Large fiend (demon), chaotic evil
Huge fiend (demon), chaotic evil (suggested)
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Armor Class (suggested) 21 (natural armor)
Hit Points 157 (15d10 + 75)
Hit Points (suggested) 172 (15d12 + 75)
Speed 30 ft., burrow 10 ft
Speed (suggested) 60 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +4
Proficiency Bonus +6 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 (+5) | 15 (+2) | 21 (+5) | 19 (+4) | 17 (+3) | 16 (+3) |
Saving Throw Str +9, Con +9, Wis +7, Cha +7
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non magical weapons
Damage Immunities poison
Damage Immunities (suggested) acid, fire, poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Abyssal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Summon Tanar’ri (suggested, long rest). The glabrezu con gate one Tanar’ri of lower challenge rating as a bonus action.
Innate Spellcasting. The glabrezu’s spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 16). The glabrezu can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
- At will: darkness, detect magic, dispel magic
- 1/day each: confusion, fly, power word stun
Innate Spellcasting (suggested). The glabrezu’s spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 16). The glabrezu can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
- At will: detect magic
- 7/day: burning hands, charm person, confusion, dispel magic, enlarge/reduce, plane shift, power word stun, reverse gravity
Magic Resistance. The glabrezu has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The glabrezu makes four attacks: two with its pincers and two with its fists. Alternatively, it makes two attacks with its pincers and casts one spell.
- Multiattack (suggested). The glabrezu makes five attacks, two with its pincers, two with its fists and one with its bite. Alternatively, it makes two attacks with its pincers and casts one spell.
- Bite (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) piercing damage.
- Pincer. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 15). The glabrezu has two pincers, each of which can grapple only one target.
- Pincer (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 17). The glabrezu has two pincers, each of which can grapple only one target.
- Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
- Fist (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d4 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
GLABREZU’s TACTICS (read the article)
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 glabrezu is a fearsome demon that combines brute strength and cunning intellect. It has a muscular body covered with wrinkled skin that ranges from deep russet to pitch black. It has two pairs of arms, each with a different function. The upper arms end in massive pincers that can crush bones and armor, while the lower arms have clawed hands that can manipulate objects and cast spells. Its head resembles that of a canine, with goat horns, fangs, and piercing purple eyes. It stands 9 to 15 feet tall and weighs about 5,500 pounds . These commanding tanar’ri are terrifying to see.
COMBAT
A glabrezu is a formidable opponent in combat, capable of using both physical and magical attacks. It can make four attacks per round: two with its pincers and two with its fists. Alternatively, it can make two attacks with its pincers and cast one spell. It has innate spellcasting ability, and can cast the following spells without material components: darkness, detect magic, dispel magic, confusion, fly, and power word stun . It also has magic resistance, giving it advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects .
A glabrezu prefers to work behind the scenes, tempting mortals with promises of power and influence. It collects treasures and artifacts that it uses as bargaining chips or rewards for its pawns. It often visits mortals in secret, using telepathy to communicate directly in their minds. It can also use its intelligence and charisma to persuade or deceive others. It enjoys corrupting and ruining the lives of those who succumb to its temptations.
A glabrezu usually avoids combat with mortals, preferring guile, trickery, and evil bargains. However, if things do not go as planned, the glabrezu thinks nothing of slaying the mortal (who, to the glabrezu’s thinking, will probably end up in the Abyss anyway). A glabrezu can attack with claws, pincers and its bite. With a successful claw attack it can attempt to grab and pick up an opponent . A glabrezu rarely drops a grabbed opponent unless it faces imminent death.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A glabrezu is a native of the Abyss, the chaotic evil plane of existence. It dwells in the layers that are ruled by powerful demon lords, such as Pazuzu, Baphomet, or Graz’zt. It serves as a lieutenant or a spy for its master, carrying out missions and schemes in the Abyss or on other planes. It sometimes acts as an emissary or a negotiator for its lord, dealing with other demons or outsiders.
A glabrezu is not loyal to its master, however. It seeks to advance its own status and power in the Abyssal hierarchy. It often plots against its lord or rivals, hoping to overthrow them or take their place. It also competes with other glabrezus for resources and influence. A glabrezu is wary of other demons, especially balors and mariliths, who are stronger and more respected than it.
A glabrezu can be summoned by mortals who wish to make a pact with it. It usually requires a complex ritual and a sacrifice to be performed. A glabrezu will offer its services in exchange for something of value, such as a soul, a magic item, or a favor. It will try to twist the terms of the deal to its advantage, or to trick the mortal into asking for something that will ultimately harm them. A glabrezu will also try to corrupt the mortal over time, leading them to greater evils and sins.
Glabrezu are the covert agents of the underworld. They lure weak and impulsive mortals into giving them power. When a mortal mage summons a glahrezu, the mage is confident that strong magic will master the situation. But mages are short-sighted compared to the immortal glabrezu. The glabrezu knows that with each summoning, its power there grows like a seed of evil. Glabrezu possess rich treasure that they hoard in vast subterranean lairs in the Abyss. With these masses of gold, magic, and wealth they tempt mortals into summoning them.
Glabrezu leech power from other planes and exert their influence there with surgical precision. Although they take little part in the slaughter of the Blood War, their subtle manipulations and subjugations are a deeper evil. They do not get along well with mariliths.
ECOLOGY
A glabrezu is a living embodiment of chaos and evil. It has no natural role or purpose in the world, except to spread corruption and destruction. It feeds on the negative emotions and energies of others, especially fear, pain, and despair. It also consumes flesh and blood, preferably of intelligent creatures.
A glabrezu does not reproduce naturally. It is created by the spontaneous generation of the Abyss, or by the will of a demon lord. It can also spawn lesser demons from its own essence, such as quasits or manes. A glabrezu has no concept of family or kinship, and treats other demons as rivals or enemies.
A glabrezu is an enemy of all that is good and lawful. It hates angels, devils, celestials, and other beings that oppose its nature. It also despises mortals who resist its temptations or defy its plans. It will seek to destroy or enslave them if possible. A glabrezu has few allies, except for those who serve its master or share its goals. It may work with other evil creatures, such as cultists, warlocks, or evil dragons, but only for mutual benefit or convenience.