Homebrew Classic Minotaur Species Details

A Minotaur's roar is a savage battle cry that most civilized creatures fear. Born into the mortal realm by demonic rites, Minotaur are savage conquerors and carnivores that live for the hunt. Their brown or black fur is stained with the blood of fallen foes, and they carry the stench of death.

The Beast Within. Most Minotaur are solitary carnivores that roam labyrinthine dungeons, twisting caves, primeval woods, and the maze-like streets and passages of desolate ruins. A Minotaur can visualize every route it might take to close the distance to its prey.

The scent of blood, the tearing of flesh, and the cracking of bones spur a Minotaur's lust for carnage, overwhelming all thought and reason. In a blood rage, a Minotaur charges anything it sees, butting and goring like a battering ram, then chopping the fallen in twain.

Apart from ambushing creatures that wander into its labyrinth, a Minotaur cares little for strategy or tactics. Minotaur seldom organize, they don’t respect authority or hierarchy, and they are notoriously difficult to enslave, let alone control.

Cults of the Horned King. Minotaur are the dark descendants of humanoids transformed by the rituals of cults that reject the oppression of authority by returning to nature. Inductees often mistake these cults for druidic circles or totemic religions whose ceremonies involve entering a labyrinth while wearing a ceremonial animal mask.

Within these bounded environments, cultists hunt, kill, and eat wild beasts, indulging their basest primal urges. In the end, however, sacrificial animals are exchanged for humanoid sacrifice — sometimes an inductee that tried to escape the cult after learning its secrets. These labyrinths become blood-soaked halls of slaughter, echoing to the cultists’ savagery.

Unknown to all but their highest-ranking leaders, these mystery cults are creations of the demon lord Baphomet, the Horned King, whose layer of the Abyss is a gigantic labyrinth. Some of his followers are fervent supplicants that plead for strength and power. Others come to the cult seeking a life free from authority’s chains — and are liberated of their humanity instead as Baphomet transforms them into the Minotaur that echo his own savage form.

Although they begin as creations of the Horned King, Minotaur can breed true with one another, giving rise to an independent race of Baphomet’s savage children in the world.

Classic Minotaur Traits

Your Minotaur character has the following racial traits. These traits are also suitable for Minotaur in other D&D worlds where these creatures have avoided the demonic influence of Baphomet.

Favorite Weapon

Minotaur form a special bond with their weapon and rarely choose another. You are proficient with one material weapon of your choice.

Monstrous Presence

Due to their savage strength and ferocity, Minotaur apply their strength modifier to their intimidation rolls. 

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Alignment

Most Minotaur lean toward chaotic evil tendencies, although some exceptions do exist. 

Size

Minotaur average over 7 feet in height, and weigh around 700 pounds. Their size is large.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

Gore

Your horns are natural melee weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to 2d8 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Charge

Immediately after you use the Dash action on your turn and move at least 10 feet, you can make one melee attack with your gore attack as a bonus action.The target must be no more than one size larger than you and within 5 feet of you. Unless it succeeds on a Strength saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier, you push it up to 10 feet away from you.

Labyrinthine Recall

The Minotaur can perfectly recall any path it has traveled. You have proficiency in Perception.

Reckless

At the start of its turn, the Minotaur can gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls it makes during that turn, but attack rolls against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life in dark labyrinths, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see dim light within 60 feet of you as bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal.