

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the amnizu’s darkvision. Magic Resistance. The amnizu has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical

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

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

Blunderbuss

Equipment

This distinctive short-range firearm features a dramatically flared muzzle designed to launch shot in a wide spray. Most effective at close range, the Blunderbuss can be considered a precursor to the

modern shotgun. This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it. Scatter. Being within 5 feet of an enemy doesn’t impose Disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls with this weapon.

Geryon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

. Regeneration. Geryon regains 20 hit points at the start of his turn. If he takes radiant damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of his next turn. Geryon dies only if he starts his turn

with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.Multiattack. Geryon makes one Claw attack and one Stinger attack. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +16;{"diceNotation":"1d20+16","rollType":"to hit

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

vertical surfaces), provided it remains within your sight at all times. The shadow is harmless and unable to be harmed, and it is invisible in darkness. It can’t speak, and it doesn’t require

Drow Shadowblade

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the drow’s darkvision. Fey Ancestry. The drow has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put the

-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

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.

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

to inspire your portrayal of distinctive dragon turtle characters, and use the Dragon Turtle Spellcasting table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon. (Though the Monster Manual doesn’t

Talarith

Magic Items Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

statistics, except it is a Construct that doesn’t have a talarith of its own. The duplicate vanishes after 1 hour, or when it is reduced to 0 hit points. After summoning a duplicate, the reigar must finish a short or long rest before this property can be used again.

Wildspacer

Backgrounds Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

gravity isn’t present, the following rules apply: Impeded Melee. When making a melee attack with a weapon, a creature that doesn’t have a flying or swimming speed (either naturally or

to adapt to zero gravity. Being weightless doesn’t give you disadvantage on any of your melee attack rolls (see “Weightlessness” below). WEIGHTLESSNESS In any location where

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

Boss Delour

Monsters The Book of Many Things

damage if he fails, provided he doesn’t have the incapacitated condition. Nimbleness. Delour can move through the space of a Medium or larger creature. Regeneration. Delour regains 10 hit points

at the start of his turn. If he takes damage from a silver weapon, this trait doesn’t function at the start of his next turn. Delour dies only if he starts his turn with 0 hit points and doesn

Molydeus

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

that doesn’t affect the weapon’s capabilities. Molydeus (Summoner Variant);Variant: Demon Summoning You can give a molydeus the ability to summon other demons. Summon Demon (1/Day

Madcap

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Iron Boots. While moving, the madcap has disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Outsize Strength. While grappling, the madcap is considered to be Medium. Also, wielding a heavy weapon doesn

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

can’t increase. The curse doesn’t advance while the target is in sunlight or the area of a daylight spell. When the cursed target’s Charisma becomes 2, the target dies, and its head

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

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

High Fae Kindguard

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

half damage if it fails, provided it doesn’t have the incapacitated condition. Magic Resistance. The high fae has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.Multiattack

operate under inviolable rules of their own: gifts must always be repaid, promises must be honored, and outright lies must never be spoken (though misdirection and riddles are always welcome). To

Firemane Angel

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

Flyby. The angel doesn’t provoke an opportunity attack when it flies out of an enemy’s reach. Innate Spellcasting. The angel’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save

and other magical effects. Relentless (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If the angel takes 21 damage or less that would reduce it to 0 hit points, it is reduced to 1 hit point

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

Wereraven Legacy

monsters Curse of Strahd

doesn’t function at the start of the wereraven’s next turn. The wereraven dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.Multiattack (Human or Hybrid Form

, modestly give money to charity. They take steps to keep magic items out of evil hands by stashing them in secret hiding places. Characters as Wereravens. The Monster Manual has rules for characters

Noble Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

authority that title carries. A noble title doesn’t stand on its own—it’s connected to an entire family, and whatever title you hold, you will pass it down to your own children. Not only do

. 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

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

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

rules themselves, but some rules in the game affect creatures of certain types in different ways. For example, the text of the cure wounds spell specifies that the spell doesn’t work on a

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

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