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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.

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

Tortle Druid Legacy

Monsters The Tortle Package

friendship, cure wounds, speak with animals, thunderwave 2nd level (3 slots): darkvision, hold personClaws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4;{"diceNotation":"1d20+4","rollType":"to hit","rollAction":"Claws"} to

hands. Shell Defense. The tortle withdraws into its shell. Until it emerges, it gains a +4 bonus to AC and has advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in its shell, the tortle 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

Tower Hand

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

Unarmored Defense. While the tower hand is wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Wisdom modifier.Multiattack. The tower hand makes two Unarmed Strike attacks, two Dart attacks

", "rollAction":"Deflect Missile"}.Tower hands belong to the Order of the Night Sky, an ancient society of martial artists who protect the sages of the Tower of the Heavens. They rarely speak and carry few

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

;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Trait"} Trait 1 I speak slowly and deliberately, pausing to reflect after (or sometimes in the middle of) each utterance. 2 I am more

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

Gazer

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

speak any languages but can approximate words and sentences it hears, mimicking them in a high-pitched, mocking manner. Beholders find gazers amusing and tolerate their presence like spoiled pets. Some

kill. Gazer (Familiar Variant);Variant: Gazer Familiar Spellcasters who are interested in unusual familiars find that gazers are eager to serve someone who has magical power. Unless its master is

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

loud noise at the start and end of its turn. Gold Grung. The creature is charmed by the grung and can speak Grung. Green Grung. The poisoned creature can’t move except to climb or make standing

Molydeus

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

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

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

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.

Krull

Monsters Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

sickness 2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, gentle repose, hold person, ray of enfeeblement, spiritual weapon 3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, magic circle, speak with dead, spirit guardians

":"damage","rollDamageType":"necrotic"} necrotic damage. Shell Defense. Krull withdraws into his shell. Until he emerges as a bonus action, he has a +4 bonus to AC and has advantage on Strength and

Holga Kilgore

Monsters Thieves’ Gallery

Equipment. Holga carries a darksteel greataxe, a magic weapon that grants her resistance to lightning damage while she carries it (included above). Unarmored Defense. While Holga isn’t wearing

Kilgore is a member of the Uthgardt Elk Tribe, and her strength and scowl conceal a generous heart. She’s a woman of few words who lets her actions (and punches) speak for her. A fearsome combatant

Harshnag the Grim

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

some and a hero to others. In Waterdeep, he’s remembered as the largest member of Force Grey, a notoriously destructive adventuring company that came to the city’s defense on more than one

talking. When he does speak outside of combat, he comes across as surprisingly calm and soft-spoken. While swinging his axe in battle, however, he bellows and laughs like a berserker. Harshnag knows the

Tortle Druid

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

;{"diceNotation":"2d6+2", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Nature's Wrath (Thunder)", "rollDamageType":"thunder"}. Shell Defense. The tortle withdraws into its shell. Until it emerges, it gains a +4 bonus to

DC 12): At will: druidcraft, guidance 2/day each: cure wounds, hold person, speak with animals, thunderwaveMany tortles view the world as a place of wonder. They live for the chance to hear a soft

City Watch / Investigator

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime. You aren’t a soldier, directing your gaze outward at possible enemies. Instead, your

easily pick out the dens of criminal activity in a community, although you’re more likely to be welcome in the former locations rather than the latter. Variant: Investigator Rarer

Forest Master

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 2: Dragonlance Creatures

, guidance 2/day each: goodberry, greater restoration, pass without trace, speak with plantsMisty Escape. If the Forest Master takes damage from a melee attack, he, along with any equipment he is wearing or

carrying, teleports to an unoccupied space within 30 feet that he can see.Said to be older than the trees themselves, the Forest Master is a wise and powerful unicorn who rules over the creatures of

Shapechange Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

so. You can't use any special senses you have (for example, darkvision) unless your new form also has that sense. You can only speak if the creature can normally speak. When you transform, you

rules for the original form, with one exception: if your new form has more hit points than your current one, your hit points remain at their current value.

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

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

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

Azuredge

Magic Items Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

defense against the axe, which passes through that spell’s barrier of magical force. When you hit a fiend or an undead with the axe, cold blue flames erupt from its blade and deal an extra 2d6

out to a range of 120 feet. The weapon communicates telepathically with its wielder and can speak, read, and understand Common. It has a calm, delicate voice. The weapon can sense the presence of non

Gazer (Familiar Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

’t speak any languages but can approximate words and sentences it hears, mimicking them in a high-pitched, mocking manner. Beholders find gazers amusing and tolerate their presence like spoiled

’t kill. Variant: Gazer Familiar Spellcasters who are interested in unusual familiars find that gazers are eager to serve someone who has magical power. Unless its master is strict, a gazer

Owlin

Species Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one of those scores by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or

raised above 20. Languages Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list

Metallic Dragonborn

Species Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

character is a member of the human race or one of the game’s fantastical races. If you select one of the dragonborn races in this chapter, follow these additional rules during character creation

speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list of languages to choose from. The DM is free

Returned Palamnite

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

. They think and speak and even feel emotions based on their new experiences, but given their circumstances, those emotions tend to be muted. VARIANT: RETURNED KAKOMANTIS Although the dead typically

Harengon