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Summary
One standout feature of the newDungeons & Dragonscampaign book , Vecna : Eve of Ruin , is its 35 - page bestiary , and tucked within those pages are some specially dreaded opposition . The fib of the military campaign startscharacters out at level 10and runs them all the path to the cap of 20 , sothere ’s no famine of monsters that boast loaded stat blocks or sharply tuned abilities . Fifth editionDnDhas generally paid more care to low - level monsters overall , and this new helping could be an exciting imagination for any gamey - storey campaign .
The superlative threat inVecna : Eve of Ruinmight not be find within its lean of monstrosity , asenemies like Count Strahd and Vecnahimself appear in the campaign , but that ’s no reason to get too comfortable around any threat . deal with colossus in a means that does n’t put the political party at serious risk could involve gaining the correct key item or ally , so attempting to play it smart is often the way to go . Of course , thing go south is a bit inevitable , and encounters where everything is on the line of merchandise are where high - level foes can really shine .
A novel escapade for donjon and Dragons will fete the franchise ’s 50 years by contribute back one of its most prominent villain ever : Vecna .
10Deadbark Dryad
CR 13, Medium Fey
Although party can ladder afoul of dryads well enough inDnD , they ’re not typically evil by nature . A deadbark wood nymph , however , is a unlike scourge entirely , ratcheting things up from a very low - level creature to a substantial challenge for an advanced party . These Fey monstrosity come about after a wood nymph has lease its wilderness succumb to evil , ultimately moulder them in more slipway than one .
Deadbark wood nymph gain a circumstances of strength along with their corruption , which manifests in some annihilating new tone-beginning . Six vines make it leisurely for the deadbark dryad to grapple its opponents , and although destroy them can free grappled mark , it wo n’t ache the wood nymph . It can also dish out a sound superman of poisonous substance , potentially weakening its foe with condition complaint . With a strong array of resistances to both non - magical and magical attacks , these Fey can be difficult to take down .
9Hazvongel
CR 14, Huge Fiend
In the terrifying plane of Pandemonium , a hazvongel is little more than a picket , but it ’s a much more minatory one than the kind that one might have a bun in the oven to rule in most options . As a demonic bird with far too many wooden leg , a hazvongel can squeeze three talon attacks into a single action , so it ’s utterly capable of shredding HP in a individual hit . A Blood Barrage attack can do a wide spread of necrotic harm that puts the entire party at risk .
What really makes the hazvongel a nightmare to deal with is its long lean of damage resistance , accompanied by a complete resistance to poison . Even a strong company might have to cycle through a lot of attack options before finding something that in full stick , by which point the hazvongel can already be tearing its enemy aside .
Vecna is one of the most powerful spellcasters in the story of Dungeons & Dragons , transition from a powerful lich to the god of malefic secrets .
8Deathwolf
CR 15, Medium Undead
The deathwolf is far from the first lupin enemy to come out inDnD , travel along up classic act like dreaded beast and wolfman , but it shows up the rest when it comes to threat level . Deathwolves are create by sorcerer bring the bodies of powerful lycanthrope back to skeletal life , maintainingfamiliarDnDlycanthrope strengthswhile supply some new magic trick . A deathwolf ’s power to make a phantom version of itself in an antagonist ’s idea is one fun pressure degree for fear , as is the ability to teleport around a field of battle .
Another interesting deathwolf feature of speech is its slowed capitulation focal ratio , which enable it to take no terms when come down from a height . Whether bang up theVecna : Eve of Ruinencounter or designing one for another campaign , this can be a fun conception to play with in environmental design .
7Borthak
CR 15, Huge Monstrosity
Like the deathwolf , the borthak is a wolf - comparable enemy , albeit a less basically abnormal one . With a " huge " designation , however , this infrangible whale of a animal is n’t to be trifle with . ice rink that radiates from its placement , acidic regurgitation , a stomp attack , and a tail that will club those who dare to strike it all serve to make a in particular interesting arena of play , making bright positioning and a good bit of luck infrangible necessities .
The up-to-the-minute Dungeons & Dragons offering , Dragonlance : Shadow of the Dragon Queen , is different in a few ways from previous Forgotten Realms campaigns .
The borthak ’s theatrical role inVecna : Eve of Ruinis more than that of a casual foe , as the lineal menace it poses to a synagogue in Krynn sets up a clock time - sore spot . Acquiring the right item offers the potential to distract it , however , so the political party may not be without an ace up its sleeve . The book of account also offer a couple of environmental feature to pad the opening in the encounter , making for a showdown that should be memorable .
6Relentless Impaler
CR 15, Large Fiend
The relentless impaler ’s name says it all – it ’s very good at impaling , and it will keep add up back to do it . Thanks to its several dissimilar spike attacks under its standard action and a couple of Legendary Actions that double down on the concept , coming into a relentless impaler encounter with low health could quickly spell out the end of any party .
Anyone thinking of attempting to reason with a relentless impaler might as well give up before try , as the ritual that creates a relentless impaler bind it in efficiently fast service with no concern for self - saving . This animalistic drive to plan of attack could be something that a cunning party might weaponize , but not without a lot of risk in the process . discombobulate in a few Legendary Resistances to kick , and a relentless impaler certainly is n’t something to be trifled with .
5Hertilod
CR 17, Huge Monstrosity
Parasites of any variety incline to be annoying , but they ’re usually more subtle entities than they are genuinely powerful one . When a sponge is assume of a utter god , however , things can calculate very different . Enter the hertilod , a stalk reptilian creature with mess of blank space for the party in its gullet . Party members stick inside it will also be fighting off the effects of poison and necrotic draining , so there ’s a lot of reason to be afraid of getting swallowed .
The Deck Of Many Things parcel for Dungeons & Dragons 5e include a dainty new sourcebook and numerous treat , but come with some caveats .
Luckily , there is a Florida key to fighting a hertilod . Its exposed muscular tissue is susceptible to lightning , which could slow its otherwise frustrating option for mobility . More importantly , however , it can make the fauna regurgitate wight , which could be the deliver grace in a tough fight . Even with this weakness , it ’s still a foul foe , butVecna : Eve of Ruin ’s trials decidedly get bad .
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4Cosmic Horror
CR 18, Gargantuan Aberration
Cosmic horror is n’t the sort of title that would herald a friendly puppet , and this gargantuan deviance is anything but . There ’s plenty of room for a donjon master to play up their own creative tack on its disturbing appearance , as no two look exactly the same , but all seem as a pickle of body parts and organs arranged in ways that they merely should n’t be .
As is often the get rate for beasts of affected magnetic inclination , cosmic horrors can make for some foul tentacle attack along with a Greco-Roman bite pick and a fabled poisonous discharge . Psychic damage is also something to look out for , as the cosmic horror ’s whispers can be too much for an adventurer to comprehend . run into one of these external ofDnD ’s cryptical Astral Planeis improbable , but venturing into that unusual beyond carries this unfortunate risk .
3Citadel Spider
CR 18, Gargantuan Monstrosity
Spider Queen Lolth has no shortage of horrific spiders in her loyal ranks , but they do n’t get much worse than the citadel spider . As another gargantuan enemy , this one might be well annul if anyone in the political party has serious arachnophobia . Otherwise , it ’s great for a truly memorable and potentially catastrophic clash .
check attacks are n’t likely to do much against the citadel spider , as its inviolable carapace can take 11 ( or 2d10 ) damage off of blows as a reaction . It ’s also let a few Legendary Resistances that can tank powerful attacks and spells , slowing the political party down and increasing the probability that they end up stuck in its webs . InVecna : Eve of Ruin , the citadel spider also does n’t attack alone , with several driders guiding its action to make for an even more formidable challenge .
2Raklupis Spyder-Fiend
CR 19, Large Fiend
Spyder - demon are n’t new toDnDlore , butVecna : Eve of Ruinelaborates on a number of deadly options within 5e for the first sentence . Most severe among these is the raklupis spyder - fiend , which certainly realise its impressive challenge rating of 19 . One key aspect of this package is its ability to cast a number of useful spells , as well asa loyalty - bolstering fillip activity that can stop charmed and frightened conditions when it ’s needed .
Spyder - monster make for the perfectVecna : Eve of Ruininclusion thanks to their combination of wolf - like and spider - corresponding elements , building on other intimidating foes while pave the way for Miska the Wolf - Spider himself to come out . Raklupis ones have the most majestic appearance of the bunch and keener psyche than most , both admirable qualities that fail to make them any more adorable .
1False Lich
CR 21, Medium Undead
Do n’t be fool by the adjective , as a sour lich is every bite as powerful as the real affair . InVecna : Eve of Ruin , this new monster depict up in the form of Rerak , a brashly named knockoff created by Acererak . delusive liches have a less extensive spell list , but they make up for it with some hefty choice .
The thing that can really make a false lich crusade a nightmare is the fillip activity Soul Siphon , which allows the undead lusus naturae to steal hit points from its opposition . If Soul Siphon leaves a mark with no hit point leave , the victim dies on the spot and foreswear its soul to an enchanted gemstone in one of the fake lich ’s skeletal eye sockets . Killing the untrue lich can bring back the newly depart , but it can be a horrific consequence in the middle of anyDungeons & Dragonsbattle .
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop secret plan originally formulate in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson . The fantasy role - fiddle biz brings together players for a crusade with various component , including ability , slipstream , character social class , colossus , and treasures . The game has drastically expanded since the ' 70s , with numerous update box Seth and elaboration .
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
