The latest addition to Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition is The Book of Many Things, which as the name might suggest, introduces many new things to Dungeons and Dragons. There's a plethora of magical effects and items to be found in the book, but The Book of Many Things also adds some strong new foes for players to tackle.
Dungeons & Dragons: Obscure Monsters You Might Not Have Heard Of
The world of D&D has many kinds of monsters, some less well-known than others. Here are a few beasts players may have never heard of.
While some are standard cannon fodder, there are some enemies found in this tome that are not to be underestimated and would provide an excellent combat encounter for any game of Dungeons and Dragons. Here are the strongest creatures found in The Book of Many Things.
7 Hierophant Medusa
A Medusa That Can Devastate Parties
Image: Medusa from Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- 237 hit points
- Armor Class 17
- Challenge Rating 17
The Hierophant Medusa are regular medusas or humanoids transformed by either magic or a deity. They inspire followers and protect their people, and they've got serious strength to back it up. These creatures are pretty powerful, boasting both legendary actions and resistance. All of their attacks feature a whopping +12 bonus, meaning that even the tank of the party might struggle to stand up to the wrath of one of these creatures.
As a bonus action, the Hierophant Medusa can use their Petrifying Gaze ability, which releases magic in a 30-foot cone and forces a constitution saving throw for all creatures within it, unless they are blind. If creatures fail this save by 5 or more, they will become petrified. If they fail by less than 5, they will be subjected to 3d6 force damage, which isn't a huge amount. The strength of this creature comes from its ability to petrify players, which can only be removed by means of a Greater Restoration spell, which makes this a pretty scary villain to face off against.
6 Malaxxix
A Huge Fiend With A Mighty Hammer
- 312 hit points
- Armor Class 17
- Challenge Rating 18
Malaxxix is a legendary fiend who, according to stories, is a child of a night hag. He is known for creating cursed items and dispersing them through the Dungeons and Dragons universe in order to corrupt mortals vying for power. He rides atop a vehicle made from his subservient creatures. If encountered in his lair, Malaxxix's challenge rating will increase by 1, to 19. He is immune to acid and poison damage, and resistant to cold, fire, lightning, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing, making him a difficult foe to whittle down to 0 hit points.
Malaxxix can make up to two attacks with his legendary hammer per turn, or use his whip instead, both of which have a +12 to hit, and can deal up to 46 and 24 damage respectively. He has advantage against any saving throws caused by a spell, and even has the ability to summon a vortex of creatures that delivers a devastating 10d6 force damage to any creature caught inside that fails their dexterity saving throw. He can make additional attacks using his legendary actions and move without allowing attacks of opportunity.
5 Grim Champion of Bloodshed
A Lowly Farmer Turned Undead
- 280 hit points
- Armor Class 18
- Challenge Rating 20
Formerly known as Wynemar Brack, The Grim Champion of Bloodshed embodies war and all of the violence and chaos that comes with it. She rides upon an undead nightmare and is no easy enemy to defeat. This character can make a colossal four attacks with their sword every turn and can replace one of these attacks with a storm of weapons that can deal up to 6d8 damage.
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Like many other powerful foes in Dungeons and Dragons, The Grim Champion of Bloodshed has 3 legendary resistances and 3 legendary actions, which have varying effects, ranging from frightening their foes to forcing an enemy to attack someone of their choice. While they're not the most powerful of the Grim Champions in The Book of Many Things, any party that finds themselves facing off against this monster should tread lightly.
4 Pazrodine
A Dragon That Comes With A Market
- 330 hit points
- Armor Class 20
- Challenge Rating 21
Luckily for players, Pazrodine is not an inherently evil Dragon and is not guaranteed to be a foe to any wandering adventurers. She is in charge of the Seelie Market, which frequently travels from location to location, and has a keen eye for any pathway between the Material Plane and the Feywild. Any kleptomaniac characters need to keep their wits about them when visiting the Seelie Market, as Pazrodine is able to tell if an item is stolen from the market. She can also track this item down with ease.
If players are unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of any attacks from Pazrodine, they'll suffer up to three attacks every turn, each of which includes +13 to hit. Pazrodine has an arsenal of breath weapons at her disposal and can knock players unconscious with her Dream Breath, or deal a colossal amount of radiant damage with her Moonlight Breath. She has legendary resistances and can use a legendary action to cast spells, such as Dispel Magic, and Revivify.
Unlike other creatures introduced in The Book of Many Things, Pazrodine could be a friend or a foe, depending on a party's predilection. Whilst she likely won't attack anyone who means well, getting on her bad side is most definitely ill-advised.
3 Veiled Presence
An Evil Celestial
- 300 hit points
- Armor Class 20
- Challenge Rating 21
The Veiled Presence are celestials of lawful evil nature and have resistance to both necrotic and radiant damage. They simply cannot be targeted by divination magic, and have an impenetrable mind that cannot be read by anyone, or anything. They are found with their legendary Blade of Judgment, which they can use to perform two attacks, and can potentially prevent any creature who suffers a blow from it from using an action or moving on their turn.
It also has the ability to force a Wisdom saving throw, which has an incredibly high DC of 22, every turn. Any creature that fails this save will become paralyzed. If all of this didn't seem like enough to scare away any adventurers looking to slay this creature, they can employ legendary actions to use their sword again, teleport, or grant themselves advantage on attack rolls, whilst ensuring attack rolls against them have disadvantage.
2 Grim Champion of Desolation
An Undead Formerly Known As Jyn Corvis
- 416 hit points
- Armor Class 18
- Challenge Rating 25
Arguably the most powerful creature introduced in The Book of Many Things, The Grim Champion of Desolation has 3 legendary resistances and 3 options of legendary actions. They are accompanied by their mount, which is an undead wyvern. They are indeed a force to be reckoned with, and are able to make two attacks with their +14 leeching blade every turn, as well as using their Hollow Void ability that forces a DC 22 Constitution saving throw that can deal up to 88 (11d8) force damage. What's more, is that any creature who falls to 0 hit points from their Hollow Void ability will have their body crumble to dust instantly. No death saving throws.
Their legendary actions are not to be underestimated either, one of which can force a strength saving throw with a ridiculous difficulty of 22. It can also utilize a legendary action to move in a way that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity, or render any spell below 5th level null and void. This makes this a fearsome enemy to throw at a party, and will almost certainly result in some character deaths.
1 Aurnozci
A Gargantuan Worm Of Destruction And Toxicity
- 370 hit points
- Armor Class 16
- Challenge Rating 22
Aurnozci is a demon lord that looks like a huge worm and is trapped inside a domain that it rules. When encountered in-game, Aurnozci will typically be found in their lair, bringing their total challenge rating up to 23. The lair itself is indeed fearsome and has a range of abilities, like trapping creatures in a cocoon or swarming them with insects.
Aurnozci himself can make up to 3 attacks per turn, with his tail and his bite, both of which feature a whopping +15 to hit. He can dish out up to 72 (12d6) damage with his mucus spray ability and even cast heat metal at the 7th level without expending any spell slots or resources.
He has advantage on saving throws against spells and regains 15 hit points at the start of his turn if the conditions are correct. All of this combines to make Aurnozci one of the most fearsome new creatures introduced in The Book of Many Things.
- Franchise
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
- 1974
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
- E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson