By Alan McCoy from Dungeons & Dragons: Fundamentals
How to build challenging encounters against a Planetar
Note: This has been prepared utilizing only the 5E Core Rules. The Angels can be found in the Monster Manual pages 15-18. As with all multiple monster categories, the entire entry should be read prior to utilizing one of these creatures in your game. The Planetar can be found in the Monster Manual Page 17.
An Angel is a celestial entity formed from the essence of a benevolent God and sent forth into the planes to further its God’s agenda. There are three main orders of Angels, Deva, Planetar and Solar.
While most consider the presence of an Angel to be a great signal and symbol of hope and benevolence, it must be remembered that there are almost as many instances in which Angels have signaled doom and destruction.
The Deva are the messengers and agents, they are sent forth to help and advise, or sometimes discourage or hamper. They do their work with great subtlety preferring to allow the mortal world to continue without knowing that they have been affected at all.
There are many tales of ‘lucky misfortune’, people who failed to board ships that were lost at sea etc. that might be the work of a Deva.The Planetar are Warrior Angels, formed as weapons of their Deity and sent to intervene and protect.
A Planetar operates on the scale of saving a city or a nation; while it will intercede for an individual if it does not interfere with the mission as a whole, a Planetar has no problem allowing the death or destruction of an individual if that is necessary to further the overall plan.
The Solar are the Angel-Elites, supremely powerful beings that have been formed specifically to watch over or guard against a specific event or need that will require the intervention of the nearly divine to prevent catastrophe. The divine essence necessary to create a Solar is tremendous and most Deities are reluctant to invest so much of themselves.
Angels are formed or created to support the will of the Divine being that created them with perfect obedience and tireless devotion. An angel will always strive to fulfill the divine commands for which they are formed.
To accomplish their purpose, the Angel must possess a certain level of autonomy, the ability to pass judgements, the ability to make decisions, and unfortunately the ability to make mistakes. Angels are creatures of Law and of Good, who are incapable of deviating from the purpose for which they were formed.
This mandate works well in world of absolutes and it has given most Angels a sense of infallibility and overall superiority when it comes to mortals.
In the real world, there are situations where absolutes create conflict, while some of these conflicts can be resolved, the greater the power and the autonomy of the Angel, the more likely that such a conflict will cause a break which will render the Angel forever unfit to serve their deity.
It is this phenomenon that has led to the legends of “Redeemed” and “Fallen Angel” stories, many of which fill the Hells with Fallen Angels.The Redeemed no longer have their connection to their Deity but maintain their power. They are usually start out confused and are unable to comprehend their newfound status as free spirits.
Once they have recovered their equilibrium, they seek out some way serve their God even though they are forever separate from them, unable to atone or cleanse the stain, but still able to serve.The Fallen no longer have their connection to their Deity but maintain their power.
The Fallen usually take their banishment personally. They rebel against the power that formed them and that they formerly served by actively opposing their former divinity.
The more powerful have even been known to take rulership of a portion of the Hells. Their intention is to accumulate enough power to elevate themselves to Godhood.
Step 1) Let’s Review what we know about the Planetar
The Planetar are Large Celestials that appear as hairless muscular humanoids with opalescent green skill and large brilliantly white feathered wings.
They are armed with an Angelic Greatsword.
Physically, the Planetar are Strong (+7), Nimble (+5), and Tough (+7)Mentally, the Planetar are Smart (+4), Wise (+6) and have amazing presence (Charisma +7).
The Planetar can walk 40 feet per round or fly 120 feet per round.
The Planetar has Truesight 120 feet and a Passive Perception of 21.
The Planetar can spell all languages and is telepathic (120 feet).
The Planetar’s proficient saving throws are Con +12, Wis +11, Cha +12.The Planetar is proficient in the Perception Skill.
The Planetar is Resistant to Radiant Damage, and Non-Magical Weapon Damage (Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing).
The Planetar has immunity from the following conditions: Charmed, Exhaustion and Frightened.The Planetar has Divine Awareness and automatically knows if it has been told a lie.
The Planetar has an Immortal Nature and does not require Food, Drink or Sleep.The Planetar has Magic Resistance and has Advantage to Saving Throws vs Spells and other Magical Effects.
The Planetar can cast the following spells, without any material component. The spellcasting ability is Charisma (Save DC 20)
At Will: Detect Good and Evil, Invisibility (Self Only)
3/Day (Each): Blade Barrier, Dispel Evil and Good, Flame Strike, Raise Dead
1/Day (Each): Commune, Control Weather, Insect Plague
Step 2) Determine the probable Strategy
Even though a Planetar is a powerhouse in combat, they do not enter combat frivolously. It is usually required to refrain from doing so unless there is no other option.
It is a common belief among the peerage of Planetars that being forced to enter physical combat is an admittance of failure, they should have been able to control the situation by the subtle application of power.
In an ideal situation, the Planetar will remain on the sidelines, invisible and undetected, occasionally giving a mental whisper to reinforce a word or thought or ensuring that an answer requested is heard and understood.
A Planetar might be sent to convince a human leadership or government to change its ways and is give the authority to cause rain to fall on the crops if they agree; or to send a plague of insects to devour what little might remain if they continue to refuse.
No matter what the errand, the Planetar will act in accord with the tenets of their Deity and will work to ensure that those are met in every way.
If allowed, a Planetar who detects a personage of the Hells may emerge and do battle with the evil creature.
Step 3) Determine Tactics
While the Planetar does not have ‘Minions’, you will rarely find one unless it has a group of the followers of its Deity in attendance.
These followers will be encouraged or provoked by the Planetar until fighting ‘ON GODS SIDE’ seems a natural honor, even if it leads to the death of the worshiper. While the confrontation is brewing, the Planetar will begin a Control Weather spell (ten-minute cast time).
This is both for dramatic effect and to provide the Planetar with additional firepower.
Once combat erupts, the Planetar will utilize spells to isolate particularly dangerous enemies (Blade Barrier), Flame Strike will be used if it can hit and weaken two or more enemies, and Insect plague is ideally used for three or more.
Because of the great speed and high AC that the Planetar enjoys, it will flit about the battlefield, the ultimate ‘burst damage’ attacker, with the Greatsword attacks finishing off opponents. Remember, they can hover in flight, so they rarely need to even enter the melee combat range of their opponent to make their powerful Greatsword attack.
In addition: the Planetar can view the followers fighting in its cause and can heal with its touch four times a day.
Step 4) DM Tips and Observations
I hesitated to do a Fight like an Angel… I was afraid that people would see it as another monster rather than as a force to be reckoned with.
These creatures are master manipulators who can bring on religious fervor in even the least faithful of their followers.
Religion is a powerful motivator, and it is the key to portraying one of these creatures properly.
Subtlety is the “Bread and Butter” of the Angel, and they need the ability to work certain magical effects to allow to make that ‘work’. Allowing the Angel to use a wide variety of Cantrips will give them the ability to send nonverbal messages and clues to worshipers.
Additionally, they can help their charges directly and indirectly by using Cantrips like light, dancing lights, guidance, mending, minor illusion, spare the dying, and thaumaturgy.As to the combat abilities of this creature:
I’d increase the AC of the Planetar to 24. 19 is just too low.
I’d consider adding the Shield and Absorb Elements spells to the Spell list of At WILL Reaction Spells. Perhaps 3X per day.
I’d add Damage Resistance to Fire, Cold, PoisonI’d add Conditional immunity to the Poisoned Condition.
I’d add regeneration 10 HP at the start of its’ turn.