Large aberration, chaotic evil
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 114 (12d10 + 48)
Speed 25 ft., climb 25 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +4
Proficiency Bonus +5 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 (+3) | 8 (-1) | 18 (+4) | 6 (-2) | 15 (+2) | 8 (-1) |
Saving Throws Con +8
Skills Perception +6
Condition Immunities blinded
Senses blindsight 500 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 16
Languages understands Deep Speech, telepathy 1 mile
Challenge 11 (7200 XP)
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If the balhannoth fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The balhannoth makes a bite attack and up to two tentacle attacks, or it makes up to four tentacle attacks.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 25 (4d10 + 3) piercing damage.
- Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 15) and is moved up to 5 feet toward the balhannoth. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the balhannoth can’t use this tentacle against other targets. The balhannoth has four tentacles.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The balhannoth can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The balhannoth regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Bite Attack. The balhannoth makes one bite attack against one creature it has grappled.
- Teleport. The balhannoth magically teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying and any creatures it has grappled, up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
- Vanish. The balhannoth magically becomes invisible for up to 10 minutes or until immediately after it makes an attack roll.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A balhannoth is a large, ovoid aberration with six tentacles and a mouth full of jagged teeth. It is a creature of the Shadowfell, a dark and twisted reflection of the material plane. A balhannoth has no eyes, but it can sense magical energies and the minds of intelligent creatures. It can also warp reality around it, creating illusions that lure its prey into its lair. A balhannoth is a cunning and ruthless predator that feeds on the flesh and fear of its victims.
COMBAT
A balhannoth prefers to ambush its prey rather than hunt them down. It uses its telepathy to read the minds of creatures within one mile of its lair, learning what they desire most. It then reshapes the terrain around its lair to resemble the location sought by one of the creatures, such as a treasure vault, a lost city, or a safe haven. The creature feels a strong pull towards the balhannoth’s lair, thinking that it is close to fulfilling its wish. Once the creature enters the lair, the balhannoth attacks with its bite and tentacles, grappling and teleporting its prey closer to its mouth. A balhannoth can also turn invisible to one creature at a time, making it harder to escape or fight back. A balhannoth’s tentacles can sup
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A balhannoth lives in dark and secluded places, such as caves, ruins, or dungeons. It rarely ventures out of its lair, unless it is starving or disturbed by intruders. A balhannoth has no society or culture, and it does not communicate with other creatures except to lure them in. A balhannoth is solitary and territorial, and it will attack any other balhannoth that encroaches on its domain. However, in areas where magical energy is abundant, such as near portals or ley lines, it is possible to find groups of up to six balhannoths living in proximity.
ECOLOGY
A balhannoth is an aberration that does not belong to the natural order of things. It is a manifestation of the dark and twisted energies of the Shadowfell, and it has no place in the material plane. A balhannoth feeds on living creatures, especially those with strong emotions or desires. It derives pleasure from tormenting its prey with false hopes and fears before devouring them. A balhannoth does not reproduce in a conventional way, but rather spawns new balhannoths from fragments of its own flesh that are infused with shadow magic. A balhannoth has few natural enemies, but it may be hunted by adventurers, shadow dragons, or shadar-kai.