Medium fiend (devil), lawful evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Armor Class (suggested) 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +4 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 (+3) | 15 (+2) | 15 (+2) | 9 (-1) | 11 (+0) | 11 (+0) |
Saving Throws Str +5, Con +4, Wis +2
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +5, Con +4
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered
Damage Immunities fire, poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Battle Frenzy (suggested). Barbazus are subject to a battle frenzy. In combat, a group of barbazus must make a Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of their turns. The DC for this saving throw equals 10 + the number of rounds that have passed since the start of the combat. On a failed save, the barbazus go berserk. They stay berserk until combat ceases. While berserk, the barbazus have advantage on attack rolls and deal an extra 1d6 damage with their weapon attacks. They also have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws, and they are immune to being frightened or charmed. However, their Armor Class is reduced by 3, and they can’t use any bonus actions or reactions. They also can’t end their rage voluntarily or use their telepathy.
Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the devil’s darkvision.
Magic Resistance. The devil has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Steadfast. The devil can’t be frightened while it can see an allied creature within 30 feet of it.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The devil makes two attacks: one with its beard and one with its glaive.
- Multiattack (suggested). The devil makes one attack with its beard and two attacks with its fists or one attack with tis beard and one attack with its beard.
- Beard. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned in this way, the target can’t regain hit points. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
- Fist (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
- Glaive. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage. If the target is a creature other than an undead or a construct, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or lose 5 (1d10) hit points at the start of each of its turns due to an infernal wound. Each time the devil hits the wounded target with this attack, the damage dealt by the wound increases by 5 (1d10). Any creature can take an action to stanch the wound with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check. The wound also closes if the target receives magical healing.
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 bearded devil, also known as a barbazu, is a fearsome fiend that serves as a foot soldier in the armies of Hell. It has a humanoid body covered with reddish scales, horns, claws, and a long barbed beard. Its eyes glow with malice and its mouth is filled with sharp teeth. It wields a wicked glaive that can inflict infernal wounds that bleed profusely and resist healing . Its skin is moist, though scaly like a reptile.
COMBAT
A bearded devil is a relentless and savage combatant that enjoys inflicting pain and suffering on its enemies. It usually charges into battle with its glaive, slashing and stabbing at any foe within reach. It also uses its beard as a secondary weapon, lashing out at nearby opponents and poisoning them with its venom . A bearded devil is immune to fire and poison, and resistant to cold and non-silvered weapons It can see through magical darkness and has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects . It is also steadfast in the presence of its allies, refusing to be frightened .
A bearded devil attacks with a saw-toothed glaive that can cause heavy damage and wound bleeds for 2 points of damage each round until the wound is bound or the victim dies. Bleeding glaive wounds are cumulative (2 points of damage per round per wound). The bearded devil can also attack with two claws and its wirelike beard that can inflict disease on a successful hit. If both claws hit, the beard automatically hits for maximum damage.
The bearded devil is bred for battle and takes advantage of any excuse to attack. This makes it unpopular and subject to frequent, harsh discipline, but by the same token it makes an excellent shock troop. Deployed in large armies sometimes numbering in the thousands, bearded devils guard the middle layers of Hell and launch devastating attacks against the demons. They also make popular guards for personal treasure or domains of the more powerful devils.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A bearded devil is native to the Nine Hells, where it serves as an infantry devil under the command of more powerful devils. It often leads hordes of lesser devils such as imps and lemures into battle, or forms part of larger units of devils of its own kind or higher rank. A bearded devil is loyal to its superiors and follows orders without question, but it also harbors a lust for power and glory. It will seek to prove itself in combat and earn promotions or rewards from its masters. A bearded devil is also cruel and sadistic, taking pleasure in torturing captives or enemies.
Although bearded devils are lesser devils, they never command armies. They are simply too chaotic to lead. Sometimes an exceptional bearded devil is promoted to bone devil, but most never survive to see promotion. The bearded devils fill the armies of Hell’s middle layers and commonly guard greater devils. They do not fight out of loyalty or camaraderie, but rather out of their violent need to hurt and kill.
ECOLOGY
A bearded devil is a fiend that feeds on the souls of the wicked and the suffering of the innocent. It does not need to eat, drink, or sleep, but it can consume flesh and blood for enjoyment or sustenance. It can also reproduce by corrupting mortal souls or breeding with other devils. A bearded devil has a lifespan of centuries or millennia, depending on its rank and achievements. It can be killed by powerful magic or divine intervention, but otherwise it will reform in Hell after a period of time if slain elsewhere.