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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

Air Elemental Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

damage and is flung up 20 feet away from the elemental in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes an object, such as a wall or floor, the target takes 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation":"1d6

Acidic Mist Apparition

Monsters Giants of the Star Forge

damage and is flung up 20 feet away from the apparition in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes an object, such as a wall or floor, the target takes 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation

Catapult

Spells Elemental Evil Player's Companion

Choose one object weighing 1 to 5 pounds within range that isn’t being worn or carried. The object flies in a straight line up to 90 feet in a direction you choose before falling to the ground

, stopping early if it impacts against a solid surface. If the object would strike a creature, that creature must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the object strikes the target and

Bakunawa

Monsters Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

":"thunder"} thunder damage, and the target is pushed up to 10 feet in a horizontal direction away from the bakunawa.The bakunawa can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only

bakunawa flies or swims up to half its speed. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attack;opportunity attacks. Slam. The bakunawa makes one Storm Slam attack. Lightning Strikes (Costs 3

Malformed Kraken

Monsters Tales from the Yawning Portal

object held or creature grappled by the kraken's tentacles is thrown up to 60 feet in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6

Dust Devil Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

damage and is flung up 20 feet away from the dust devil in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes an object, such as a wall or floor, the target takes 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation

Gazer

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

isn’t being worn or carried, the gazer moves it up to 30 feet in any direction. The gazer can also exert fine control on objects with this ray, such as manipulating a simple tool or opening a

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

Thessalkraken

Monsters Infernal Machine Rebuild

thrown up to 40 feet in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Fling

. Among the largest was the thessalkraken—a slightly smaller variant of the legendary kraken, resembling that great tentacled titan but with a jagged-toothed maw that drips constantly with

Young Kraken

Monsters Locathah Rising

is thrown up to 40 feet in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Fling

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.

Flind

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

the flind, within its reach. If there’s no creature within reach, the target instead moves half its speed in a random direction. Flail of Pain. Melee Weapon Attack: +9;{"diceNotation":"1d20+9

Yeenoghu, a flind uses demonic insight to guide the gnolls toward weak prey ripe for slaughter. Unlike other leaders who might skulk behind their minions, a flind leads the charge in battle. Its flail causes wracking pain, paralysis, and disorientation in those it strikes.

Prismari Professor of Expression

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

lightning strikes and searing lashes of flame meet the professors’ foes head on. Professors who embrace the Prismari philosophy of expression focus on magic becoming art in the moment. Whether to

professor is wreathed in flames and jumps up to 30 feet in any direction. When the professor lands, the flames erupt in a 10-foot radius around the professor and then vanish. Each creature of the professor

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

only if you can see the shadow: You control the shadow’s movements and can make the shadow move up to 30 feet across a solid or liquid surface, in any direction you choose (including along

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

Ythryn Mythallar

Magic Items Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

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

of existence as the Ythryn mythallar, you can use an action to cause it to fly in any direction you choose at a speed of 30 feet. All matter within 500 feet of the device moves with it. The Ythryn

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

Warden Archon

Monsters Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

next 24 hours, the archon knows the distance and direction to the target while they are both on the same plane of existence. Spellcasting. The archon casts one of the following spells, requiring no

any who cross that planar boundary. If an invader enters the archon’s plane, the warden strikes with claw and tooth, using its powerful bite to magically mark the intruder, which the archon

Minotaur

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Minotaurs are barrel-chested humanoids with heads resembling those of bulls. Blessed with a supernaturally strong sense of direction, minotaurs make great navigators. Some sages believe minotaurs

choose whether your 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

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

Slarkrethel

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Fling","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning

Gazer (Familiar Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

less that isn’t being worn or carried, the gazer moves it up to 30 feet in any direction. The gazer can also exert fine control on objects with this ray, such as manipulating a simple tool or

’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

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

Juvenile Kraken

Monsters Ghosts of Saltmarsh

creature grappled by the kraken is thrown up to 40 feet in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType

Kraken Legacy

Monsters Basic Rules (2014)

or smaller object held or creature grappled by the kraken is thrown up to 60 feet in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6

Githzerai Anarch Legacy

Monsters Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

modifier.Multiattack. The anarch makes three unarmed strikes. Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +10;{"diceNotation":"1d20+10","rollType":"to hit","rollAction":"Unarmed Strike"} to hit, reach 5 ft

gravity spell. The spell has the normal effect, except that the anarch can orient the area in any direction and creatures and objects fall toward the end of the area.An Anarch’s Lair In Limbo

Orthon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

success. Tracking. For the next 24 hours, the orthon knows the direction and distance to the target, as long as it’s on the same plane of existence. If the target is on a different plane, the orthon

often unaware of being hunted until the orthon strikes. This invisibility can be disrupted when the devil is attacked, however, so a strong counterattack is often the best defense against it. Orthons

Sibriex

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Contamination. The sibriex emits an aura of corruption 30 feet in every direction. Vegetation withers in the aura, and the ground in the aura is difficult terrain for other creatures. Any creature

-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

Githzerai

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

and reforming without purpose or direction, until a creature exerts deliberate will to stabilize it. Through their potent psionic power, githzerai carved a home for themselves amid the chaos. As the

choose whether your 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

Bigby's Hand Legacy

Spells Player’s Handbook (2014)

with it. Clenched Fist. The hand strikes one creature or object within 5 feet of it. Make a melee spell attack for the hand using your game statistics. On a hit, the target takes 4d8 force damage

. Forceful Hand. The hand attempts to push a creature within 5 feet of it in a direction you choose. Make a check with the hand's Strength contested by the Strength (Athletics) check of the target. If the

Spell Scroll Legacy

Magic Items Basic Rules (2014)

copied. Whether the check succeeds or fails, the Spell Scroll is destroyed. VARIANT: SCROLL MISHAPS A creature who tries and fails to cast a spell from a spell scroll must make a DC 10

the intended target, the spell takes effect normally. If the caster was not the intended target, the spell goes off in the general direction of the intended target, up to the spell’s maximum range, if the target has moved away.

Baphomet Legacy

Monsters Out of the Abyss

, the Horned King and the Prince of Beasts. He rules over minotaur;minotaurs and others with savage hearts. He is worshiped by those who want to break the confines of civility and unleash their bestial

reversed within that room. Any creatures or objects in the room when this happens fall in the direction of the new pull of gravity, unless they have some means of remaining aloft. Baphomet can ignore the

Orcus

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Dungeon Master’s Guide.Orcus’s Lair Orcus makes his lair in the fortress city of Naratyr, which is on Thanatos, the layer of the Abyss that he rules. Surrounded by a moat fed by the

of Death. This creature emanates a deathly aura that extends 30 feet in every direction from its space while it isn’t incapacitated. The aura is blocked by total cover. While in the aura, the

Arcane Hand Legacy

Spells Basic Rules (2014)

with it. Clenched Fist. The hand strikes one creature or object within 5 feet of it. Make a melee spell attack for the hand using your game statistics. On a hit, the target takes 4d8 force damage

. Forceful Hand. The hand attempts to push a creature within 5 feet of it in a direction you choose. Make a check with the hand's Strength contested by the Strength (Athletics) check of the target. If the

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