Dragonslayers RPG

book 2: monsters & treasures

 Credits and Contents
GAME DESIGNER AND WRITER MONSTERS
Ben Ramos. Using Monsters 3
Monster Customization 4
GAME DESIGN ASSISTANTS Stock Characters 11
– Commoner 11
Chris Pihlgren, Paul Zaldana, and anyone who has ever voted on a
DSRPG rules discussion chat poll. – Mage, Mage (Mighty) 12
– Rogue, Rogue (Mighty) 13

PLAYTESTERS – Warrior, Warrior (Mighty) 14

List of Monsters 15
Alex Neff, Andy White, Better Ben, Carder McNally, Chelsea McNally, – Balor, Basilisk 15
Chris Pihlgren, Chris VonArb, Claes Youngberg, Colin Wilson, Corina, – Bear (Cave), Carpet of Flying 16
Dan Miles, Daria Winter, Darren Green, Devon Stoll, Gerald McAlister,
Heidi Kershaw, Ian Anderson, James Morgan, James Quick, Jimmy – Dragon (Red Drake), Dragon (Blooded Red) 17
Shada, John Bult, John Pearson, Johnny Miller, Jonathan Convery, – Dragon (High Red), Dragon (Exalted Red) 18
Kendra Weaver, Kirsten Battaglia, Lawren “Grif” Miller, Maggie Ramos,
– Gargoyle, Ghost 19
Max Deibel, Nathan B., Nick Restifo, Paige Wilson Deibel, Patrick Russo,
Patrick Wilson, Paul Zaldana, Ryan Kasprowicz, Ryan Morgan, Sam – Ghoul (Cinder), Ghoul (Dripping) 20
Frazier, Tommy Meeusen, Wren Groth. – Ghoul (Fetid), Ghoul (Ghast) 21
– Giant (Frost), Goblin (Scum) 22
ILLUSTRATIONS – Goblin (Legionnaire), Goblin (Bugbear Berserker) 23
– Goblin (Captain), Griffin 24
Bidaj Doo, Liu Zishan, Riptaid, T Studio, Vuk Kostic, Warm_Tail.
– Horse, Husk 25

Images used under license from www.shutterstock.com. – Husk King, Imp 26

– Lich, Lion 27

FONTS – Mimic, Serpent (Sea) 28

– Snegle, Spider 29
Metamorphous by James Grieshaber from fonts.google.com. – Spider (Monstrous), Spider (Large Monstrous) 30
– Swarm of Rats, Treant 31
Fontin and Fontin Sans by Jos Buivenga from www.exljbris.com.
– Troll Glutton, Troll Wrecker 32
– Troll Armiger, Tyrannosaurus 33
LEGAL – Unicorn, Vampire 34

The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined – Wolf, Wolf (Dire) 35
in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open – Werewolf, Wraith 36
Content: All trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names,
(characters, place names, etc.), dialogue, plots, story elements,
locations, characters, artwork, and trade dress. (Elements that have TREASURES
previously been designated as Open Game Content are not included in
this declaration.)
Using Treasure 38

Except for material designated as Product Identity (see above), the Potions, Oils, and Poisons 39
game mechanics of this game product are Open Game Content, as Magic Armor and Weapons 40
defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d). No
Wondrous Items 42
portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game
Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Cursed Items and Artifacts 43
Adapting Adventures 44
Permission is granted to reproduce this document for personal use.

1
 Monsters

2
 Using Monsters
WHAT IS A MONSTER?
For the purpose of applying the rules of the game, a “monster” is any
creature – other than a hero – that can be meaningfully interacted
with. In other words, the terms “monster” and “nonhero” are
synonymous, and this manual uses them interchangeably.
This broad definition is an abstraction; few people in the world of
Dragonslayers RPG would call a horse (see page 25) a “monster.”
A monster's statistics, sometimes referred to as its stat block, provide
the essential information that the GM needs to run the monster.
Guidelines for understanding this information are presented below. For
the general rules governing all creatures, see page 28 of the Core Rules.
COMBAT ROLE
A monster's combat role describes how it behaves in a fight. These roles
have no rules of their own, but they serve as a form of shorthand.
When preparing a potentially violent encounter, the GM can include
different adversaries with a variety of roles to increase the dynamism.
Most monsters have only one combat role, but a monster can have
more than one. This is often the case for a monster that changes its
strategy under certain circumstances. Each role is described below:
– Brute: This monster focuses on dealing damage, usually in close
combat. Brutes make an encounter more dangerous without making
it more complicated.
– Controller: This monster focuses less on dealing damage and more
on handicapping its enemies. The Controller achieves this by
hampering movement, imposing conditions, or both.
– Defender: True to its name, this monster focuses on protecting itself
or its allies (intentionally or incidentally).
– Grappler: This monster prefers to use combat maneuvers or other
“sticky” attacks to ensnare its targets and abscond with them.
– Leader: This isn't necessarily the monster who calls the shots, but it
can be. A Leader focuses on supporting its allies, often through the
use of special abilities that grant advantage.
– Maverick: Some monsters defy categorization. A Maverick might use
bizarre combat tactics, or it might not participate in combat at all
(preferring instead to evade and escape).
– Minion: Goons, lackeys, extras, cannon fodder... by whatever name,
these lesser foes are a fantasy adventure staple. A Minion usually has
inaccurate attacks and few hit points (most often, only 1 hit point).
Starting at 2nd level, a hero can determine whether or not a creature
is a Minion just by looking at it.
– Striker: This monster uses ranged attacks or superior mobility to deal
significant damage and avoid reprisal.
SPECIAL FEATURES
In the stat block of a monster, its basic features and defenses are listed
first, followed by its active features and passive features.
Basic Features: These features are shared by many different monsters.
You can find these features on page 28 of the Core Rules.
Defenses: These features include condition immunities, damage
immunities, resistances, and vulnerabilities.
Active and Passive Features: An active feature generally requires the
monster's action, reaction, or minor interaction to use, as specified in
the feature's description. Passive features, by contrast, are “always on.”
MULTIATTACK
A monster with the Multiattack feature can use its action to attack
more than once, up to a limit specified in its description. Here is an
example of a typical Multiattack description:
Multiattack (Action)
The troll glutton makes two attacks, each of which can be a melee
attack or grab maneuver. It can move between the attacks.
The monster's stat block specifies what options it has when it uses
Multiattack. Some special features aren't compatible with Multiattack:
List of Spells and Feats Incompatible With Multiattack:
Alter Time (Loop, Skip), Arcana (Behold, Ward), Barrier, Clairvoyance
(Farsight, Gnosis), Conduct Lightning (Surge), Control Winds (Leap),
Dominate Beast, Draw Life (Conscript), Find Familiar, Mold Earth
(Meld), Prayer (Guidance, Sanctuary), Summon Storm (Squall), Veil,
Weave Shadows (Shadow Step), Wild Shape, Battle Tactics
(Delegate, Reposition), Dash Attack, Dual Weapon Attack (Parry),
Fearsome Defense, Skirmish, Stab Attack (Jab).
Readying Multiattack: When a monster readies the Multiattack action
to perform a feat, cast a spell, or both, use the rules for readying a feat
or spell found on page 23 of the Core Rules.
A monster with the Multiattack feature generally expects the heroes to
be chumps, and – especially in the first 2–3 rounds of combat – divvies
its attacks between multiple targets. The optional Multiattack Defense
rule (see page 30 of the Core Rules) reinforces this behavior.
THREAT RATING
Nearly every monster has a threat rating (TR), which indicates how
dangerous the monster is. In many cases, a monster's threat rating
equals its hit point maximum. You can use threat ratings to estimate
the difficulty of a combat encounter (see page 28 of the Core Rules).
Unless otherwise specified, a monster's threat rating assumes that the
heroes have only nonmagical weapons.
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 Monster Customization
WHEN TO CUSTOMIZE
This book contains over 40 monsters to get you (the GM) started, but
you will soon want to create one of your own. If you have a neat idea
for a monster and you want to give it a stat block, you should start by
looking for a similar creature in this book. Most of the time, you can
use an existing monster and just describe it differently. The statistics of
a werewolf (page 36) could easily represent a “weretiger,” for instance.
HIT POINT MAXIMUM
To determine your monster's hit point maximum, you should first
decide where it falls in the “pecking order.” You can use the following
categories to help determine how tough the monster should be:
– Minion: If the monster has the Minion combat role, its hit point
maximum ranges from 1 to 12.

Even if you want to design something totally unique, it is easiest to – Standard: The monster is about as tough as a hero. A standard
work from a model. For example, when designing a phantasmal monster's hit point maximum ranges from 12 to 36.
monster, you can take inspiration from the ghost entry on page 19.
– Elite: The monster is about as tough as two heroes. An elite monster's

MONSTER CREATION STEP-BY-STEP hit point maximum ranges from 24 to 72.

– Solo: The monster is about as tough as five heroes. A solo monster's

Creating a monster from scratch is a series of steps: hit point maximum ranges from 60 to 180.

1. Choose a Concept: You imagine the monster and assign to it one of

the fourteen creature types (Aberration, Beast, Celestial, Construct,
Dragon, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrosity,
Ooze, Plant, or Undead) from page 28 of the Core Rules.
2. Choose a Combat Role (Optional): You can choose one of the
following combat roles (Brute, Controller, Defender, Grappler,
Leader, Maverick, Minion, or Striker) from page 5.
3. Determine Size and Vital Stats: You choose the monster's size
category (Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gargantuan), then
you determine the monster's hit point maximum (HP), spirit point
maximum (SP), and movement speed (MV).
SPIRIT POINT MAXIMUM
Most creatures have no spirit points. Few things are more frustrating
for a hero player than watching their explosion get negated. For a
major villain, 1–3 spirit points are appropriate.
MOVEMENT SPEED
Most bipedal creatures have a movement speed of 6 squares, and most
quadrupedal creatures have a movement speed of 8 squares. Almost no
creature has a MV slower than 4 or faster than 12.

4. Determine Special Defenses: You choose the monster's condition

immunities, damage immunities, resistances, and vulnerabilities. OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES
5. Determine Special Features: You choose the monster's other special
Damage per Round: A monster's average damage per round (DPR)
features (including its spells and feats). Many special features are
should roughly equal one-quarter its hit point maximum. The next page
described in this book (see page 6).
includes a chart of potential combinations using this ratio.

6. Determine Fighting: You assign the monster's Fighting die, based on

Areas of Effect: Some monsters can attack several heroes at once,
its hit point maximum and its offensive capabilities.
usually via a feature that affects multiple targets within an area. You
can assume that a cubic area of effect captures a number of targets
7. Determine Utility Skills: You assign the monster's utility skill dice
equal to half its width, and each target after the first counts as taking
(Agility, Intellect, Strength, and Will).
“half damage” for the purpose of calculating the monster's DPR.

8. Work Out the Details: You assign the monster's possessions, the
Messing With the Math: You can adjust your monster's hit point
monster's appearance, and the monster's motivations. What does
maximum and Fighting die to taste. This sort of alteration should be
your monster want? To what lengths will the monster go to get it?
made conservatively, as gameplay suffers when the monster's offense
Why is your monster in this adventure?
and defense are too lopsided. As a general rule, a monster's hit points
should never exceed six times its DPR, nor should a non-Minion
9. Determine Threat Rating (Optional): If you want to know exactly
monster's DPR exceed half its hit point maximum. To calculate the
how dangerous your monster is, you should derive its threat rating.
threat rating of a monster you have altered in this way, see page 8.
See page 28 of the Core Rules to learn how you can use threat
ratings to estimate the difficulty of an encounter.
The Rule of Three: You can assume that your monster will stick around
for at least three rounds of combat (unless the monster is a Minion).
When creating a monster, following the steps in order is less important
than when creating a hero. You might change your mind several times!
Helpful dice probabilities can be found on page 64 of the Core Rules.
Feel free to jump back and forth between steps.

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 Monster Customization
MONSTER OFFENSE BY HIT POINTS SPECIAL FEATURE BASICS
To save time, you can choose a row on the following chart to quickly Most monsters have one or more special features, such as darkvision or
determine your monster's hit point maximum, Fighting die, and flight. A monster might also have 1–3 feats, spells, or both.
number of attacks (if the monster has Multiattack):
Be sure to take combat feats and damaging spells into account when
HP FIGHTING DIE MULTIATTACK DPR allocating the monster's DPR budget. Other features may also increase
your monster's “effective DPR” (see page 6).
12 Fair (D4) -- 3
16 Good (D6) -- 4 Legendary Resilience: If your monster has 60 or more hit points, you
20 Excellent (D8) -- 5 should give that monster the Legendary Resilience special feature
(see page 28 of the Core Rules). This feature prevents a powerful
24 Amazing (D10) -- 6
monster from being dispatched trivially by a spell.
28 Phenomenal (D12) -- 7
24 Fair (D4) Two Attacks 6 Spells: If your monster knows any spells, you must determine its power
source. Because few monsters have spirit points, the monster might
32 Good (D6) Two Attacks 8
also need a feature that allows it to heighten its spells.
40 Excellent (D8) Two Attacks 10
48 Amazing (D10) Two Attacks 12 Keep in mind that the spells in the Core Rules are designed primarily for
the heroes to use. The Wild Shape spell in particular interacts
56 Phenomenal (D12) Two Attacks 14
awkwardly with any creature that isn't naturally Medium or Small.
36 Fair (D4) Three Attacks 9
48 Good (D6) Three Attacks 12 Trappings and Description: The monster's description should include
references to its special features. For example, a monster that has
60 Excellent (D8) Three Attacks 15
resistance against mundane damage might possess an armored hide or
72 Amazing (D10) Three Attacks 18 be composed of a gelatinous substance. These trappings justify a
84 Phenomenal (D12) Three Attacks 21 special feature's presence to the hero players (similar to how a player
might justify their hero's qualifications to attempt a trained-only task).
48 Fair (D4) Four Attacks 12
64 Good (D6) Four Attacks 16
80 Excellent (D8) Four Attacks 20
CREATURE TYPE FEATURES
96 Amazing (D10) Four Attacks 24 The creature types described on page 28 of the Core Rules have no rules
112 Phenomenal (D12) Four Attacks 28 of their own, but the following types often share a number of traits:
60 Fair (D4) Five Attacks 15
Aberrations and Fey: These monsters usually have advantage on all
80 Good (D6) Five Attacks 20 Intellect and Will tests against spells.
100 Excellent (D8) Five Attacks 25
120 Amazing (D10) Five Attacks 30 Beasts: These “monsters” have Keen Senses and few other features.
A Beast knows no languages.
140 Phenomenal (D12) Five Attacks 35
72 Fair (D4) Six Attacks 18 Constructs: These monsters are usually immune to the effects of
deprivation, poison, suffocation, and being Petrified. Some Constructs
96 Good (D6) Six Attacks 24
are mindless and consequently have no Intellect or Will.
120 Excellent (D8) Six Attacks 30
144 Amazing (D10) Six Attacks 36 Undead: These monsters usually have darkvision, and they are usually
immune to the effects of deprivation, poison, and suffocation. In
168 Phenomenal (D12) Six Attacks 42
addition, Undead monsters often have resistance against or even
84 Fair (D4) Seven Attacks 21 immunity to necrotic damage.
112 Good (D6) Seven Attacks 28
Constructs and Undead aren't truly alive, so the word “destruction” is
140 Excellent (D8) Seven Attacks 35
sometimes used in place of “death” for these creatures.
168 Amazing (D10) Seven Attacks 42
196 Phenomenal (D12) Seven Attacks 49 Silver Sensitivity: An Aberration, Fiend, or Undead has disadvantage on
Fighting tests with a silver weapon. Furthermore, an Aberration, Fiend,
No creature in the game has an Awesome (D20) Fighting die, and no or Undead has disadvantage on all tests while wearing silver armor
creature should (the D20 rarely explodes, and its variance is too great). (see page 40 for more information on the properties of silver).

5
 Monster Customization
LIST OF BASIC FEATURES
What follows is a list of basic special features that your monster might
have. These features are described on page 28 of the Core Rules.
Blindsight
A monster typically has blindsight (usually to a radius of 12 squares)
only if it doesn't have ordinary sight.
Condition Immunities
A monster has whatever condition immunities make sense for its
physiology. Almost no creature is immune to being Exhausted,
Incapacitated, Invisible, or Unconscious.
Damage Immunity and Resistance
A monster has whatever immunities and resistances make sense for its
physiology. Resistance is more common than immunity.
The mundane damage resistance of many monsters can be bypassed
with silver weaponry. Unless otherwise specified, a monster's threat
rating assumes that the heroes don't have silver weapons.
Damage Vulnerability
A monster has whatever vulnerabilities make sense for its physiology.
Vulnerabilities are devastating, and they should be used sparingly. If
you think your custom monster should have a weakness of some kind,
you are almost certainly better off giving it the Susceptibility feature
(see page 9).
Darkvision
A monster that lives in subterranean environments might have
darkvision (usually to a radius of 12 squares or more).
Darkvision is a supernatural sense; nonmagical night vision should be
represented with the Keen Senses feature (see page 8).
Flight
A monster that flies generally relies on a pair of wings to do so, though
some monsters hover. If the monster exclusively flies to get around,
each square of nonflying movement costs 1 extra square.
Legendary Resilience
Any monster with a hit point maximum of 60 or more should have the
Legendary Resilience feature.
Natural Weapons
A monster that doesn't use manufactured weapons usually has natural
weapons. A monster's natural weapons sometimes have additional
properties (such as poison, or superior reach).
Almost every monster has a “Basic Features” line in its stat block.
Because these features are so common (and page space is limited), the
full description of each one isn't given in the stat block.
When the basic feature of a monster carries with it a special rule or
exception, the full description of that feature is included among the
monster's advanced features.
6
LIST OF ADVANCED FEATURES
These special features are more complex than basic features.
Many advanced features alter a monster's DPR or hit point maximum
for the purpose of calculating its threat rating (see page 10). Such
modifications are indicated in parentheses.
For example, giving the monster a feature that includes “(+10 HP)” in its
description is equivalent to giving the monster 10 extra hit points.
GM Tip: Some features are more powerful in combination than they are
in isolation. Monster design is more often art than science.
Absorption
When subjected to a specified damage type (usually lightning damage),
the monster gains advantage on the next Fighting test it makes before
the end of its next turn.
Amorphous
The monster can squeeze through an opening as narrow as 1 inch, the
monster can willingly end its move in the space of another creature,
and no creature can prevent the monster from moving through its
space.
In addition, the monster is immune to the Prone condition, and it can
use its action to escape automatically from nonmagical restraints or
from being Grabbed.
Aversion
The monster is perpetually Frightened of something. Its phobia might
be cats, fire, bright light, holy symbols, or something else.
A monster with Aversion usually has some (inconvenient) means to
counter or temporarily suppress it.
Bad Aim (Requires D4 Fighting) (-1 DPR per Attack)
The monster has disadvantage on all Fighting tests.
Battlecry (+1 DPR per Ally, Doesn't Stack With Multiattack)
As an action, the monster can shout to inspire every other creature of a
specified kind within 6 squares. Each target that can understand the
monster has advantage on the next Fighting test it makes before the
end of its next turn.
Before the turn ends, the monster can take another action. This action
can be used only to Attack, Dash, Dodge, Help, Hide, or Search.
Berserk
When the monster starts its turn with its current hit points equal to or
less than half its hit point maximum, the GM rolls a D6. On a 6, the
monster goes berserk. On each of its turns while berserk, the monster
attacks the nearest creature it can see. If no visible creature is near
enough to move to and attack, the monster will instead attack an
object (with preference for an object smaller than itself).
Once the monster goes berserk, it continues to do so until it drops to 0
hit points or regains all its hit points.
 Monster Customization
Blastwave (+1 Attack)
As an action, or once as a part of the Multiattack action, the monster
can fill an adjacent 5-square* cube with a wave of destructive energy.
The monster makes a blast attack (or magic blast attack) against every
creature and unattended object in the area, with a separate Fighting
test for each target. On each of the Fighting tests, the monster has
advantage, and vision is irrelevant. Each target the monster succeeds
against takes damage (of a specified type) equal to its result.
*If the monster is Large, the wave fills a 6-square cube. If the monster is
Huge, the wave fills a 7-square cube. If the monster is Gargantuan, the
wave fills an 8-square cube.
Blood Frenzy (Requires D6 Fighting or Better) (+2 DPR per Attack)
The monster has advantage on the Fighting test of any melee attack
made against a creature that is missing any of its hit points.
Burrow
The monster can burrow through loose earth. Each square of
burrowing movement costs the monster 1 extra square.
Camouflage
As an action, the monster can become Invisible. The condition ends if
the monster makes an attack, casts a spell, or moves 1 or more squares.
This feature might work only in certain environments
(a leafy monster can use Camouflage only in foliage, for instance).
For stronger invisibility, see the Invisible feature (below).
Clumsy Flight
The monster can fly, but only in short bursts. If the monster ends its
turn in midair, it falls unless something else is holding it aloft.
Command
As an action, or once as a part of the Multiattack action, the monster
can gesture or speak to direct another creature within 12 squares. If the
target understands the monster, the target can immediately use its
reaction to take one of the following actions of the monster's choice:
Attack, Dash, Dodge, Help, Hide, Search.
Constrictor
The monster has advantage on any Strength test it makes to grab,
choke, pin, or prevent a Grabbed creature from ending the condition.
Damaging Aura (+4 DPR)
The monster emits an aura which extends to a radius of 2 squares.
When another creature moves into the aura for the first time on a turn
or starts its turn there, that creature takes D4 damage
(of a specified type).
Dangerous to Touch (+1 DPR)
When a creature touches the monster for the first time on a turn or
starts its turn touching the monster, that creature takes D4 damage
(of a specified type). An adjacent creature touches the monster when it
succeeds on a melee attack against the monster. A combat maneuver
necessarily involves touch, unless it has been avoided via Agility.
Death Throes (+1 DPR)
When reduced to 0 hit points, the monster dies and its corpse
immediately detonates, making a blast attack (or magic blast attack)
against every creature and unattended object within 2 squares (with a
separate Fighting test for each target). The corpse has a Fair (D4)
Fighting die. On each of the Fighting tests, the corpse has advantage,
and vision is irrelevant. Each target the corpse succeeds against takes
damage (of a specified type) equal to its result.
Disruptive Strike
As an action, the monster can make a special melee attack against a
creature. If the monster succeeds, the target suffers the attack's usual
effects, and it can't take reactions for the rest of the turn.
False Appearance
While the monster remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a
specified type of object.
Gore (+2 DPR)
As an action, or once as a part of the Multiattack action, the monster
makes a special melee attack with its goring weapon. If the monster
succeeds, the target suffers the attack's usual effects, and – if the target
is a creature that can be Poisoned, and it took damage from the attack
– the target sustains a wound which bleeds for 1 minute. At the end of
each of its turns, the bleeding target takes D4 damage.
A creature can use its action to stanch the wound on itself or another
creature within its reach, which stops the bleeding.
Harrier
When the monster is adjacent to a hostile creature it can see, and the
monster isn't Incapacitated, the creature has disadvantage on Fighting
tests against any target that doesn't have this feature (unless, for some
reason, the monster chooses not to interfere).
Incorporeal (×2 HP)
The monster can move through other creatures, objects, and structures
as if they were difficult terrain. In addition, no creature can move the
monster using nonmagical means, no creature can prevent the
monster from moving through its space, and the monster can willingly
end its move in the space of another creature. The monster takes D4
prime damage when it ends its turn inside an object or structure.
The monster is immune to the Grabbed, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned,
Prone, and Restrained conditions, it is immune to poison damage, and
it has resistance against acid, adamant, cold, fire, lightning, mundane,
and thunder damage.
If the monster is an Aberration, Fiend, or Undead, an attack with a
silver weapon or piece of ammunition might bypass its resistance
against mundane damage (see page 40).
Invisible (Requires D6 Fighting or Better)
(+8 HP per Attack) (+2 DPR per Attack)
The monster is permanently Invisible. This invisibility might have
countermeasures (the monster can be seen in mirrors, children 10 years
old and younger can see the monster, and so forth).
7
 Monster Customization
Keen Senses
The monster has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on hearing,
sight, smell, or some combination of these senses.
Light Sensitivity
The monster has advantage on any Fighting test against a target it can
see. However, the monster is Blinded while in bright light.
A monster with Light Sensitivity almost always has darkvision, too
(to a range of 24 squares or more).
For a supernatural weakness to the light of day, see the Sunlight
Sensitivity feature (page 9).
Multiple Heads
The monster has two or more heads. A monster with at least two
heads has advantage on tests against being Blinded, Charmed, Dazed,
Deafened, Frightened, Possessed, Stunned, or Unconscious.
Paralyze (Requires D6 Fighting or Better) (+9 HP)
As an action, or once as a part of the Multiattack action, the monster
can make a special melee attack with its paralytic weapon against a
creature. If the monster succeeds, the target suffers the attack's usual
effects, and the target must succeed on an Easy (2+) Strength test or
become Poisoned for 1 hour.
At the end of its next turn, the Poisoned target must succeed on
another Easy (2+) Strength test or become Paralyzed until the Poisoned
condition ends.
Petrify (Requires D6 Fighting or Better)
(+8 HP per Attack) (+2 DPR per Attack)
As an action, or once as a part of the Multiattack action, the monster
can attempt to magically petrify a creature within 12 squares
(provided that the monster and the creature can see each other). The
target must succeed on a Hard (4+) Agility test or become Restrained
until the end of its next turn; at which point the target must succeed
on a Hard (4+) Strength test or become Petrified. Success on either test
ends the effect. A creature that has advantage on tests against being
Petrified has advantage on both of these tests. A creature that can't be
Petrified at all can't be Restrained by Petrify.
To avoid being targeted by Petrify, a creature can choose to avert its
eyes at the start of its turn. Such a creature is effectively Blinded until
the start of its next turn.
Typically, a ritual involving the application of some powdered
component of the monster's body can end the effects of Petrify.
Poison Resistance
The monster has advantage on tests against being Poisoned, and it has
resistance against poison damage.
Reactive
The monster can take up to a specified number of reactions each round
– usually three – but only one reaction per turn.
Some monsters can take one reaction on every turn in combat.
8
Regeneration (Special)
The monster regains a specified number of lost hit points at the start of
each of its turns. If the monster takes damage of a specified type, this
feature doesn't function at the start of the monster's next turn. The
monster dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't
regenerate.
If the monster is Undead, the appropriate damage type is usually
radiant damage. In the case of some Aberrations, Fiends, and Undead,
the appropriate damage type is the mundane damage of a silver
weapon or piece of ammunition.
If the heroes don't have access to any damage type that would disable
the monster's Regeneration, the monster is more-or-less invulnerable.
The threat rating of a monster with Regeneration assumes that the
heroes have the spells and magic weapons necessary to pose a threat.
Rust Touch
Any nonmagical metal object that touches the monster on a turn is
destroyed at the end of that turn. In addition, the monster can use its
action to destroy a Tiny volume of nonmagical metal within its reach.
Scary (+6 HP per Attack)
The monster emanates an aura of dread which extends to a radius of 6
squares. When another creature starts its turn in the aura, it must
succeed on a Hard (4+) Will test or become Frightened of the monster
until the start of its next turn. A creature that succeeds against the
monster's Scary is immune to it for 24 hours.
Secret Sight
The monster can see into a different plane of existence (typically the
Ethereal Plane) when it is on the Material Plane. The radius of this
sense is usually 12 squares.
Siege Monster
The monster's melee and ranged attacks deal double damage to objects
and structures.
Shapeshift
The monster can use its action to transform into a specified creature or
object, or back into its true form. Other than its size, the monster's
statistics are the same in each form, and any equipment it is wearing
or carrying isn’t transformed with it. The monster reverts to its true
form if it dies.
The transformation's other properties and limitations depend on the
monster's nature (the monster can only transform into an object, the
monster can only transform into a creature it has eaten, and so forth).
Spell Resistance
The monster has advantage on all tests against spells and resistance
against the damage of spells.
Sticky
Anything that touches the monster adheres to it. A creature of specified
size so adhered is automatically Grabbed by the monster. Tests made to
escape this grab have disadvantage. An adjacent creature adheres when
it succeeds on a melee attack against the monster.
 Monster Customization
Sunlight Sensitivity
While in sunlight, the monster has disadvantage on all tests. If sunlight
is deadly to the monster, it has hypersensitivity: When a hypersensitive
monster moves into sunlight for the first time on a turn or starts its
turn there, it must succeed on a Hard (4+) Strength test or die
(its body being reduced to ashes) or become Petrified.
Superb Climber
Climbing doesn't cost extra movement for the monster. If the monster
is even better at climbing, it can climb difficult surfaces, including
upside down on ceilings, without needing to make a Strength test.
Superb Swimmer
Swimming doesn't cost extra movement for the monster. Most such
monsters can also hold their breath for 1 hour, can breathe both air
and water, or can breathe only water. If the monster exclusively swims
to get around, each square of nonswimming movement costs 1 extra
square. If the monster is waterbound, it is Restrained while on land.
Susceptibility
When the monster takes damage of a specified type for the first time
on a turn, it suffers an additional D6 damage of the same type.
Swallow (Requires Size Medium or Larger)
As an action, or once as a part of the Multiattack action, the monster
can make a special melee attack with its jaws against a creature it has
Grabbed. If the monster succeeds, the target suffers the attack's usual
effects, and the target is swallowed by the monster (ending the grab
and overriding the No Sharing Spaces rule on page 21 of the Core Rules).
To be swallowed, the target must be at least two sizes smaller than the
monster.
While swallowed, the target is Blinded and Restrained, it has total
cover against attacks and other effects outside the monster's stomach,
and it takes D8 acid damage at the start of each of its turns. When the
monster moves, the target is carried along with it.
An attack made by the target might bypass the monster's defenses
(depending on the nature of those defenses). If the monster takes 5 or
more damage on a single turn from a creature inside it, the monster
regurgitates all swallowed creatures at the end of that turn, which fall
Prone in a space within 2 squares of the monster. If the monster dies, a
swallowed creature is no longer Restrained by it and can escape from
the corpse by using 6 squares of movement, exiting Prone.
Swarm (×2 HP)
The monster can squeeze through an opening as narrow as 1 inch. In
addition, no creature can move the monster using nonmagical means,
no creature can prevent the monster from moving through its space,
and the monster can willingly end its move in the space of another
creature. However, the monster can't regain lost hit points and can't
reach outside of its space.
The monster is immune to the Grabbed, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, and
Restrained conditions, it has advantage on tests against being Blinded,
Charmed, Dazed, Deafened, Frightened, Possessed, Stunned, or
Unconscious, and it has resistance against adamant damage and
mundane damage.
GM Tip: To prevent a combat encounter with an Incorporeal or Swarm
monster from dragging out too long, consider reducing its hit point
maximum by about one-third (be sure to modify its threat rating).
Teleport
The monster can teleport to any unoccupied space it can see. Each use
of this teleportation costs the monster an amount of movement equal
to the distance traveled, and the monster can’t use it at all if its
movement speed is 0.
Terrify (Requires D6 Fighting or Better)
(+8 HP per Attack) (+2 DPR per Attack)
As an action, or once as a part of the Multiattack action, the monster
can attempt to magically terrify a creature within 12 squares (provided
that the monster and the creature can see each other). The target must
succeed on a Hard (4+) Will test or become Frightened of the monster
for 1 minute or until the monster dies or becomes Incapacitated. If the
target fails with a result of 1, it is also Stunned and drops whatever it is
holding until the Frightened condition ends.
The Frightened target repeats the test at the end of each of its turns.
On a success, the effect ends. A creature that succeeds against the
monster's Terrify is immune to it for 24 hours.
To avoid being targeted by Terrify, a creature can choose to avert its
eyes at the start of its turn. Such a creature is effectively Blinded until
the start of its next turn.
Top-Heavy
The monster has disadvantage on all Agility and Strength tests against
being Prone. In addition, when the monster is Prone, standing up costs
the monster an amount of movement equal to its movement speed.
Unchangeable Form
The monster is immune to the Petrified condition and to any spell or
magical effect that would alter its form.
Venomous Fangs (+2 DPR per Attack; but See Below)
The monster has venomous fangs. A creature that takes damage from
an attack made with the monster's fangs suffers an additional D4
(or more) poison damage.
Weak Point
The monster has resistance or immunity against the mundane damage
of attacks. However, the monster also has a weak point located
somewhere on its body. A melee or ranged attack aimed at this point
bypasses the monster's resistance or immunity against the mundane
damage of attacks.
To aim at the monster's weak point, the attacker must know the weak
point's location, the attacker must be able to see the monster, and the
attacker must not have disadvantage on the Fighting test.
Some monsters have a hidden weak point. A creature that can see the
monster and is within 12 squares of it can locate the monster's hidden
weak point by succeeding on an Intellect test (difficulty varies). Doing
so in combat time usually requires the Search action. If the monster's
weak point is hidden, its effective HP increases (+10 HP).
9
 Monster Customization
UTILITY SKILLS
If a monster isn't famous for its proficiency in a particular utility skill,
it should probably have a Fair (D4) rating in that skill. Only exceptional
monsters possess a utility skill rating better than Excellent (D8).
POSSESSIONS
You should give your monster whatever possessions make sense, given
its interests, intelligence, and physiology. Possessions can include gold,
equipment, ritual components, magic items, and valuable body parts.

– Agility: Most monsters have Fair (D4) Agility. Smaller monsters tend
to have superior Agility, whereas larger monsters tend to have
inferior Agility, but this isn't always the case.
Rules Tip: A Tiny creature can use its Agility instead of its Strength in
certain situations (see page 21 of the Core Rules).
– Intellect: Most monsters have Fair (D4) Intellect. A monster of animal
intelligence automatically fails any task that requires sapience
(this is not the same as having a low Intellect).
– Strength: Size and Strength are correlated for most monsters, not-
withstanding supernatural factors. You can use the following chart to
determine a monster's Strength die:
SIZE STRENGTH DIE
Tiny Fair (D4) (with Disadvantage)
MOTIVATIONS
Almost every creature has motivations which drive its behavior. These
motivations can be fleshed out with beliefs, goals, quirks, weaknesses,
and relationships. The heroes can leverage such traits to finesse the
fiction (see page 5 of the Core Rules).
Morale: Very few creatures will fight to the death! You should decide
what your monster is willing to risk to get what it wants, and what
circumstances would cause it to flee.
THREAT RATING MATH
If you want to know how challenging your custom monster would be
in a fight, you must determine its threat rating.

Medium or Small Fair (D4), Good (D6), or Excellent (D8)

Simple Threat Rating: If the monster's DPR equals one-quarter its hit
Large Excellent (D8) or Amazing (D10) point maximum, its threat rating equals its hit point maximum.
Huge Amazing (D10) or Phenomenal (D12)
Complex Threat Rating: If the monster's DPR doesn't equal one-quarter
Gargantuan Phenomenal (D12) or Awesome (D20) its hit point maximum, use the following formula to determine its
threat rating: Threat Rating = √(Hit Point Maximum) × (4 × DPR) .
– Will: Most monsters have Fair (D4) Will. A monster of animal
intelligence automatically fails any task that requires language or A monster with a hit point maximum of 1 counts as having a hit point
other forms of sophisticated expression. maximum of 2 for the purpose of this formula.

Convert From 5e: The following charts can help you determine the Threat Rating Adjustments: The following adjustments are made after
utility skills of a monster you are translating from the 5th edition of the the Simple Threat Rating or the Complex Threat Rating step
world's most-popular roleplaying game: (round fractions to the nearest whole number):

5E ABILITY DSRPG SKILL – Spirit Points: For each spirit point the monster has, increase its
Strength Strength threat rating by 1.

Dexterity Agility – Spells: For each spell the monster knows, increase its threat rating by
Constitution Strength 3 if the spell reliably enhances the monster's damage or durability.
Intelligence Intellect
– Feats: For each feat the monster has, increase its threat rating by an
Wisdom Intellect amount equal to the feat's SP value if the feat reliably enhances the
Charisma Will monster's damage or durability.

– Flyby: If the monster can fly and deal damage to its targets from a
ABILITY SCORE SKILL DIE
safe distance, it will overperform in open spaces.
1–10 Fair (D4)
11–13 Good (D6) – Close Combat Specialist: If the monster can't deal damage effectively
from afar, it will underperform in open spaces.
14–16 Excellent (D8)
17–19 Amazing (D10) Some GMs always make “balanced” encounters, while others trust the
20–25 Phenomenal (D12) heroes to choose their fights carefully. Both styles are valid. In the
latter case, it is crucial that the GM gives the hero players plenty of
26–30 Awesome (D20)
warning, so they aren't fooled into picking a fight they can't win.

10
 Stock Characters
STOCK CHARACTER BASICS
Stock characters are nonhero members of the common and uncommon
folk. The heroes are likely to encounter these creatures more often
than any other kind of “monster.”
The stat blocks provided in this section include no size, creature type,
or movement speed. To use one of these stat blocks as intended, you
must assign to it a folk (such as human, wood elf, centaur, or golem).
The common folk and uncommon folk can be found on page 13 and
page 35 of the Core Rules, respectively.
Everything but the Points: A stock character's stat block gains all the
features of its folk, except hit points and spirit points. For example, a
halfling commoner is Small, has a movement speed of 6, and has the
Nimble and Brave feature (granting it a boost to Agility and Will), but it
still has only 1 hit point and no spirit points.
As with a custom creature, the GM can freely swap the possessions,
feats, and spells described in these stat blocks for alternatives.
STOCK CHARACTER FLAVOR
The stat blocks provided in this section are generic and can represent a
wide array of archetypes. Here are some examples:
– Commoner: Bandit, cultist, guard, noble, peasant, soldier.
– Mage: Druid, priest, witch, wizard.
– Mighty Mage: Archmage, high priest, sorcerer.
– Rogue: Ranger, scout, thief, spy.
– Mighty Rogue: Assassin, pirate king.
– Warrior: Gladiator, knight, sharpshooter, swashbuckler.
– Mighty Warrior: Blackguard, champion, legendary duelist.
Heroes and nonheroes don't always follow the same rules. The mage
class, for instance, is not representative of all or even most spellcasters
in the game world. Moreover, it is possible for a nonhero to attain
heights of power beyond what a hero can achieve (though this is rare).
COMMONER [TR 4]
[Size] [Creature Type] Minion. This individual – however brave, reliable, or
smart – is unprepared for the perils of dragonslaying.
HP 1, MV [as folk]
Agility D4, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D4, Will D4
Possessions
Basic weapon, bullet sling, bullet pouch, adventuring pack, 2 gold.
Bad Aim
The commoner has disadvantage on all Fighting tests.
The stat block presented here describes the sort of commoner most
often encountered by the heroes, but the vast majority of folk in the
world are “commoners” from the perspective of the rules. The stats of
a commoner – with different possessions – can even describe a noble or
a lord (in fact, a commoner's stats are usually quite appropriate).
The difference in combat prowess between a peasant boy and a bandit
might be meaningful to the average observer, but these differences are
insignificant on the scale of heroes and dragons. Even a trained soldier
is considered to have Bad Aim by this standard.
Commoners don't know that they have Bad Aim, so they take measures
to avoid other sources of disadvantage (preferring to attack enemies
that aren't dodging, maneuvering around cover, surrendering when
Frightened or disarmed, and so on). A commoner that has spent more
than a day watching the heroes at work learns the truth straight away.
A hero who has the minion background perk gains a commoner of their
folk as a loyal assistant (see page 15 of the Core Rules).
11
 Stock Characters
MAGE [TR 16]
[Size] [Creature Type] Striker. This individual wears simple robes and carries
a wand. Most mages desire knowledge and power.
HP 16, MV [as folk]
Agility D4, Fighting D6, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D4, Will D4
Possessions
Wand, dagger, crossbow, bolt case, adventuring pack, 10 gold.
Spellcaster (Ceremonial Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Produce Flame (CR p. 49).
Not all folk are heroes! Heroic mages know two or more spells. By the
standards of a hero, the common mage is a “minor” magic-user.
12
MIGHTY MAGE [TR 38]
[Size] [Creature Type] Controller. This individual wears opulent robes and
carries a staff. Mighty mages are powerful spellcasters (and cowards)
known for hoarding books and conducting unethical rituals.
HP 32, SP 2, MV [as folk]
Agility D4, Fighting D8, Intellect D8 (4), Strength D4, Will D6
Possessions
Staff, dagger, fine robes, crossbow, bolt case, adventuring pack,
Elixir of Invisibility (M&T p. 39), 50 gold.
Spellcaster (Ceremonial Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Conduct Lightning (CR p. 43),
Mage Hand (CR p. 47),
Tongue of the Sun and Moon (CR p. 52).
Multiattack (Action)
The mighty mage casts Conduct Lightning (Arc) twice. It can move
between the castings. The mage can replace one of these castings with
a spell of its choice.*
*Other than Conduct Lightning (Surge).
 Stock Characters
ROGUE [TR 16] MIGHTY ROGUE [TR 38]
[Size] [Creature Type] Striker. This individual wears dark clothing and [Size] [Creature Type] Striker. Savvier than their counterparts, mighty
approaches cautiously. Rogues take joy in outwitting their foes, and they rogues rarely demonstrate the fatal hubris that afflicts mighty mages and
rarely fight fair. mighty warriors.

HP 16, MV [as folk] HP 32, MV [as folk]

Agility D6, Fighting D6, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D4, Will D4 Agility D8, Fighting D8, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D4, Will D6

Possessions Possessions
2 daggers, bullet sling, bullet pouch, vial of basic poison (CR p. 17), 2 daggers, bow, quiver (arrows), vial of Burnt Uthor Fumes (M&T p. 39),
adventuring pack, 10 gold. adventuring pack, 50 gold.

Cunning (Special) Feats

When the rogue has advantage on a test, it can reroll one of the dice Skirmish (CR p. 59).
once (before the outcome is settled).
Multiattack (Action)
The rogue's stat block is a versatile one, as it can describe just about The mighty rogue makes two attacks, each of which can be a melee or
any nonhero that is more dangerous than a commoner but not quite as ranged attack. It can move between the attacks. The rogue can replace
dangerous as a warrior. one of these attacks with Skirmish.

Cunning (Special)
When the mighty rogue has advantage on a test, it can reroll one of the
dice once (before the outcome is settled).

13
 Stock Characters
WARRIOR [TR 20]
[Size] [Creature Type] Brute. This individual wears mail armor, and you can
see that their equipment is both well-used and well-maintained. A warrior
values glory in battle, and almost never retreats from a Humanoid foe.
MIGHTY WARRIOR [TR 45]
[Size] [Creature Type] Brute. This individual wears finely-crafted armor and
wields a magic weapon. The mighty warrior is an impressive physical
specimen, but they are a creature of both brains and brawn.

HP 20, MV [as folk] HP 38, MV [as folk]

Agility D4, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D6, Will D4 Agility D6, Fighting D10, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D6, Will D4

Possessions Possessions
Axe, shield, bow, quiver (arrows), mail armor, adventuring pack, Adamantine sword (M&T p. 40), dagger, bow, quiver (arrows),
10 gold. plate armor, adventuring pack, 50 gold.

Feats
Dual Weapon Attack (CR p. 56).

Multiattack (Action)
The mighty warrior makes two attacks, each of which can be a melee
or ranged attack. It can move between the attacks. The warrior can
replace one of these attacks with Dual Weapon Attack.

14
 List of Monsters
BALOR [TR 125] BASILISK [TR 32]
Huge Fiend Brute/Controller. This ancient demon has a body of coal and a Large Monstrosity Controller. This crocodilian monster drags itself along on
mane of cinders. It knows only the rule of might and its ultimate goal is to a dozen legs and leers at you with glowing green eyes. The basilisk is equal
cloak the world in fire and darkness. parts lazy and stupid, but its petrifying gaze is a formidable talent.

HP 62, SP 3, MV 8 HP 24, MV 4

Agility D8, Fighting D12, Intellect D12 (6), Strength D12, Will D12 Agility D4, Fighting D10, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D8, Will D4

Basic Features (CR p. 28) Possessions

Darkvision (24 squares), Flight (see below), Legendary Resilience,
Natural Weapons (horns, fangs, claws, hooves, and tail spade),
Reach (3 squares).
Resistances
Acid damage, adamant damage, cold damage, lightning damage,
thunder damage, mundane damage from any source other than an
attack made with a silver weapon or silver piece of ammunition.
Immunities
Fire damage, poison damage, psychic damage. Poisoned, Possessed,
deprivation, suffocation.
Feats
Hack & Slash (CR p. 57),
Lash Mastery (CR p. 57).
Multiattack (Action)
The balor makes up to three melee attacks. It can move between the
attacks. The balor can replace one of these attacks with Hack & Slash.
Scourge (Action or Minor Interaction)
The balor summons an oversized basic weapon or oversized whip in its
empty hand. The balor chooses at the time of summoning whether the
weapon is made of flames or shadows. The weapon sheds dim light in a
2-square radius, and attacks with it deal fire damage (flames) or
psychic damage (shadows) instead of mundane damage. If a turn ends
and the balor isn't holding the weapon, the weapon disappears.
Gizzard (worth 200 gold).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (fangs and talons).
Petrify (Action)
The basilisk attempts to magically petrify a creature within 12 squares
(provided that the basilisk and the creature can see each other). The
target must succeed on a Hard (4+) Agility test or become Restrained
until the end of its next turn; at which point the target must succeed
on a Hard (4+) Strength test or become Petrified. Success on either test
ends the effect. A creature that has advantage on tests against being
Petrified has advantage on both of these tests. A creature that can't be
Petrified at all can't be Restrained by Petrify.
To avoid being targeted by Petrify, a creature can choose to avert its
eyes at the start of its turn. Such a creature is effectively Blinded until
the start of its next turn.
A ritual involving the basilisk's powdered gizzard can end the effects of
Petrify. The ritual's instructions can be found for sale in larger
settlements for about 300 gold.

Clumsy Flight
The balor can fly, but only in short bursts. If the balor ends its turn in
midair, it falls unless something else is holding it aloft.

Flame & Shadow

The balor emits an aura which extends to a radius of 2 squares. When
another creature moves into the aura for the first time on a turn or
starts its turn there, that creature takes D4 fire damage and D4 psychic
damage. The aura also causes the balor's body to shed bright light in a
6-square radius, and dim light for an additional 6 squares.

Hot-Handed
The balor's touch ignites flammable objects that aren't worn or carried
by another creature.

15
 List of Monsters
CAVE BEAR [TR 28] CARPET OF FLYING
Large Beast Brute. This hulking black bear pursues its prey single-mindedly Large Construct (Vehicle). This beautiful rug floats in midair and billows of
and attacks with unusual ferocity. its own accord, as if it were alive (see page 42 for more information).

HP 28, MV 8 HP 5, MV 12

Agility D4, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D10, Will D4 Agility D8, Strength D4

Basic Features (CR p. 28) Basic Features (CR p. 28)

Natural Weapons (fangs and claws). Flight.

Blood Frenzy Immunities

The cave bear has advantage on the Fighting test of any melee attack
made against a creature that is missing any of its hit points.
Keen Hearing and Smell
The cave bear has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on hearing or
smell.
Poison damage, psychic damage, adamant and mundane damage from
attacks made with blunt weapons, mundane damage from falling,
Blinded, Charmed, Dazed, Deafened, Exhausted, Frightened,
Incapacitated, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Possessed, Prone,
Stunned, Unconscious, deprivation, suffocation, effects that require an
Intellect test, effects that require a Will test.

Flammable
When the Carpet of Flying takes fire damage for the first time on a
turn, it suffers an additional D6 fire damage.

Object Nature
The Carpet of Flying is mindless. It can't rest, speak, manipulate
objects, or concentrate on spells, and it automatically fails Fighting,
Intellect, and Will tests. When reduced to 0 hit points, the Carpet of
Flying is destroyed.

Vehicle Traits
The Carpet of Flying is a magic vehicle. The carpet's tassels are its
control mechanism, and it relies on an operator to act, move, and
perceive. On its turn, the Carpet of Flying is limited to the following
action options: Dash, Dodge, Improvise. See page 32 of the Core Rules
for more information about vehicles.

16
 List of Monsters
RED DRAKE [TR 45]
Large Dragon Striker. Every part of this flying, horse-sized reptile is a
weapon, from its butting horns to its lashing tail. The drake is a cunning
predator and it attacks with calculated precision.
HP 45, MV 8
Agility D8, Fighting D8, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D8, Will D6
Possessions
Treasure hoard (about 500 gold).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (24 squares), Flight (see below), Natural Weapons
(fangs, horns, talons, and tail spade).
Spellcaster (Verbal Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Dragonbreath (Red) (CR p. 44) (6-square cube),
Produce Flame (CR p. 49).
Multiattack (Action)
The drake casts Produce Flame (Fireball) twice. It can move between
the castings. The drake can replace one of these castings with a spell of
its choice.
Flight
The drake can fly. When it has 22 hit points or fewer, its wings are
impaired. If the drake ends its turn in midair while so impaired, it falls
unless something else is holding it aloft.
Keen Sight and Smell
The drake has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on sight or smell.
True dragons are made, not born. A drake has a heart of magic, though
its potential hasn't yet been fully realized. Only when called to ascend
does the drake become a blooded dragon.
Ascension can happen at any stage of life, and many drakes die before
they get the chance. When its time has come, the dragon-to-be is
compelled to pluck out one of its own scales. The initiate's sacrifice is
rewarded with enhanced might and heightened mental faculties.
The greatest blooded dragons can be called to ascend a second time. To
prepare for its second ascension, the dragon hides away and slumbers
for several centuries while bathed in its element. What emerges is a
glittering, impervious calamity known as a high dragon.
The third and final ascension has occurred only a few times in recorded
history. During its third ascension, the dragon boils its blood. The result
is an exalted dragon, and it is no longer a mortal creature but a liminal
entity sustained by magic.
This book describes “red” dragons, but dragons come in every color of
the Dragonbreath spell (see page 44 of the Core Rules). When using
these stat blocks to describe a dragon of a different color, replace the
dragon's resistance or immunity to fire damage with the appropriate
damage type and adjust the dragon's spell list to fit the new theme.
BLOODED RED DRAGON [TR 80]
Huge Dragon Striker. This reptilian beast is somewhat similar to a drake,
but its armored hide, increased size, and humanlike intelligence combine
to make it even more deadly.
HP 70, SP 1, MV 10
Agility D6, Fighting D10, Intellect D8 (4), Strength D10, Will D8
Possessions
Treasure hoard (about 10,000 gold).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (24 squares), Flight (see below), Legendary Resilience,
Natural Weapons (fangs, horns, talons, and tail spade),
Reach (2 squares).
Resistances
Fire damage, mundane damage from attacks (but see below).
Spellcaster (Verbal Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Dragonbreath (Red) (CR p. 44) (7-square cube),
Produce Flame (CR p. 49).
Multiattack (Action)
The blooded dragon casts Produce Flame (Fireball) up to three times. It
can move between the castings. The dragon can replace one of these
castings with a spell of its choice.
Flight
The blooded dragon can fly. When it has 35 hit points or fewer, its
wings are impaired. If the dragon ends its turn in midair while so
impaired, it falls unless something else is holding it aloft.
Keen Sight and Smell
The blooded dragon has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on sight
or smell.
Weak Point
The blooded dragon is missing a scale somewhere on its body. A melee
or ranged attack aimed at this exposed point bypasses the dragon's
resistance against mundane damage from attacks.
To aim at the blooded dragon's weak point, the attacker must know
the weak point's location, the attacker must be able to see the dragon,
and the attacker must not have disadvantage on the Fighting test.
A creature that can see the blooded dragon and is within 12 squares of
it can locate its weak point by succeeding on a Hard (4+) Intellect test.
Doing so in combat time usually requires the Search action.
GM Tip: The dragon stat blocks presented here are relatively basic. Feel
free to spice things up with additional spells and other special features.
Encountering an enhanced monster with an unexpected suite of
abilities is one of the great thrills of dragonslaying.
17
 List of Monsters
HIGH RED DRAGON [TR 128]
Gargantuan Dragon Striker. Before you soars a fully-realized dragon, grand
and terrible. The high dragon is a brilliant manipulator, constantly plotting
to acquire wealth and influence.
HP 124, SP 2, MV 12
Agility D6, Fighting D12, Intellect D10 (5), Strength D12, Will D10
Possessions
Treasure hoard (about 200,000 gold).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (24 squares), Flight (see below), Legendary Resilience,
Natural Weapons (fangs, horns, talons, and tail spade),*
Reach (2 squares).
*Attacks with its natural weapons deal adamant damage instead of
mundane damage.
Immunities
Fire damage, mundane damage from attacks (but see below).
Spellcaster (Verbal Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Dragonbreath (Red) (CR p. 44) (8-square cube),
Produce Flame (CR p. 49).
Multiattack (Action)
The high dragon casts Produce Flame (Fireball) up to four times. It can
move between the castings. The dragon can replace one of these
castings with a spell of its choice.
Flight
The high dragon can fly. When it has 62 hit points or fewer, its wings
are impaired. If the dragon ends its turn in midair while so impaired, it
falls unless something else is holding it aloft.
Keen Sight and Smell
The high dragon has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on sight or
smell.
Weak Point
The high dragon is missing a scale somewhere on its body. A melee or
ranged attack aimed at this exposed point bypasses the dragon's
immunity to mundane damage from attacks.
To aim at the high dragon's weak point, the attacker must know the
weak point's location, the attacker must be able to see the dragon, and
the attacker must not have disadvantage on the Fighting test.
A creature that can see the high dragon and is within 12 squares of it
can locate its weak point by succeeding on a Very Hard (5+) Intellect
test. Doing so in combat time usually requires the Search action.
18
EXALTED RED DRAGON [TR 200]
Gargantuan (but see below) Dragon Striker. This titanic monster is one of
the most powerful beings in existence, and its breath can wipe out legions.
HP 180, SP 4, MV 16
Agility D4, Fighting D12, Intellect D12 (6), Strength D20, Will D12
Possessions
Treasure hoard (about 4,000,000 gold).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (24 squares), Flight (see below), Legendary Resilience,
Natural Weapons (fangs, horns, talons, and tail spade),*
Reach (3 squares).
*Attacks with its natural weapons deal adamant damage instead of
mundane damage.
Immunities
Fire damage, poison damage, psychic damage, mundane damage from
attacks (but see below), Poisoned, deprivation, suffocation, spells that
require an Intellect test, spells that require a Will test.
Spellcaster (Verbal Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Dragonbreath (Red) (CR p. 44) (10-square cube),
Produce Flame (CR p. 49).
Multiattack (Action)
The exalted dragon casts Produce Flame (Fireball) up to seven times. It
can move between the castings. The dragon can replace one of these
castings with a spell of its choice.
Colossal Body
The exalted dragon occupies a 6-square cube.
Flight
The exalted dragon can fly. When it has 90 hit points or fewer, its wings
are impaired. If the dragon ends its turn in midair while so impaired, it
falls unless something else is holding it aloft.
Keen Sight and Smell
The exalted dragon has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on sight or
smell.
Weak Point
The exalted dragon is missing a scale somewhere on its body. A melee
or ranged attack aimed at this exposed point bypasses the dragon's
immunity to mundane damage from attacks.
To aim at the exalted dragon's weak point, the attacker must know the
weak point's location, the attacker must be able to see the dragon, and
the attacker must not have disadvantage on the Fighting test.
A creature that can see the exalted dragon and is within 12 squares of it
can locate its weak point by succeeding on a Very Hard (7+) Intellect
test. Doing so in combat time usually requires the Search action.
 List of Monsters
GARGOYLE [TR 28]
Medium or Small Elemental (Earth) Striker. This living statue moves
infrequently and prefers to attack from a safe distance. Gargoyles are
typically encountered in solemn pairs.
HP 19, MV 4
Agility D6, Fighting D8, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D8, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Flight (see below), Natural Weapons
(fangs, horns, and talons).
Resistances
Acid damage, cold damage, fire damage, lightning damage, mundane
damage from any source other than an attack with a crushing weapon
or pick.* The gargoyle's threat rating assumes that half of its foes are
using such weaponry.
*Club, flail, greatclub, mace, maul, morningstar, warhammer, or war pick.
Immunities
Poison damage, Petrified, Poisoned, deprivation, suffocation.
Gaze Attack (Action)
The gargoyle emits eye-rays to make a magic blast attack against a
creature or an object within 12 squares. The gargoyle has advantage on
the Fighting test. If the gargoyle succeeds, the target takes prime
damage equal to the gargoyle's result.
Clumsy Flight
The gargoyle can fly, but only in short bursts. If the gargoyle ends its
turn in midair, it falls unless something else is holding it aloft.
False Appearance
While the gargoyle remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an
ordinary statue.
True Sight
The gargoyle can see 12 squares into the Ethereal Plane when it is on
the Material Plane. In addition, within this range, the gargoyle can see
Invisible creatures and objects, automatically detect visual illusions and
succeed on Intellect tests against them, and see the true form of any
visible object or creature that has been disguised by magic.
GHOST [TR 20]
Medium or Small Undead Maverick. This pale, translucent humanoid figure
is accompanied by an unnatural chill. It seeks to finish its business.
HP 7, MV 8
Agility D8, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D4, Will D8
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Flight, Natural Weapons (fingers).*
*Attacks with its natural weapons deal necrotic damage instead of
mundane damage.
Resistances
Acid damage, adamant damage, fire damage, lightning damage,
thunder damage, mundane damage from any source other than an
attack made with a silver weapon or silver piece of ammunition.
Immunities
Cold damage, necrotic damage, poison damage, Charmed, Frightened,
Grabbed, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Possessed, Prone, Restrained,
deprivation, suffocation.
Plane Shift (Action)
The ghost enters the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, or vice
versa (to an outside observer, the ghost appears to simply disappear).
Possess (Action) (Ethereal Plane Only)
The ghost invades the mind of a Beast or Humanoid it can see within
the Material Plane. The target automatically perceives the invasion, and
the target must succeed on a Hard (4+) Will test or be Possessed by the
ghost. The condition lasts until the target drops to 0 hit points, the
ghost leaves the Ethereal Plane, the target enters the Ethereal Plane, or
the ghost ends the effect for free on its turn (no action required).
Once it has used Possess, the ghost must finish a long rest before it can
use the feature again. The ghost can invade only one mind at a time.
Ethereal Sight
The ghost can see 12 squares into the Ethereal Plane when it is on the
Material Plane, and vice versa. This sense thwarts the Veil spell.
Incorporeal
The ghost can move through other creatures, objects, and structures as
if they were difficult terrain. In addition, no creature can move the
ghost using nonmagical means, no creature can prevent the ghost from
moving through its space, and the ghost can willingly end its move in
the space of another creature. The ghost takes D4 prime damage when
it ends its turn inside an object or structure.
Scary
The ghost emanates an aura of dread which extends to a radius of 6
squares. When a creature other than a Construct or Undead starts its
turn in the aura, it must succeed on a Hard (4+) Will test or become
Frightened of the ghost until the start of its next turn. A creature that
succeeds against the ghost's Scary is immune to it for 24 hours.
19
 List of Monsters
CINDER GHOUL [TR 16] DRIPPING GHOUL [TR 16]
Medium or Small Undead (Ghoul) Striker. This brittle, flaming skeleton Medium or Small Undead (Ghoul) Defender. This corpse-eating corpse is
strafes the arena and launches blazing orbs at you from a distance. slick and red with blood. It hobbles toward you too quickly.

HP 16, MV 6 HP 16, MV 8

Agility D8, Fighting D6, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D6, Will D4 Agility D8, Fighting D6, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D6, Will D4

Basic Features (CR p. 28) Basic Features (CR p. 28)

Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (fangs and claws). Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (fangs and claws).

Vulnerabilities Immunities
Adamant and mundane damage from attacks made with crushing Poison damage, Charmed, Poisoned, deprivation, suffocation.
weapons.* The cinder ghoul's threat rating assumes that half of its foes
are using such weaponry. Harrier
When the dripping ghoul is adjacent to a hostile creature it can see,
*Clubs, flails, greatclubs, maces, mauls, morningstars, and warhammers. and the ghoul isn't Incapacitated, the creature has disadvantage on
Fighting tests against any target that doesn't have this feature
Immunities (unless, for some reason, the ghoul chooses not to interfere).
Fire damage, poison damage, Charmed, Poisoned, deprivation,
suffocation. Slippery
The dripping ghoul has advantage on all Agility and Strength tests
Spellcaster (Somatic Power Source) (CR p. 18) against being Grabbed or Restrained.
Produce Flame (CR p. 49).

Blazing Bones
The cinder ghoul's body sheds bright light in a 6-square radius, and dim
light for an additional 6 squares. When a creature touches the cinder
ghoul for the first time on a turn or starts its turn touching the ghoul,
that creature takes D4 fire damage.

An adjacent creature touches the cinder ghoul when it succeeds on a

melee attack against the ghoul. A combat maneuver necessarily
involves touch, unless it has been avoided via Agility.

Hot-Handed
The cinder ghoul's touch ignites flammable objects that aren't worn or
carried by another creature.

20
 List of Monsters
FETID GHOUL [TR 16]
Medium Undead (Ghoul) Controller. This bloated, waddling, gurgling corpse
reeks of death. It hastily rushes its foes, eager to die again.
HP 10, MV 6
Agility D4, Fighting D6, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D6, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (fangs and claws).
Vulnerabilities
Adamant and mundane damage from attacks made with stabbing
weapons.* The fetid ghoul's threat rating assumes that half of its foes
are using such weaponry.
*Greatspears, greatswords, lances, pikes, spears, swords, and tridents.
Immunities
Poison damage, Charmed, Poisoned, deprivation, suffocation.
Rotting Stench
The fetid ghoul emanates a hideous odor which extends to a radius of 6
squares. When a creature starts its turn in the area, it must succeed on
a Hard (4+) Strength test or become Poisoned until the start of its next
turn. A creature that succeeds against the ghoul's Rotting Stench is
immune to it for 24 hours.
Sickening Pop
When reduced to 0 hit points, the fetid ghoul is destroyed and its
corpse immediately detonates, making a blast attack against every
creature and unattended object within 2 squares (with a separate
Fighting test for each target). The corpse has a Fair (D4) Fighting die.
On each of the Fighting tests, the corpse has advantage, and vision is
irrelevant. Each target the corpse succeeds against takes poison
damage equal to its result.
The fetid ghoul is destroyed when it detonates, but its Rotting Stench
persists in place for D4 minutes, or until a wind of moderate or greater
speed disperses the odor.
GHAST [TR 28]
Medium Undead (Ghoul) Controller. This horrific, gibbering monster has a
hanging, helicoprion jaw and inky pits where its eyes should be.
HP 20, MV 6
Agility D10, Fighting D8, Intellect D8 (4), Strength D8, Will D8
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (fangs and claws).
Resistances
Necrotic damage, psychic damage.
Immunities
Poison damage, Charmed, Poisoned, deprivation, suffocation.
Ghastly Visage (Action)
The ghast leers at a creature – other than a Construct or Undead –
within 12 squares, provided that the ghast and the creature can see
each other and the ghast isn't in sunlight. The target must succeed on
a Hard (4+) Will test or become Frightened of the ghast for 1 minute, or
until the ghast dies or becomes Incapacitated. If the target fails with a
result of 1, it is also Stunned and drops whatever it is holding until the
Frightened condition ends.
The Frightened target repeats the test at the end of each of its turns.
On a success, the effect ends. A creature that succeeds against the
ghast's Ghastly Visage is immune to it for 24 hours.
To avoid being targeted by Ghastly Visage, a creature can choose to
avert its eyes at the start of its turn. Such a creature is effectively
Blinded until the start of its next turn.
21
 List of Monsters
FROST GIANT [TR 65]
Huge Giant Striker. This mammoth-sized humanoid shakes the earth when
it walks. It fights for glory, and it follows a code of conduct, but that code
is conspicuously silent on the topic of eating humans and halflings.
HP 70, SP 2, MV 8
Agility D4, Fighting D12, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D12, Will D6
Possessions
Oversized greataxe, leg of giant lamb, 30 gold.
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Legendary Resilience, Reach (3 squares).
Immunities
Cold damage.
Multiattack (Action)
The frost giant makes two attacks, each of which can be a melee or
ranged attack. It can move between the attacks. The giant can replace
one of these attacks with Frigid Breath or Stomp (see below).
Bones of the Earth (Action or Minor Interaction)
The giant uses a free hand to reach into loose earth or the ground and
retrieve a boulder. The boulder counts as an oversized basic weapon.
Frigid Breath (Action)
The frost giant fills an adjacent 5-square cube with a puff of wintry air.
The giant makes a blast attack against every creature and unattended
object in the area, with a separate Fighting test for each target. On
each of the Fighting tests, the giant has disadvantage, and vision is
irrelevant. Each target the giant succeeds against takes cold damage
equal to the giant's result.
Stomp (Action)
The frost giant stomps the ground, provided that it is standing there.
Each Large or smaller creature standing on the ground within 12
squares of the giant must succeed on a Hard (4+) Agility test or fall
Prone. An Incapacitated creature fails automatically.
Other varieties of giant exist, including fire giants, hill giants, mountain
giants, cloud giants, and storm giants; each with comparable thematic
features. Pictured on the cover of this book is a hill giant.
22
GOBLIN SCUM [TR 4]
Medium or Small Fiend (Goblin) Minion. This cackling menace seeks to
cause pain and suffering wherever it goes. A goblin can imagine neither
duty nor mercy, and, though it may flee, it never surrenders.
HP 1, MV 6
Agility D4, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D4, Will D4
Possessions
Mace, dagger, bow, mail armor, quiver (arrows), 1 gold.
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares).
Bad Aim
The goblin scum has disadvantage on all Fighting tests.
Sunlight Sensitivity
While in sunlight, the goblin scum has disadvantage on all tests.
A goblin is not a natural creature, but a Humanoid prisoner who has
been irreversibly transformed by a dark ritual. The gruesome process
warps the victim's body and strips away its soul, leaving behind a
monster devoid of empathy and compassion. The fresh goblin erupts
from its spawning pit slimy, starving, and programmed to hate.
Goblins are fanatically devoted to evil for its own sake. Every decision a
goblin makes is a calculated assessment: “what course of action would
make the world worse?” To that end, goblins take care to create as
much waste and pollution as they can. They gleefully set fire to forests
and steal candy from babies. Left to their own devices, a legion of
callow goblins will engage in disorganized mischief. Under the yoke of
a dark lord, goblins become bloodthirsty conquerors, oppressive
colonizers, and corrupt bureaucrats.
Goblins have catlike eyes, anglerfish teeth, porcine noses, and oily,
translucent skin. They are covered in self-inflicted burns, bruises, and
scars, and black ichor weeps from their jaws. Goblins take little care of
their things, but their armor, weapons, and tools are functional
(even advanced) by the standards of the common folk.
Goblins are truly evil, in a way that no human society ever was or could
be. Unfortunately, humans from Earth say the worst things about other
humans from Earth, and saying those same things about goblins can
reinforce harmful stereotypes in the minds of your players. Developing
your sensitivities is a lifelong process, but you can start by avoiding
loaded words like “barbaric,” “savage,” and “exotic.” When you portray
goblins, focus on their inhuman qualities, showcase their animosity
toward nature, and play up their unrepentant, self-aware villainy.
Dragonslayers RPG aspires to model your fantasy world rather than
impose its own. In many worlds, goblins are simply people, in which
case you should dispense with the grim lore offered above.
 List of Monsters
GOBLIN LEGIONNAIRE [TR 5] BUGBEAR BERSERKER [TR 20]
Medium Fiend (Goblin) Minion. This goblin stands taller than most human Medium Fiend (Goblin) Brute. This strapped freak of a goblin wears only a
beings. Goblin legionnaires are sometimes called “hobgoblins,” and they are loincloth and a helm (at best), and its patchy fur is matted with drool. It
more durable than goblin scum. swings its great weapon wildly, consumed by a mindless rage.

HP 4, MV 6 HP 20, MV 8

Agility D4, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D6, Will D4 Agility D6, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D8, Will D6

Possessions Possessions
Sword, shield, plate armor, crossbow, bolt case, 1 gold. Greataxe, 2 gold.

Basic Features (CR p. 28) Basic Features (CR p. 28)

Darkvision (12 squares). Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (nails and fangs).

Bad Aim Berserk

The goblin legionnaire has disadvantage on all Fighting tests.
Sunlight Sensitivity
While in sunlight, the goblin legionnaire has disadvantage on all tests.
When the bugbear berserker starts its turn with its current hit points
equal to or less than 10, the GM rolls a D6. On a 6, the berserker goes
berserk. On each of its turns while berserk, the berserker attacks the
nearest creature it can see. If no visible creature is near enough to
move to and attack, the berserker will instead attack an object
(with preference for an object smaller than itself).

Once the bugbear berserker goes berserk, it continues to do so until it

drops to 0 hit points or regains all its hit points.

Sunlight Sensitivity
While in sunlight, the bugbear berserker has disadvantage on all tests.

A “bugbear” is a big, hairy goblin with natural weapons, produced

when bear blood is skillfully incorporated into the goblinizing ritual.

23
 List of Monsters
GOBLIN CAPTAIN [TR 32]*
Medium Fiend (Goblin) Leader. The goblin captain is a formidable foe and
an equal to any human commander with regard to wits, but the captain's
true power is its near-supernatural ability to inspire the goblins around it
to even greater bloodshed.
HP 28, MV 6
Agility D6, Fighting D8, Intellect D8 (4), Strength D6, Will D8
Possessions
Sword, shield, plate armor, bow, quiver (arrows), 30 gold.
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares).
Battlecry (Action)
The goblin captain shouts to inspire every other goblin within 6
squares. Each target that can understand the captain has advantage on
the next Fighting test it makes before the end of its next turn.
Before the turn ends, the goblin captain can take another action. This
action can be used only to Attack, Dash, Dodge, Help, Hide, or Search.
Command (Action)
The goblin captain gestures or speaks to direct another creature within
12 squares. If the target understands the captain, the target can
immediately use its reaction to take one of the following actions of the
captain's choice: Attack, Dash, Dodge, Help, Hide, Search.
Sunlight Sensitivity
While in sunlight, the goblin captain has disadvantage on all tests.
*The goblin captain's threat rating assumes that it has at least four goblins
to lead. A goblin captain by itself has a threat rating of 24.
24
GRIFFIN [TR 24]
Large Monstrosity Brute. This chimeric beast has body of a lion and the
head and wings of a giant eagle. The griffin is a territorial predator with a
taste for horse and no love for basilisks.
HP 24, MV 12
Agility D8, Fighting D10, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D8, Will D6
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Flight (see below), Natural Weapons (beak and talons).
Resistances
Advantage on tests against being Frightened or Petrified.
Screech (Action)
The griffin releases an ear-splitting cry, directed at an adjacent 4-square
cube. Each creature in the area that can hear the griffin makes a Hard
(4+) Strength test. A creature succeeds automatically if it is immune to
thunder damage or if it can't be Dazed. Each creature that fails is
Deafened and Incapacitated until the end of the griffin's next turn.
Flight
The griffin can fly. When it has 12 hit points or fewer, its wings are
impaired. If the griffin ends its turn in midair while so impaired, it falls
unless something else is holding it aloft.
Keen Sight
The griffin has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on sight.
 List of Monsters
HORSE [TR 8]
Large Beast Brute. This fast, loyal, and graceful beast makes a fine mount.
HP 10, MV 12
Agility D6, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D8, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (hooves).
Bad Aim
The horse has disadvantage on all Fighting tests.
Keen Smell
The horse has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on smell.
The chief purpose of a creature's stat block is to provide the GM with
the information necessary to model the creature using the rules of the
game. In an effort to be succinct, a stat block avoids excessive and
unnecessary details. Dragonslayers RPG isn't written to the rigor of
computer code, and we trust the GM to apply common sense where
the rules of the game are silent.
A horse can't juggle, stand on its head, shoot a missile weapon, or
balance on a tightrope... and you don't need us to tell you that.
HUSK [TR 5]
Medium or Small Undead (Husk) Minion. The quintessential walking dead,
husks are shambling, dim-witted zombies and skeletons. They seek to feast
on the hearts of the living, or to fulfill the mission of their dark masters.
HP 4, MV 4
Agility D4, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D6, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (limbs).
Immunities
Poison damage, Poisoned, deprivation, suffocation.
Braindead
The husk has disadvantage on all Fighting and Intellect tests.
False Appearance
While the husk remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a
normal corpse.
Variant Husks (Optional)
The stat block above describes a standard husk, of the sort that one can
create with the Draw Life (Conscript) spell (CR p. 44). The following
variant husks are more unusual:
– Armed husks are clever enough to use manufactured weapons. An
armed husk is typically equipped with a sword, a dagger, a bow,
and a quiver of arrows.
– Decrepit husks have vulnerability against adamant and mundane
damage from attacks made with crushing weapons (clubs, flails,
greatclubs, maces, mauls, morningstars, and warhammers). A
decrepit husk is TR 4 (assuming its foes are using such weaponry).
– Fungal husks have durable mushroom armor. When a fungal husk
takes mundane damage from an attack, the husk can reduce that
damage by 1 if it isn't Incapacitated. In addition, fungal husks have
neither darkvision nor ordinary sight, and instead rely on Blindsight
(echoes) (12 squares). Fungal husks are TR 6.
– Icy husks have immunity to cold damage and resistance against fire
damage.
– Mummified husks have resistance against necrotic damage. When a
mummified husk takes fire damage for the first time on a turn, it
suffers an additional D6 fire damage.
– Sodden husks have resistance against fire damage. In addition,
swimming doesn't cost extra movement for a sodden husk.
25
 List of Monsters
HUSK KING [TR 70]
Huge Undead (Husk) Defender. This imaginative nightmare is a bulbous
wad of at least two dozen husks, glued together via black magic. The husk
king serves as an efficient machine of war for its evil creator.
HP 48, MV 6
Agility D4, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D10, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (limbs), Reach (2 squares).
Vulnerabilities
Adamant and mundane damage from attacks made with hacking
weapons.* The husk king's threat rating assumes that half of its foes
are using such weaponry.
*Axes, greataxes, greatswords, polearms, scythes, sickles, and swords.
Resistances
Advantage on tests against being Blinded, Charmed, Dazed, Deafened,
Frightened, Possessed, Stunned, or Unconscious.
Immunities
Poison damage, Poisoned, deprivation, suffocation.
Multiattack (Action)
The husk king makes two melee attacks. It can move between the
attacks. The husk king can replace one of these attacks with
Absorb Flesh (see below).
Absorb Flesh (Action)
The husk king touches a creature – other than a Construct or Undead –
that has 0 hit points. The creature instantly dies, its corpse joins the
husk king, and the husk king regains 10 lost hit points. The husk king
can't regain lost hit points except through the use of this feature.
Corpse Collapse
The husk king is a bolus of intertwined corpses. When the husk king is
reduced to 24 hit points or fewer, and again when it is reduced to 0 hit
points, 2D4 husks (see page 25) appear in unoccupied spaces adjacent
to the husk king. If the husk king has 0 hit points when this happens,
its body is destroyed.
26
IMP [TR 4]
Tiny Aberration, Celestial, Construct, Dragon, Elemental, Fey, or Fiend
Minion (see below). This diminutive, otherworldly scamp is usually found in
the service of a spellcaster.
HP 1, MV 6
Agility D4, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D4, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Flight, Natural Weapons.*
*Some imps technically have claws, fangs, hooves, horns, talons, and so on
(this is a distinction without a difference).
Feeble
The imp has disadvantage on all Fighting tests and Strength tests. The
imp can bite, pinch, poke, or scratch to make a melee attack, but it is
too puny to attack with conventional weapons.
Types of Imp
An imp's creature type (see page 28 of the Core Rules) determines its
appearance and fundamental nature:
– Aberration: A fleshy ball with D6 muscular eyestalks. This imp propels
itself via jets of mildly smelly gas.
– Celestial: A winged beast with white, gold, or rainbow-colored
feathers. This imp sports a faint halo.
– Construct: A swollen, leaky homonculus with misshapen limbs and a
mix of organic and inorganic features.
– Dragon: A hissing drake the size of a housecat, with gleaming scales
and pinioned wings.
– Elemental: A grotesque, grinning gremlin with diaphanous wings of
ash, vapor, sand, or dust.
– Fey: An elfin sprite with faintly shimmering wings; typically those of a
butterfly or dragonfly.
– Fiend: A red, yellow, green, black, or gray devil with batlike wings and
a mildly sulfurous body odor.
 List of Monsters
LICH [TR 140] LION [TR 20]
Medium or Small Undead Controller. The mightiest of all undead has never Large Beast Brute. This big cat stalks its prey from afar before lunging forth
technically died. A lich is a powerful spellcaster who has unnaturally in a blur of fangs and fur.
extended their life through a fiendish mummification ritual. The lich
desires omniscience, and hubris is its downfall. HP 20, MV 10

HP 72, SP 4, MV 6 Agility D8, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D8, Will D4

Agility D8, Fighting D12, Intellect D12 (6), Strength D6, Will D8 Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (fangs and claws).
Possessions
Starglass spear (M&T p. 40), dagger, fine robes, 20,000 gold. Keen Senses
The lion has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on hearing, sight, or
Basic Features (CR p. 28) smell.
Darkvision (24 squares), Legendary Resilience.

Resistances
Acid damage, adamant damage, cold damage, fire damage, lightning
damage, thunder damage, mundane damage from any source other
than an attack made with a silver weapon or silver piece of
ammunition.

Immunities
Necrotic damage, poison damage, Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed,
Poisoned, Possessed, deprivation, suffocation.

Spellcaster (Verbal Power Source) (CR p. 18)

Arcana (CR p. 41),
Create Frost (CR p. 43),
Death Ray (CR p. 43),
Dragonbreath (Gray) (CR p. 44),
Draw Life (CR p. 44),
Swarm of Flies (CR p. 51),
Telepathy (CR p. 51),
Weave Shadows (CR p. 52).

Multiattack (Action)
The lich casts Create Frost (Ice Ray) up to four times. It can move
between the castings. The lich can replace one of these castings with
a spell of its choice.*

*Other than Arcana (Behold, Ward) or Weave Shadows (Shadow Step).

Rejuvenation
When the lich dies, its body is destroyed. The lich gains a new body in
D10 days; returning to life fully rested and restored. The new body
appears within 1 square of the lich's reliquary (an elaborate box or
other precious object that houses the lich's soul). If its reliquary is
destroyed, the lich can't rejuvenate.

27
 List of Monsters
MIMIC [TR 24]
Medium or Small Ooze Grappler. This undulating mass of gooey flesh can
effortlessly assume the shape of any object it has seen. When an unwary
victim steps too close, the mimic strikes!
HP 24, MV 3
Agility D6, Fighting D6, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D6, Will D4
Possessions
Mimic mucus (as 1 vial of basic poison, but acid damage instead).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (fangs).
Immunities
Acid damage, Prone.
Amorphous
The mimic can squeeze through an opening as narrow as 1 inch, the
mimic can willingly end its move in the space of another creature, and
no creature can prevent the mimic from moving through its space. In
addition, the mimic can use its action to escape automatically from
nonmagical restraints or from being Grabbed.
Caustic Sticky Doom
A creature that takes damage from an attack made with the mimic's
fangs suffers an additional D4 acid damage. In addition, if the creature
is no more than one size larger than the mimic, it is automatically
Grabbed by the mimic. Agility and Strength tests made to escape this
grab have disadvantage.
False Appearance
While the mimic remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an
ordinary object.
28
SEA SERPENT [TR 90]
Gargantuan Dragon Grappler. With an erupting wave, this glittering snake
rises from the ocean. The monster's flexible tail coils around unfortunate
souls and deposits them into its gullet.
HP 95, SP 1, MV 12
Agility D8, Fighting D12, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D12, Will D6
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (24 squares), Legendary Resilience, Natural Weapons
(fangs and tail), Reach (2 squares).
Resistances
Cold damage.
Multiattack (Action)
The sea serpent makes up to three attacks, each of which can be a
melee attack or grab maneuver. It can move between the attacks. The
serpent can replace one of these attacks with Swallow (see below).
Swallow (Action)
The sea serpent makes a special melee attack with its fangs against a
Large or smaller creature it has Grabbed. If the sea serpent succeeds,
the target suffers the attack's usual effects, and the target is swallowed
by the serpent (ending the grab and overriding the No Sharing Spaces
rule on page 21 of the Core Rules).
While swallowed, the target is Blinded and Restrained, it has total
cover against attacks and other effects outside the serpent's stomach,
and it takes D8 acid damage at the start of each of its turns. When the
sea serpent moves, the target is carried along with it.
If the serpent takes 5 or more damage on a single turn from a creature
inside it, the serpent regurgitates all swallowed creatures at the end of
that turn, which fall Prone in a space within 2 squares of the serpent.
If the sea serpent dies, a swallowed creature is no longer Restrained by
it and can escape from the serpent's corpse by using 6 squares of
movement, exiting Prone.
Amphibious
The sea serpent can breathe both air and water, and swimming doesn't
cost extra movement for it. However, each square of nonswimming
movement costs the sea serpent 1 extra square.
Constrictor
The sea serpent has advantage on any Strength test it makes to grab,
choke, pin, or prevent a Grabbed creature from ending the condition.
 List of Monsters
SNEGLE [TR 32]
Large Aberration Striker. You are what you eat, and this enormous snail
eats magic. The snegle hunts spellcasters and forages for magic items with
patience and persistence. In battle, it casts spells with its eyestalks.
HP 28, SP 2, MV 2
Agility D4, Fighting D6, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D6, Will D4
Possessions
Snegle slime (worth 50 gold), snegle shell (worth 200 gold).
Resistances
Psychic damage. Advantage on all Intellect and Will tests against spells.
Spellcaster (Somatic Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Conduct Lightning (CR p. 43),
Death Ray (CR p. 43),
Discus (CR p. 44),
Heat Vision (CR p. 46),
Magic Missile (CR p. 47).
Shell Up (Action)
The snegle withdraws into its shell (rubbing off any salt on its body).
Until it falls Prone or chooses to emerge for free on its turn, the snegle
can take no actions or reactions, it is immune to mundane damage
from attacks, and it isn't affected by Salt Weakness (see below).
Salt Weakness
For every pound of salt sprinkled on the snegle, it takes 4D6 acid
damage. The snegle also takes this damage when it touches a pound or
more of salt for the first time on a turn or starts its turn touching it.
SPIDER [TR 5]
Tiny Beast (Spider) Minion. This arthropod is about the size of a human
hand. It attacks larger creatures only when threatened or surprised.
HP 1, MV 4
Agility D8, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D4, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (fangs).
Feeble
The spider has disadvantage on all Fighting tests and Strength tests.
Spider Climb
Climbing doesn't cost extra movement for the spider. In addition, the
spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings,
without needing to make a Strength test.
Spider Venom
A creature that takes damage from an attack made with the spider's
fangs suffers an additional D4 poison damage.
Webspinner
The spider can spin threads of spider silk at a rate of 20 feet (6 meters)
per round while it isn't Incapacitated. With 10 minutes of work, the
spider can weave multiple threads together to create a Tiny web
suitable for capturing insects and other very small prey.

Slime Climb
Climbing doesn't cost extra movement for the snegle. In addition, the
snegle can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings,
without needing to make a Strength test.

Snegle Slime
The snegle's movement on land or when climbing leaves behind a trail
of sticky, slippery mucus 2 squares wide. The mucus counts as difficult
terrain for nongastropods, and it lasts until it dries (about 1 hour).

When a nongastropod steps onto the mucus for the first time on a turn
or starts its turn standing there, it must succeed on a Hard (4+) Agility
test or fall Prone. An Incapacitated creature fails automatically.

When a Large or smaller nongastropod falls Prone on the mucus for the
first time on a turn or starts its turn Prone there, it is Restrained until
it is freed.

A creature can use its action to make a Hard (4+) Strength test, freeing
itself or another creature within its reach on a success.

29
 List of Monsters
MONSTROUS SPIDER [TR 16]
Medium or Small Monstrosity (Spider) Brute. This filthy monster is no
natural beast. Eight legs propel the spider toward its hapless prey.
HP 13, MV 6
Agility D8, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D4, Will D4
Possessions
Venom glands (as 1 vial of the spider's poison).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (fangs).
Monstrous Spider Venom
A creature that takes damage from an attack made with the monstrous
spider's fangs suffers an additional D4 poison damage.
Spider Climb
Climbing doesn't cost extra movement for the monstrous spider. In
addition, the spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down
on ceilings, without needing to make a Strength test.
Webspinner
The monstrous spider can spin threads of monstrous spider silk at a
rate of 30 feet (9 meters) per round while it isn't Incapacitated. Each
thread is strong enough to support up to 200 stone. With 20 minutes of
work, the spider can weave multiple threads together to create a
Gargantuan web (anchored between at least two solid masses).
The web's area is lightly obscured, and it counts as difficult terrain for
nonspiders. When a Huge or smaller nonspider enters the web for the
first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must succeed on a Hard
(4+) Agility test or be Restrained until it is freed. An Incapacitated
creature fails automatically.
A creature can use its action to make a Very Hard (5+) Strength test,
freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success.
Destroying the web also frees the creature. The web has 20 hit points
and immunity to poison and psychic damage. In addition, the web has
immunity to adamant and mundane damage from attacks made with
blunt weapons (clubs, fists, warhammers, and so on). When the web
takes fire damage for the first time on a turn, the web and any creature
in the web's area suffers an additional D6 fire damage.
Any spider in contact with the web can pinpoint the location of any
other creature in contact with the same or a contiguous web.
30
LARGE MONSTROUS SPIDER [TR 28]
Large Monstrosity (Spider) Brute/Controller. This stupendous spider drags
its bloated abdomen along the ground. It threatens the heroes with
paralysis and a slow, agonizing death.
HP 23, MV 8
Agility D8, Fighting D6, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D8, Will D4
Possessions
Venom glands (as 1 vial of the spider's poison).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (fangs).
Large Monstrous Spider Venom
A creature that takes damage from an attack made with the large
monstrous spider's fangs suffers an additional D4 poison damage, and
it must succeed on an Easy (2+) Strength test or become Poisoned for 1
hour. At the end of its next turn, the Poisoned target must succeed on
another Easy (2+) Strength test or become Paralyzed until the Poisoned
condition ends.
Spider Climb
Climbing doesn't cost extra movement for the large monstrous spider.
In addition, the spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside
down on ceilings, without needing to make a Strength test.
Webspinner
The large monstrous spider can spin threads of monstrous spider silk at
a rate of 40 feet (12 meters) per round while it isn't Incapacitated. Each
thread is strong enough to support up to 200 stone. With 15 minutes of
work, the spider can weave multiple threads together to create a
Gargantuan web (anchored between at least two solid masses).
The web's area is lightly obscured, and it counts as difficult terrain for
nonspiders. When a Huge or smaller nonspider enters the web for the
first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must succeed on a Hard
(4+) Agility test or be Restrained until it is freed. An Incapacitated
creature fails automatically.
A creature can use its action to make a Very Hard (5+) Strength test,
freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success.
Destroying the web also frees the creature. The web has 20 hit points
and immunity to poison and psychic damage. In addition, the web has
immunity to adamant and mundane damage from attacks made with
blunt weapons (clubs, fists, warhammers, and so on). When the web
takes fire damage for the first time on a turn, the web and any creature
in the web's area suffers an additional D6 fire damage.
Any spider in contact with the web can pinpoint the location of any
other creature in contact with the same or a contiguous web.
 List of Monsters
SWARM OF RATS [TR 16]
Medium Beast (Swarm) Defender. The sound of skittering, scratching claws
alerts you to this writhing mass of vermin. The swarm attacks only when
cornered, or when compelled to do so by magic.
HP 8, MV 6
Agility D4, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D4, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (fangs).
Resistances
Adamant damage, mundane damage. Advantage on tests against being
Blinded, Charmed, Dazed, Deafened, Frightened, Possessed, Stunned, or
Unconscious.
Immunities
Grabbed, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Restrained.
Keen Senses
The swarm of rats has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on hearing,
sight, or smell.
Reactive
The swarm of rats can take one reaction on every turn in combat.
Strength in Numbers
The swarm of rats has advantage on all Fighting and Strength tests,
provided that it has at least 5 hit points.
Swarm
The swarm of rats can squeeze through an opening as narrow as 1 inch.
In addition, no creature can move the swarm using nonmagical means,
no creature can prevent the swarm from moving through its space, and
the swarm can willingly end its move in the space of another creature.
However, the swarm of rats can't regain lost hit points and can't reach
outside of its space.
TREANT [TR 56]
Huge Plant Striker. This animated tree takes slow, long steps. It has skin of
bark, eyes of sap, spindly limbs, and a mane of leaves. The treant concerns
itself with the balance of nature, and it defends the forest against any who
would seek to disrupt that balance.
HP 40, SP 2, MV 6
Agility D4, Fighting D10, Intellect D8 (4), Strength D10, Will D6
Possessions
Firewood (harvesting the treant's corpse yields ½ cord).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (limbs), Reach (3 squares).
Resistances
Mundane damage from any source other than an attack with a hacking
weapon.* The treant's threat rating assumes that half of its foes are
using such weaponry.
*Axe, greataxe, greatsword, polearm, scythe, sickle, or sword.
Spellcaster (Verbal Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Druidcraft (CR p. 45).
Multiattack (Action)
The treant makes two attacks, each of which can be a melee or ranged
attack. It can move between the attacks. The treant can replace one of
these attacks with Druidcraft.
Bones of the Earth (Action or Minor Interaction)
The treant uses a free hand to reach into loose earth or the ground and
retrieve a boulder. The boulder counts as an oversized basic weapon.
Flammable
When the treant takes fire damage for the first time on a turn, it
suffers an additional D6 fire damage.
Plant Nature
The treant has no digestive system, but it can meet its daily need for
food by standing in direct sunlight for 30 minutes. While the treant
remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal tree.
Rooted
When the treant is touching the ground, the Unconscious condition
doesn't cause it to fall Prone, and it has advantage on all Agility and
Strength tests against being Prone.
Siege Monster
The treant's melee and ranged attacks deal double damage to objects
and structures.
31
 List of Monsters
TROLL GLUTTON [TR 40]
Large Giant (Troll) Grappler. Dripping fangs line this humanoid's wide
mouth, and its muscular arms throb with pulsating veins. It ambles
crookedly (and with upsetting nimbleness) to grab its next meal.
TROLL WRECKER [TR 40]
Large Giant (Troll) Brute. This warty monster awkwardly crashes its way
into the battle, swinging its weapon in wide arcs without regard for friend
or foe. It aims to make an impression.

HP 40, MV 10 HP 40, MV 8

Agility D6, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D10, Will D4 Agility D4, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D10, Will D4

Possessions Possessions
Oversized dagger, 12 gold. Oversized warhammer, troll-chain,* 12 gold.

Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (nails and fangs),
Reach (2 squares).
Multiattack (Action)
The troll glutton makes two attacks, each of which can be a melee
attack or grab maneuver. It can move between the attacks.
Hold 'Em by the Legs
When the troll glutton succeeds on a grab maneuver against a Medium
or smaller creature, the target suffers the maneuver's usual effects and
falls Prone.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity
When the troll glutton moves into sunlight for the first time on a turn
or starts its turn there, it must succeed on a Hard (4+) Strength test or
become Petrified. While in sunlight, the glutton has disadvantage on all
tests.
*As an oversized whip (see page 32 of the Core Rules).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Reach (2 squares).
Multiattack (Action)
The troll wrecker makes two melee attacks. It can move between the
attacks.
Omniattack (Action)
The troll wrecker makes a melee attack against every creature within
2 squares – whether or not all of them are hostile – with a separate
Fighting test for each target. On each of the Fighting tests, the wrecker
has advantage, and vision is irrelevant.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity
When the troll wrecker moves into sunlight for the first time on a turn
or starts its turn there, it must succeed on a Hard (4+) Strength test or
become Petrified. While in sunlight, the wrecker has disadvantage on
all tests.

32
 List of Monsters
TROLL ARMIGER [TR 48]
Large Giant (Troll) Brute/Defender. The armiger is what happens when a
troll receives formal combat training. It focuses on no more than two
opponents at a time and uses the Dodge action when prudent.
HP 48, MV 8
Agility D4, Fighting D10, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D10, Will D6
Possessions
2 oversized swords, oversized plate armor, 20 gold.
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Reach (2 squares).
TYRANNOSAURUS [TR 56]
Huge Beast (Dinosaur) Brute. This gigantic bipedal animal is technically
related to birds. This fact gives you no comfort as it eats you alive.
HP 56, MV 10
Agility D4, Fighting D12, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D12, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (fangs and talons), Reach (2 squares).
Multiattack (Action)
The tyrannosaurus makes two melee attacks. It can move between the
attacks.

Resistances Keen Smell

Mundane damage from attacks while the troll armiger is wearing plate The tyrannosaurus has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on smell.
armor and isn't Incapacitated (but see below).

Multiattack (Action)
The troll armiger makes two melee attacks. It can move between the
attacks.

Exposed Joints
The troll armiger's plate armor has large gaps to accommodate the
mobility of its limbs. A melee or ranged attack aimed at one of these
exposed joints bypasses the armiger's resistance against mundane
damage from attacks.

To aim at one of the troll armiger's exposed joints, the attacker must be
able to see the armiger and the attacker must not have disadvantage
on the Fighting test.

Sunlight Hypersensitivity
When the troll armiger moves into sunlight for the first time on a turn
or starts its turn there, it must succeed on a Hard (4+) Strength test or
become Petrified. While in sunlight, the armiger has disadvantage on
all tests.

33
 List of Monsters
UNICORN [TR 36]
Large Celestial Leader. This majestic horse possesses cloven hooves, the
beard of a goat, a mane of silver, and a spiraling horn on its head. Unicorns
guard sacred places and protect the innocent from unnatural monsters.
HP 32, SP 2, MV 12
Agility D8, Fighting D8, Intellect D6 (3), Strength D8, Will D8
Possessions
Unicorn horn (worth 500 gold), unicorn blood
(counts as a Greater Elixir of Healing, see page 39).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (horn and hooves).*
*The unicorn's horn is a silver weapon (see page 40).
Resistances
Advantage on all Intellect and Will tests against spells.
Immunities
Poison damage, Charmed, Paralyzed, Poisoned.
Spellcaster (Intrinsic Power Source) (CR p. 18)
Bestow Life (CR p. 42).
Aura of Purity
The unicorn emits a divine aura which extends to a radius of 2 squares.
Aberrations, Fiends, and Undead have disadvantage on all tests within
the aura. In addition, when a creature the unicorn can see moves into
the aura for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, the unicorn
can cause that creature to take D4 radiant damage.
34
VAMPIRE [TR 48]
Medium or Small Undead (Vampire) Defender/Striker. A vampire is a
mortal who has sold their soul to a vampire lord in exchange for eternal
unlife. This deal usually comes with strings attached.
HP 48, MV 8
Agility D10, Fighting D10, Intellect D8 (4), Strength D10, Will D8
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (24 squares), Natural Weapons (fangs and nails).
Immunities
Necrotic damage, sleep deprivation, water deprivation, suffocation.
Multiattack (Action)
The vampire makes two melee attacks. It can move between the
attacks.
Blood Hunger
Ordinary food doesn't nourish the vampire. To meet its daily need for
food, the vampire must drink at least one gallon (4 liters) of blood.
Mark of the Damned
The vampire casts no shadow and has no reflection. These properties
extend to anything the vampire is wearing or carrying.
Regeneration
The vampire regains 12 lost hit points at the start of each of its turns if
it isn't in sunlight and its heart is intact. If the vampire takes radiant
damage, or damage from an attack made with a silver weapon or silver
piece of ammunition, this feature doesn't function at the start of the
vampire's next turn. The vampire dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit
points and doesn't regenerate. The vampire's threat rating assumes
that its foes have access to radiant damage, silver weaponry, or both.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity
When the vampire moves into sunlight for the first time on a turn or
starts its turn there, it must succeed on a Hard (4+) Strength test or die
(its body being reduced to ashes). While in sunlight, the vampire has
disadvantage on all tests.
Wall Walk
Climbing doesn't cost extra movement for the vampire, and the
vampire can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings,
without needing to make a Strength test. In addition, the vampire
needs no hands to climb.
GM Tip: This stat block describes a relatively young vampire. Older
vampires are more powerful, they have the ability to cast spells
(especially Mind Trick and Wild Shape, see pages 48 and 53 of the
Core Rules), and their weaknesses are weirder and more specific.
 List of Monsters
WOLF [TR 5] DIRE WOLF [TR 16]
Medium Beast Brute. These gray canines encircle you. One grabs you in its Large Beast Brute. This wolf is nearly the size of a lion, and nearly as deadly.
jaws while the others pull you down and tear you apart. Several wolves
stand back, observing the carnage to learn from their packmates. HP 16, MV 10

HP 1, MV 8 Agility D8, Fighting D6, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D8, Will D4

Agility D8, Fighting D4, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D6, Will D4 Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (fangs).
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Natural Weapons (fangs). Keen Hearing and Smell
The dire wolf has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on hearing or
Keen Hearing and Smell smell.
The wolf has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on hearing or smell.
Variant Dire Wolves (Optional)
The stat block above describes a standard dire wolf. The following
variant dire wolves are more unusual:

– Dire wolf alphas are badder, beefier dire wolves with 24 hit points,
Amazing (D10) Fighting, and Amazing (D10) Strength. Dire wolf
alphas are TR 24.

– Hellhounds are wicked dire wolf spellcasters (verbal power source)

with infernal origins. These Fiends have darkvision (12 squares),
immunity to fire damage, and knowledge of the Produce Flame spell.

– Shimmer wolves are strange Monstrosities with the magical ability to

bend light. An attacker has disadvantage on all Fighting tests against
a shimmer wolf it can see. The wolf can't benefit from this ability
while it is Incapacitated or has a movement speed of 0. Shimmer
wolves are TR 20.

– Vvargs are malevolent dire wolves analogous to (and allied with) the
goblins who ride them into battle. Vvargs are Fiends with darkvision
(12 squares) and Sunlight Sensitivity (see page 9).

– Winter wolves are white-furred dire wolves allied with the frost
giants who keep them as pets. Winter wolves are Monstrosities, they
have immunity to cold damage, and they have the Camouflage
feature (see page 7) (limited to snowy environments).

35
 List of Monsters
WEREWOLF [TR 40]
Medium Fiend Defender/Brute. A mortal afflicted with a terrible curse
(the result of some ancient broken oath, perhaps). The poor soul is doomed
to become this hungry, nigh-invincible monster on nights of the full moon.
HP 40, MV 10
Agility D8, Fighting D8, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D10, Will D4
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (fangs and nails).
Multiattack (Action)
The werewolf makes two melee attacks. It can move between the
attacks.
Curse of Lycanthropy
The werewolf usually has the statistics of an ordinary Humanoid, such
as a commoner (see page 11). On the night of every full moon, it
transforms into the monster described in this stat block and goes on a
rampage. At daybreak, or when the werewolf dies, it transforms back
into its natural form. Unless it can transform at will (see below), the
werewolf can't consciously remember the events of its transformation.
When a Humanoid takes damage from an attack made with the
werewolf's fangs, and that damage leaves the Humanoid with 0 hit
points, the curse spreads and the Humanoid becomes a werewolf upon
the next full moon.
Removing the curse requires a special ritual. Such a ritual is usually
performed on the night of the full moon, and succeeds only if the
werewolf's sire is dead.
Keen Hearing and Smell
The werewolf has advantage on Intellect tests that rely on hearing or
smell.
Regeneration
The werewolf regains 10 lost hit points at the start of each of its turns.
If the werewolf takes damage from an attack made with a silver
weapon or silver piece of ammunition, this feature doesn't function at
the start of the werewolf's next turn. The werewolf dies only if it starts
its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate. The werewolf's threat
rating assumes that its foes have access to silver weaponry.
Some werewolves can transform at will (as an action). To sustain this
degree of control, the werewolf must be an exceptionally wicked and
vicious Humanoid (in other words, this is no option for a hero). These
“true” werewolves often exhibit identifying characteristics in
Humanoid form, such as hairy palms or enlarged canine teeth.
36
WRAITH [TR 32]
Medium or Small Undead Controller. A wraith is the twisted, empty shell of
a mortal that died in the service of a dark lord. Its body disintegrated long
ago, but – unlike a ghost – the wraith is bound to the Material Plane.
HP 13, MV 6
Agility D8, Fighting D10, Intellect D4 (2), Strength D4, Will D8
Possessions
Sword, dagger, scale armor.
Basic Features (CR p. 28)
Darkvision (12 squares), Natural Weapons (fingers).*
*Attacks with its natural weapons deal necrotic damage instead of
mundane damage.
Resistances
Acid damage, adamant damage, fire damage, lightning damage,
thunder damage, mundane damage from any source other than an
attack made with a silver weapon or silver piece of ammunition.
Immunities
Cold damage, necrotic damage, poison damage, Charmed, Frightened,
Grabbed, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Possessed, Prone, Restrained,
deprivation, suffocation.
Cold Iron
When the wraith succeeds on a melee attack with a metal weapon, the
target suffers an additional D4 necrotic damage.
Ethereal Sight
The wraith can see 12 squares into the Ethereal Plane when it is on the
Material Plane. This sense thwarts the Veil spell.
Scary
The wraith emanates an aura of dread which extends to a radius of 6
squares. When a creature other than a Construct or Undead starts its
turn in the aura, it must succeed on a Hard (4+) Will test or become
Frightened of the wraith until the start of its next turn. A creature that
succeeds against the wraith's Scary is immune to it for 24 hours.
Sunlight Sensitivity
While in sunlight, the wraith has disadvantage on all tests.
Treasures

37
 Using Treasure
TREASURE BASICS
Dragonslaying can be a lucrative profession. On their adventures, the
heroes can expect to find and keep treasure (money, goods, and items).
Money: Most often in the form of coins, money is the most common
kind of treasure. All money can be recorded as gold.
Goods: These include precious stones, gems, and art objects. Most
goods can be sold for a specified value; for instance, a 10-pound solid
gold idol might be worth 700 gold. However, there is no guarantee that
an interested buyer for it can be easily found.
Items: These include both magic items and nonmagical items
(like tools and armor). The heroes value this sort of treasure highly, as
quality equipment improves their capabilities.
Other Rewards: An influential lord or noble might offer the heroes
favors, properties, or titles as payment for their services. Rewards like
these are often more useful than other kinds of treasure.
MAGIC ITEM BASICS
The rules for magic items can be found on page 29 of the Core Rules.
This section expands on the topic.
Wearing and Wielding Items: Using a magic item’s properties might
mean wearing or wielding it. A magic item meant to be worn must be
donned in the intended fashion: boots go on the feet, gloves on the
hands, hats and helmets on the head, rings on the finger, and so on. A
weapon must be held. In most cases, a magic item that’s meant to be
worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build.
Multiple Items of the Same Kind: Use common sense to determine
whether more than one of a given kind of magic item can be worn. A
creature can’t normally wear more than one pair of footwear, one pair
of gloves or gauntlets, one pair of bracers, one suit of armor, one item
of headwear, and one cloak.
Paired Items: Items that come in pairs – such as boots, bracers, and
gloves – impart their benefits only if both items of the pair are worn.
CRAFTING A MAGIC ITEM
The rules for crafting an item require that you know the item's price in
gold. While only Common and Uncommon magic items can normally
be found for sale, the following chart includes hypothetical prices
(and target numbers) for Rare, Very Rare, and Mythic items:
RARITY PRICE CRAFTING TN
Common 100 gold Medium (3+)
Uncommon 500 gold Hard (4+)
Rare 1,000 gold Very Hard (5+)
Very Rare 2,000 gold Very Hard (6+)
Mythic 3,000 gold Very Hard (7+)
The crafting of a magic item might require hard-to-find raw materials
or the use of a ritual. See page 31 of the Core Rules for more details.
MAGIC ITEMS AND GAME BALANCE
Dragonslayers RPG makes no assumption that the heroes will have
access to magic items. Because of this assumption, the addition of a
magic item represents a genuine increase or expansion in a hero's
capabilities (rather than something to be taken for granted). That being
said, the effects of a magic item should be considered with the same
care as any other game feature.
Attunement and Game Balance: Attunement prevents the heroes from
easily sharing one magic item while simultaneously preventing a lone
hero from hogging them all. An item should require attunement if
sharing that item between multiple heroes would disrupt the normal
flow of gameplay, fuel power imbalances between the heroes, trivialize
a large portion of the game's challenges, or encourage behaviors
(inside or outside the fiction) that make the game less enjoyable.
Rarity and Game Balance: A magic item's rarity corresponds to the
number of spirit points the item would be worth if it were a feat. If the
item's effects are on par with the power of a spell, the item's rarity is
Mythic. A Common or Uncommon item is worth a fraction of a spirit
point. These values are indicated on the following chart:

Consumable Items: Some items are used up when they are activated. A RARITY SP VALUE
potion must be swallowed, or an oil applied to the object. The writing
vanishes from a scroll when it is read. Once used, a consumable item Common ⅒ SP
loses its magic. Uncommon ½ SP
Rare 1 SP
Spell Items: Some items grant the user the ability to cast a specified
spell, as if the user knew that spell. A spell cast in this manner has no Very Rare 2 SP
power source requirements – unless otherwise specified – and the user Mythic 3 SP
of the item needn't meet the spell's prerequisites, but the user must
concentrate if the spell requires concentration. A consumable item, such as a potion, has half the rarity of a
nonconsumable magic item with the same properties (round up).
If one is normally asked to make a choice upon learning the spell, that
choice is predetermined by the item's creator. In the case of the Prayer The treasures included in this book are examples to get you started.
spell, the patron is a suitable being chosen by the item's creator. You are encouraged to invent new magic items, using these as models.

38
 Potions, Oils, and Poisons
POTIONS
Magic potions offer benefits when imbibed. Common potions are often
called “tinctures.” Rare and rarer potions are usually called “elixirs.” A
hero can safely intuit the effects of a potion by taking a small sip.
Greater Elixir of Healing (Consumable) (Very Rare): As an action, you
can drink this fluorescent, white potion or administer the potion to
another creature within your reach. The drinker's level of Exhaustion is
reduced to zero, and any poison in the drinker's system is neutralized.
In addition, the drinker regains all lost hit points. A Greater Elixir of
Healing sheds bright light in a 2-square radius and dim light for an
additional 2 squares.
Lesser Elixir of Healing (Consumable) (Rare): As an action, you can
drink this fluorescent, white potion or administer the potion to
another creature within your reach. The drinker's level of Exhaustion is
reduced by one, and any poison in the drinker's system is suspended
for 24 hours. In addition, the drinker regains a number of lost hit
points equal to half its hit point maximum (round up). A Lesser Elixir of
Healing sheds dim light in a 2-square radius.
Elixir of Invisibility (Consumable) (Rare): As an action, you can drink
this clear, flavorless potion or administer the potion to another
creature within your reach. The drinker becomes Invisible for 1 hour.
The effect ends early if the drinker makes an attack or casts a spell.
Potion of Haste (Consumable) (Uncommon): As an action, you can
drink this sour, green potion or administer the potion to another
creature within your reach. The drinker's movement speed increases by
4 squares for 1 hour.
Potion of Spirit (Consumable) (Uncommon): As an action, you can
drink this sparkling, blue potion or administer the potion to another
creature within your reach. The drinker regains 1 lost spirit point.
Potion of Vigor (Consumable) (Uncommon): As an action, you can
drink this fizzy, red potion or administer the potion to another creature
within your reach. The drinker regains a number of lost hit points
equal to half its hit point maximum (round up).
Tincture of Antitoxin (Consumable) (Common): As an action, you can
drink this viscous, black potion or administer the potion to another
creature within your reach. The drinker has advantage on tests against
being Poisoned and resistance against poison damage, for 1 hour.
Tincture of Fire Resistance (Consumable) (Common): As an action, you
can drink this steaming, orange potion or administer the potion to
another creature within your reach. The drinker has resistance against
fire damage for 1 hour.
Acid, cold, lightning, and thunder resistance tinctures also exist.
Tincture of Strength (Consumable) (Common): As an action, you can
drink this chunky, purple-red potion or administer the potion to
another creature within your reach. The drinker gains a boost to
Strength for 1 hour.
OILS
Magic oils offer benefits when applied to a suitable object. A creature
can safely intuit the effects of an oil by touching it.
Oil of Sharpness (Consumable) (Uncommon): As an action, you can
apply this oil to a sharp weapon or a piece of ammunition. Any target
that takes damage from an attack made with the weapon or piece of
ammunition suffers an additional 1 adamant damage. Once applied, the
oil retains potency for three strikes or 8 hours (whichever comes first).
POISONS
Given their insidious and deadly nature, poisons are illegal in most
societies. There are four families of poison:
– Contact: Contact poison can be smeared on an object and remains
potent until it is touched or washed off. A creature that touches
contact poison with exposed skin suffers its effects.
– Ingested: A creature must swallow an entire dose of ingested poison
to suffer its effects. The dose can be delivered in food or a liquid. You
can decide that a partial dose has a reduced effect, such as allowing
advantage on the test or dealing only half damage (round down).
– Inhaled: These poisons are powders or gases that take effect when
inhaled. Blowing the powder or releasing the gas subjects creatures
in a square to its effect. The resulting cloud dissipates immediately
afterward. Holding one's breath is ineffective against inhaled
poisons, as they also affect nasal membranes, tear ducts, and so on.
– Injury: Injury poison can be applied to sharp weapons, ammunition,
trap components, or other such objects, and remains potent until
dried up or washed off. The basic poison described on page 17 of the
Core Rules is an injury poison.
Assassin's Blood (Ingested) (150 Gold): A creature subjected to this
poison must succeed on a Medium (3+) Strength test. If it fails, the
creature takes 2D8 poison damage and is Poisoned for 24 hours. If it
succeeds, the creature takes D8 poison damage and isn't Poisoned.
Burnt Uthor Fumes (Inhaled) (500 Gold): A creature subjected to this
poison must succeed on a Medium (3+) Strength test or take 3D4
poison damage, and must repeat the test at the end of each of its
turns. On each successive failed test, the creature takes D4 poison
damage. After three successful tests, the poison ends.
Frog Mucus (Contact) (500 Gold): A creature subjected to this poison
must succeed on an Easy (2+) Strength test. If it fails, the creature takes
D12 poison damage and is Poisoned for 1 hour. At the end of its next
turn, the Poisoned creature must succeed on another Easy (2+) Strength
test or become Paralyzed until the Poisoned condition ends.
Truth Serum (Ingested) (150 Gold): A creature subjected to this poison
must succeed on a Medium (3+) Strength test or become Poisoned for 1
hour. The Poisoned creature can't knowingly speak a lie.
39
 Magic Armor and Weapons
MAGIC MATERIALS
The following magic materials (adamantine, dragonscale, orichalcum,
silver, starglass, and urpearl) make superior armor and weapons.
ADAMANTINE
This metal is famous for its incredible hardness. An adamantine object
has immunity to all damage except adamant damage, and – unlike
other objects – it doesn't have vulnerability against adamant damage.
White adamantine (called mithral in Elvish) is found in the heart of the
world, whereas black adamantine (called ghalvorn in Elvish) is found in
the hearts of fallen stars. The two varieties are mechanically identical.
Adamantine Ammunition (Bundle) (Rare): Attacks with this piece of
ammunition deal adamant damage instead of mundane damage.
Adamantine Weapon (Rare): Attacks with this weapon deal adamant
damage instead of mundane damage.
Adamantine Armor (Very Rare): When you take mundane damage from
an attack while you wear this armor, you can reduce that damage by 1.
To benefit from adamantine armor, you must not be Incapacitated.
DRAGONSCALE
The lustrous, cast-off scale of a blooded dragon is supernaturally
strong, but workable. An object made of dragonscale has resistance
against any damage type the blooded dragon has resistance against.
These resistances correspond to the protective benefits of armor made
from that dragonscale.
Dragonscale Armor (Red) (Very Rare): When you take fire or mundane
damage from an attack while you wear this armor, you can reduce that
damage by 1. To benefit from dragonscale armor, you must not be
Incapacitated.
ORICHALCUM
This red alloy was first forged by dwarven smiths under extreme
subterranean pressures. Orichalcum armor is warm to the touch, and
orichalcum blades are searing hot. An object made of orichalcum has
immunity to fire damage and resistance against cold damage
(in addition to the usual properties for an object made of metal).
Orichalcum Weapon (Common): When you succeed on a melee attack
with an orichalcum weapon on a target against which you don't have
disadvantage on the Fighting test, you can deal fire damage instead of
mundane damage with the attack.
Orichalcum Armor (Uncommon): While you wear this armor, you have
resistance against cold damage, and you are comfortably warm even in
freezing environments.
40
SILVER
In the world of Dragonslayers RPG, silver is magic. Creatures of
unnatural origin are repulsed by silver's appearance and pained by its
touch. Because silver is softer than iron, functional silver weapons are
expensive and difficult to craft, and silver armor is nearly unheard of.
Silver Ammunition (Bundle) (Rare): Attacks with this piece of
ammunition ignore the immunity or resistance to mundane damage of
certain specified Aberrations, Fiends, and Undead.
Silver Weapon (Rare): Attacks with this weapon ignore the immunity
or resistance to mundane damage of certain specified Aberrations,
Fiends, and Undead.
Silver Armor (Very Rare): While you wear this armor, you have
advantage on all tests against being Charmed, Frightened, or Possessed
by an Aberration, Fiend, or Undead. In addition, a Fighting test made by
an Aberration, Fiend, or Undead against you has disadvantage if the
creature is adjacent to you.
Unnatural Creatures Using Silver Equipment: An Aberration, Fiend, or
Undead has disadvantage on Fighting tests with a silver weapon
(but not with a piece of silver ammunition). An Aberration, Fiend, or
Undead has disadvantage on all tests while wearing silver armor.
STARGLASS
This brittle, transparent substance is tempered by moonlight and
starlight, using elvish rituals. Starglass blades are incredibly sharp and
starglass plates are incredibly hard, but their true potential can be
realized only by breaking them.
Starglass Weapon (Rare): When you succeed on a melee attack with a
starglass weapon, you can double the mundane damage dealt by the
attack. Immediately after this doubling, the starglass weapon shatters
and is destroyed.
Starglass Armor (Rare): When you take mundane damage from an
attack while you wear this armor, you can reduce that damage by 20 if
you aren't Incapacitated. Immediately after this reduction, the starglass
armor shatters and is destroyed.
URPEARL
This gleaming substance is harvested by the sea elves deep beneath the
ocean. Urpearl is nearly as hard as iron, but it has neutral buoyancy –
making it an ideal material for underwater tools and weapons.
Urpearl Weapon (Common): This weapon was made for aquatic use. It
ignores the Limited Range rule (see page 24 of the Core Rules).
Urpearl Armor (Uncommon): No Fighting test can have advantage
against you; so long as you are wearing this armor, you are immersed
in water, and you are not Incapacitated.
 Magic Armor and Weapons
BANE WEAPONS
These weapons have magical enhancements which make them more
potent against certain creatures.
Arrow of Dragonslaying (Rare): When an attack made with this arrow
deals mundane damage to a dragon, that damage is doubled, and the
arrow is embedded in the dragon's body. While the Arrow of Dragon-
slaying is so embedded, the dragon can't concentrate and has
disadvantage on all tests.
The dragon can use its action to extract the arrow. Alternatively,
another creature can use its action to extract the arrow from a dragon
within its reach.
Ghost Mace (Attunement) (Very Rare): The flanges of this silver mace
glow white when one or more Undead are within 60 squares of it,
emitting dim light in a 2-square radius (this property requires no
attunement). While you hold the mace, you have advantage on tests
against being Charmed, Frightened, or Possessed.
Goblin-Cleaver Sword (Attunement) (Rare): The blade of this sword
glows blue when one or more goblins are within 60 squares of it,
emitting dim light in a 2-square radius (this property requires no
attunement). Once on each of your turns, when you make a melee
attack against a creature, you can follow up with a second melee
attack against a different creature (no action required). The two
creatures must be adjacent to each other, and both attacks must be
made with the Goblin-Cleaver Sword.
Spear of Trollslaying (Attunement) (Rare): The blade of this greatspear
glows green when one or more trolls are within 60 squares of it,
emitting dim light in a 2-square radius (this property requires no
attunement). In addition, when a Large or larger creature makes an
attack against you, you can wield the Spear of Trollslaying to make a
melee attack against that creature as a reaction. Your attack occurs
right after the creature finishes its attack.
Spiderbane Dagger (Attunement) (Rare): The blade of this dagger
glows yellow when one or more spiders of Small or larger size are
within 60 squares of it, emitting dim light in a 2-square radius
(this property requires no attunement). When you succeed on a melee
or ranged attack against a creature that is missing any of its hit points,
the creature takes an additional 1 poison damage. This attack must be
made with the Spiderbane Dagger.
Vorpal Blade (Attunement) (Mythic): As an action, you can wield this
adamantine sword to make a special melee attack. Alternatively, you
can throw it to make a special ranged attack. In either case, the target
must be a creature against which you have advantage on the Fighting
test. If you succeed, the target suffers the attack's usual effects, and it
takes additional adamant damage equal to your result.
If this damage leaves the creature with 0 hit points, it is beheaded
(if the creature has multiple heads, it loses only one of them).
Once the Vorpal Blade's special attack has been used, it can't be used
again until the weapon rests planted in a stone for at least 8 hours.
ELEMENTAL WEAPONS
The power of these weapons can be activated with a gesture or switch.
To activate or deactivate an elemental weapon, you must be holding it.
Flaming Greataxe (Very Rare): As an action or minor interaction, you
can activate the magic of this greataxe, which lasts for 1 minute or
until you use another action or minor interaction to deactivate it.
While the effect lasts, the Flaming Greataxe is wreathed in flames
which shed bright light in a 4-square radius and dim light for an
additional 4 squares. Any target that takes damage from an attack
made with the activated greataxe suffers an additional D4 fire damage.
Once the Flaming Greataxe has been activated, it must roast in a fire
for at least 8 hours before it can be activated again.
Ice Lance (Very Rare): As an action or minor interaction, you can
activate the magic of this lance, which lasts for 1 minute or until you
use another action or minor interaction to deactivate it. While the
effect lasts, the Ice Lance emits frigid energy. Any target that takes
damage from an attack made with the activated lance suffers an
additional D4 cold damage.
Once the Ice Lance has been activated, it must be immersed in water,
snow, or ice for at least 8 hours before it can be activated again.
Thunder Hammer (Very Rare): As an action or minor interaction, you
can activate the magic of this warhammer, which lasts for 1 minute or
until you use another action or minor interaction to deactivate it.
While the effect lasts, the Thunder Hammer loudly booms. Any target
that takes damage from an attack made with the activated warhammer
suffers an additional D4 thunder damage.
Once the Thunder Hammer has been activated, it must rest under a
pile of rocks for at least 8 hours before it can be activated again.
Twilight Dagger (Very Rare): As an action or minor interaction, you can
activate the magic of this dagger, which lasts for 1 minute or until you
use another action or minor interaction to deactivate it. While the
effect lasts, the Twilight Dagger emanates waves of shadow. Any
creature that takes damage from an attack made with the activated
dagger suffers an additional D4 psychic damage.
Once the Twilight Dagger has been activated, it must rest uncovered in
a place of darkness (outdoors at night, for example) for at least 8 hours
before it can be activated again.
Zephyr Bow (Very Rare): As an action or minor interaction, you can
activate the magic of this bow, which lasts for 1 minute or until you
use another action or minor interaction to deactivate it. While the
effect lasts, a gentle breeze swirls around the Zephyr Bow. When you
make a Fighting test as a part of a ranged attack with the activated
bow, you can reroll one of the dice once (before the outcome is settled)
and choose whether or not to use the new roll.
Once the Zephyr Bow has been activated, it must rest outdoors in a
high place (in the branches of a tree, for example) for at least 8 hours
before it can be activated again.
41
 Wondrous Items
WONDROUS EQUIPMENT
This is the broadest category of magic item. The following examples are
varied, but they hardly scratch the surface of possibilities:
Carpet of Flying (Very Rare): The Carpet of Flying is a vehicle. It has the
stat block described on page 16.
Immovable Rod (Rare): This flat iron rod has a button on one end. You
can use an action to press the button, which causes the rod to become
magically fixed in place. Until you or another creature uses an action to
push the button again, the rod doesn't move, even if it is defying
gravity. The rod can support up to 500 stone. More weight causes it to
deactivate and fall. A creature can use an action to make a Very Hard
(10+) Strength test, moving the fixed rod up to 10 feet on a success.
Rope of Climbing (Uncommon): This 60-foot length of silk rope can
support up to 200 stone. As an action while you are holding one end of
the rope, you can speak or gesture to command the rope (causing it to
animate). The rope understands the following commands:
– Coil: The rope winds itself up for carrying or storage.
– Slither: The other end of the rope flies up to 2 squares (10 feet)
toward a location of your choice. It continues to fly up to 2 squares
at the start of each of your turns; until it reaches its destination,
until the rope has extended to its maximum length, or until the rope
is commanded to Coil.
– Tie/Untie: The other end of the rope fastens itself securely to an
object of your choice or unfastens itself.
The Rope of Climbing has 10 hit points and immunity to poison and
psychic damage. In addition, it has immunity to adamant and mundane
damage from attacks made with blunt weapons. The rope regains 1 hit
point every 5 minutes as long as it has at least 1 hit point. If the rope
drops to 0 hit points, it is destroyed.
Sending Stones (Very Rare): These stones come in pairs, with each
smooth stone carved to match the other so the pairing is easily
recognized. While you touch one stone, you can use an action to send a
telepathic message (limited to a sentence or two) to the bearer of the
other stone. You needn't share a common language with the target for
the message to be understood, but the target must understand at least
one language. Right after you use this action, the target can respond to
your message in kind.
If one of the stones is destroyed, the other one becomes nonmagical.
Tome of Leadership & Influence (Rare): This book contains guidelines
for influencing others, and its words are charged with magic. If you
spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book's
contents and practicing its guidelines, you gain a boost to Will. The
manual then loses its magic, but regains it in a century.
Wand of Fireballs (Rare): While you hold this sooty wand, you can cast
Produce Flame (Fireball) (see page 49 of the Core Rules).
42
WONDROUS WEARABLES
The following items can be worn on your body. A wondrous wearable
can be an article of clothing or a piece of jewelry.
Armor of Righteousness (Attunement) (Mythic): While you wear this
elaborate suit of plate armor, a faint, circular halo appears above your
head, and you have advantage on tests against being Charmed,
Frightened, or Possessed. In addition, you can use your action to cast
the Prayer spell (see page 49 of the Core Rules).
To be attuned to the Armor of Righteousness, you must uphold the
values of compassion, fellowship, honesty, justice, liberty, and sanctity:
weighing these virtues above your own self-interest. Should you ever
fall short of this expectation, your attunement on the armor ends, and
you can't attune to the armor again for at least 1 year.
Boots of Soaring (Attunement) (Rare): While you wear these boots, you
can cast Control Winds (Leap) (see page 43 of the Core Rules).
Cloak of Elvenkind (Rare): While you wear this cloak with the hood up,
you have advantage on all Agility tests made to hide.
Headband of Intellect (Attunement) (Very Rare): Your Intellect is
Amazing (D10) while you wear this headband. This item has no effect
on you if your Intellect is already Amazing (D10) or better.
Robe of Fire Resistance (Uncommon): While you wear this robe, you
have resistance against fire damage, and you are comfortably cool even
in scorching environments.
RINGS AND SCROLLS
These magic items grant the benefits of a feat or a spell to the wearer.
Ring of [Feat] (Attunement) (Special): This magic ring contains one feat
that costs no more than 3 spirit points. While you wear the ring, you
have that feat (provided that you meet the feat's prerequisites).
The rarity of a Ring of [Feat] corresponds to the spirit point cost of the
feat it contains (see page 38). For example, a Ring of Evasion is
Very Rare, because the Evade feat costs 2 spirit points.
Ring of [Spell] (Attunement) (Mythic): This magic ring contains one
spell. While you wear the ring, you can cast that spell.
Spell Scroll (Consumable) (Rare): This magic scroll contains one spell
in written form. As an action, you can read the scroll aloud to gain the
ability to cast that spell for the next 8 hours. Your power source for the
spell is verbal (see page 18 of the Core Rules). Once the scroll has been
read aloud, the writing vanishes and the scroll becomes nonmagical.
Rings and scrolls come in many forms. Any circular object, such as a
necklace, belt, or crown, can function as a magic ring. Likewise, any
writing system (including tactile writing systems) and physical medium
can be suitable for a magic scroll.
 Cursed Items and Artifacts
CURSED ITEMS
These are magic items with some sort of negative impact. Some cursed
items are harmful for the user, while others are merely inconvenient.
Occasionally an item will mix bad with good, forcing a hero to make a
difficult choice. Most cursed items are one-of-a-kind and therefore have
no rarity. There are four families of cursed item:
– Delusion: The user believes the item is what it appears to be, yet it
actually has no magical power other than to deceive. The user is
fooled into thinking the item is functioning, and cannot be convinced
otherwise without the help of a specific ritual to remove the curse.
– Drawback: An item with a drawback is usually still beneficial to the
user, but it also carries some negative aspect. The item might fail to
function some of the time, function only when certain inconvenient
conditions are met, or occasionally activate at random.
– Opposite Effect or Target: This item malfunctions, so that either it
does the opposite of what the creator intended, or it targets the user
instead of someone else. An item of this sort usually includes some
magic that compels the wielder to keep and use it. In such cases, a
specific ritual is generally needed to get rid of the item.
– Sentient: This item is inhabited by a malicious spirit. The item
behaves like a character, complete with motivations and personality.
The item can communicate (most often via telepathy), it has two
skills: Intellect and Will, and it can perceive its environment as a
human does.
Any activated property of the item is under the item’s control, not its
wielder’s. As long as the wielder maintains a good relationship with
the item, the wielder can access those properties normally. If the
relationship is strained, the item can suppress its activated properties
or even turn them against the wielder.
A sentient item often makes demands of its wielder. When its wielder
refuses to comply, the item can attempt to magically beguile the
wielder. When this happens, the item makes a Will test opposed by
the wielder's Will test. If the wielder fails, it is Charmed by the item
for D12 hours. While Charmed, the wielder must try to follow the
item's commands. If the wielder takes damage, the effect ends.
Once it has attempted to control its wielder, the item can’t attempt
to do so again until the next dawn.
Angrazel (Attunement) (Cursed): Once attuned to this sentient dagger,
you are unwilling to end your attunement to it, and you try to keep it
safe and within reach at all times. When you succeed on a melee attack
with Angrazel against a creature that is missing any of its hit points,
the creature takes an additional D4 necrotic damage.
Angrazel's Intellect and Will are both Excellent (D8), and it can converse
telepathically with any creature within a 12-square radius (provided
that the creature understands at least one language). Angrazel is
bloodthirsty. Once every 24 hours, it demands that you use it to kill a
Small or larger creature (other than a Construct or Undead).
ARTIFACTS
These relics are the most potent of magic items – capable of altering
the balance of a campaign – and only one of each such item exists. An
artifact therefore has no rarity, and the ability to craft an artifact is the
exclusive purview of deities and demigods. Moreover, an artifact is not
easily destroyed; each one has only a single means of destruction.
An artifact could be the center of a whole set of adventures; a quest to
recover it, a fight against a opponent wielding it, a mission to cause its
destruction, and so on. Here are three examples:
Cloak of Invisibility (Artifact): While you wear this cloak with the hood
up, you are Invisible. Anything you are wearing or carrying is also
invisible as long as it is on your person.
– Unwoven: The Cloak of Invisibility can be unmade by the diaphanous
silver spiders who weave between the stars.
Dragonslayer (Attunement) (Artifact): This adamantine greatsword has
the following properties when you hold it:
– Accuracy: When you make a Fighting test with Dragonslayer, you can
reroll one of the dice once (before the outcome is settled) and choose
whether or not to use the new roll.
– Dragonsbane: When an attack made with Dragonslayer deals
adamant damage to a dragon, that damage is doubled. In addition,
the dragon can't concentrate and has disadvantage on all tests until
the end of your next turn.
– Resistance: You have resistance against the damage of any spell cast
by a dragon. In addition, you have advantage on any test you make
against a spell cast by a dragon.
– Final Rest: When the last dragon has been slain, you can retire the
Dragonslayer with an action (at which point it turns to stone).
Staff of the Magi (Attunement) (Artifact): To attune to this golden staff,
you must know at least two spells. The staff has the following
properties when you hold it:
– Puissance: When you spend 1 or more spirit points (or mana points)
to heighten a spell, reuse an expended power, or stack the odds on the
Fighting test of a magic blast attack, you can reduce the number of
points you spend by 1.
You can use Puissance five times. The staff regains expended uses
when it is exposed to dawn's first light.
– Retributive Strike: You can use an action to break the staff over your
knee or against a solid surface. The staff is destroyed and releases its
magic in an explosion that expands to fill a 13-square cube centered
on its square. When this happens, the GM rolls any die. If the result is
even, you instantly travel to random plane of existence, avoiding the
blast. If the result is odd, you take 16D8 prime damage. In either case,
every other creature in the area takes 12D8 prime damage.
43
 Adapting Adventures
DIY ROLEPLAYING
As of writing, there are no published adventures for Dragonslayers RPG.
For that reason, this brief guide has been included to help you adapt
adventures from the 5th edition of the world's most-popular
roleplaying game and the family of games that grew from it.
GM Tip: Adaptation isn't about perfectly translating every fine detail
from one game to another. Rather, it is a “reimagining” process that
tries to capture the spirit of the original.
CONVERTING A HERO
To convert a player character from another game, you follow the steps
on page 12 of the Core Rules, choosing the folk, class, and background
that best fits your character concept, then advance your hero to the
appropriate level. When choosing feats and spells, try to find options
that hearken back to the original character instead of attempting to
recreate their capabilities with absolute fidelity. Keep in mind that
spellcasting heroes in Dragonslayers RPG have subtler magic than their
counterparts in most other RPGs.
MAGIC ITEM PHILOSOPHY
In Dragonslayers RPG, there is no such thing as a “+1” weapon. Even a
small numerical bonus can have a massive impact, so the availability of
straight damage increases should be kept to a minimum. If the
adventure you are adapting contains many items that grant numerical
bonuses, consider replacing them with alternative items that are more
appropriate (and more interesting besides).
ATTRITION-BASED CHALLENGES
With 10-minute short rests and plentiful “at-will” features, heroes in
Dragonslayers RPG are difficult to slow down. You should expect an
adventure with a heavy focus on attrition-based challenges to be easier
in this game than it would be in another RPG. This isn't to say that
such stories must be avoided entirely; random encounters, Exhaustion,
and optional rules like skill challenges and stress (see pages 33 and 34 of
the Core Rules) can be employed to tax the heroes appropriately.
Hit point loss in particular isn't very impactful outside of combat time.
Traps and hazards are more interesting if they impose conditions or
other negative effects that are inconvenient to reverse.
COMBAT ENCOUNTERS
When adapting a combat encounter, you should attempt to create a
similar experience rather than a perfect translation. Choose or create
adversaries that resemble those featured in the original adventure, and
don't be afraid to adjust the number of enemies or other details. You
can use the guidelines for determining encounter difficulty on page 28
of the Core Rules to inform your decisions.
44
TREASURE
Gold pieces convert 1:1 from the 5th edition of the world's most-
popular roleplaying game to Dragonslayers RPG. When the heroes
discover money in other denominations, convert them into gold and
round down to the nearest gold piece.
The amount of gold heroes are expected to find in Dragonslayers RPG is
a little bit less than the amount they would find in most other games.
This is true in part because the game emphasizes heroic features over
gold and loot.
HOMEBREW
Like most RPGs in the fantasy tradition, Dragonslayers RPG is amenable
to hacking and homebrewing. Many assets from the 5th edition of the
world's most-popular roleplaying game can be adapted to fit with only
superficial changes. Look at other elements in Dragonslayers RPG as
models to guide your design.
CONVERSION OF TERMS
Adapting a feat, spell, or magic item from the 5th edition of the world's
most-popular roleplaying game is more art than science. Properly
converting terms is a good place to begin:
5 Feet: 1 Square.
Armor Class, Alignment, Hit Die, XP: No equivalent.
Speed: Movement Speed.
Strength or Constitution: Strength.
Dexterity: Agility.
Intelligence or Wisdom: Intellect.
Perception: Intellect tests that rely on hearing, sight, or smell.
Charisma: Will.
Ability Check or Saving Throw: Test.
Attack Roll: Fighting test.
Melee Weapon Attack: Melee Attack.
Ranged Weapon Attack: Ranged Attack.
Melee or Ranged Spell Attack: Magic Blast Attack.
Spell Slot: No equivalent (but you might use spirit points).
Save DC: Target Number (most often Hard (4+) for a spell).
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