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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.

Drow Inquisitor

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Discern Lie. The drow discerns when a creature in earshot speaks a lie in a language the drow knows. Fey Ancestry. The drow has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can&rsquo

. 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

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

Treant Sapling

Monsters The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence (Investigation) check to discern that the treant is animate.Multiattack. The treant makes two Slam attacks. Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5;{"diceNotation":"1d20+5

trees have the same statistics as an awakened tree (see the Monster Manual), except they can’t speak. An animated tree acts as an ally of the treant. The tree remains animate for 1 day or until it

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

Drow Inquisitor Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

Discern Lie. The drow knows when she hears a creature speak a lie in a language she knows. Fey Ancestry. The drow has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put the drow to

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.

Hag of the Fetid Gaze

Monsters Candlekeep Mysteries

succeed on a DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check to discern that the hag is disguised. Invisible Passage. The hag magically turns invisible until she attacks or casts a spell, or until her

with her.Three Green Hag (Coven Variant);green hags named Dread Morgan, Vile Sazha, and Auntie Greenbones were once rivals who dwelled in an area of the Feywild coterminous with the High Forest. A

Drow Inquisitor (Summoner Variant) Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

Discern Lie. The drow knows when she hears a creature speak a lie in a language she knows. Fey Ancestry. The drow has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put the drow to

Deep Dragon Wyrmling Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

"} Ideal 1 Understanding. True power comes from the ability to discern other creatures’ motivations better than they can discern yours. (Any) 2 Kindred. All dragons are kin to one

it to the surface world. Lost and confused, the wyrmling has been captured by a group of cruel adventurers. 3 A deep dragon wyrmling whimsically rules over a worshipful group of kobolds, sending

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.

Yggdrasti

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures

, if a creature hasn’t observed the rooted yggdrasti move or act, that creature must succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence (Investigation) check to discern that the yggdrasti is animate. Lightning

inside its trunk in which Medium or smaller creatures can lurk. Yggdrasti attack any settlements or spelljamming ships they come across without provocation. By using a speak with plants spell or

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

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

Ramya Vasavadan

monsters

, the target can’t speak or cast spells with a Verbal component. Success: Half damage only.Ramya Vasavadan desperately fights to claim and hold power over Kalakeri in a brutal cycle of victory

ability as Spellcasting. The spell lasts until Ramya drops to 80 Hit Points or fewer or uses her Vengeful Fire action. Intelligence (Investigation) checks to discern her true appearance are made with

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