Large fiend (yugoloth), neutral evil
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Armor Class (suggested) 22 (natural armor)
Hit Points 123 (13d10 + 52)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +4
Proficiency Bonus +6 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 (+5) | 11 (+0) | 19 (+4) | 12 (+1) | 10 (+0) | 15 (+2) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +9, Con +8
Skills Intimidation +6, Perception +4, Stealth +4
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities acid, poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Abyssal, Infernal, telepathy 60 ft.
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Innate Spellcasting. The nycaloth’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma. The nycaloth can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
- At will: darkness, detect magic, dispel magic, invisibility (self only), mirror image
Magic Resistance. The nycaloth has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The nycaloth’s weapon attacks are magical.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The nycaloth makes two melee attacks, or it makes one melee attack and teleports before or after the attack.
- Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or take 5 (2d4) slashing damage at the start of each of its turns due to a fiendish wound. Each time the nycaloth hits the wounded target with this attack, the damage dealt by the wound increases by 5 (2d4). Any creature can take an action to stanch the wound with a successful DC 13 Wisdom (Medicine) check. The wound also closes if the target receives magical healing.
- Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d12 + 5) slashing damage.
- Teleport. The nycaloth magically teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
NYCALOTH’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
Nycaloth
A nycaloth is a fiendish creature that belongs to the yugoloths, a race of mercenary beings that inhabit the lower planes of existence. Nycaloths are the elite airborne shock troops and scouts of the yugoloths, and they look like muscular gargoyles with green skin, red eyes, and horns . They are fierce and cunning warriors, who strike hard and fast without warning, then teleport away to avoid retaliation. They are also observers and reporters, who reconnoiter the lower planes and observe the Blood War, the endless conflict between demons and devils.
Description
Nycaloths are large creatures, standing about 8 feet tall and weighing about 500 pounds. They have powerful bat wings that bear them swiftly aloft in battle, and the razor-sharp claws of their hands and feet that cut through flesh and bone with ease. They also wield greataxes that are imbued with magic. Their faces are twisted into permanent snarls, and they have long tongues that they use to lick their wounds or taunt their enemies .
Nycaloths have a dark and evil nature, and they serve the yugoloths only for their own gain. They are greedy, selfish, and ambitious, and they often plot to overthrow their superiors or betray their allies. They have no loyalty or honor, and they will switch sides in a conflict if they see a better opportunity. They enjoy inflicting pain and suffering on others, and they take pleasure in the chaos and destruction they cause .
Nycaloths have some innate magical abilities, such as creating darkness, detecting magic, dispelling magic, turning invisible, and creating mirror images of themselves. They also have a high resistance to magic and various types of damage. They can communicate telepathically with other creatures within 60 feet, and they can speak Abyssal and Infernal, the languages of demons and devils .
Combat
Nycaloths are formidable opponents in combat, as they use their speed, strength, and cunning to overwhelm their foes. They prefer to attack from surprise or ambush, using their invisibility or darkness to conceal their presence. They then unleash a barrage of attacks with their claws or greataxes, aiming to inflict as much damage as possible in a short time. They also use their teleportation ability to evade attacks or reposition themselves for a better advantage .
Nycaloths are not afraid to fight dirty, and they will use any means necessary to win. They will target the weakest or most vulnerable enemies first, or focus on the leaders or spellcasters of a group. They will also try to isolate or separate their enemies from each other, using their mirror images or darkness to create confusion or distraction. They will also use their intimidation or deception skills to demoralize or trick their enemies into making mistakes .
Nycaloths are not loyal to anyone but themselves, and they will flee or surrender if they think they are losing or outnumbered. They will also try to bargain or negotiate with their enemies if they see a chance to save themselves or gain something valuable. However, they will never keep their word or honor their agreements, and they will always look for an opportunity to betray or backstab their enemies later .
Habitat / Society
Nycaloths live in the lower planes of existence, such as Gehenna, Hades, or the Abyss. They serve as soldiers or mercenaries for the yugoloths, who are the rulers and masterminds of these planes. The yugoloths are neutral evil beings who seek to manipulate and profit from the Blood War. The yugoloths hire out their services to either side of the conflict, depending on who offers them more money or power.
Nycaloths are among the most powerful and respected of the yugoloths’ forces, and they often act as commanders or leaders of other lesser yugoloths. However, nycaloths are also ambitious and rebellious, and they often scheme to overthrow the yugoloths or take over their operations. Nycaloths have no loyalty or friendship among themselves either, and they will compete or fight with each other for status or resources.
Nycaloths rarely leave the lower planes unless they are hired by someone else to do so. They have no interest in the affairs of other planes or worlds, unless there is something valuable or fun for them to gain or destroy there. Nycaloths are not interested in religion or worship either, as they see themselves as superior to any gods or beings. They only respect strength and power, and they will challenge or mock anyone who claims otherwise.
Nycaloths act in a careful and calculating manner to maximize their personal power and safety. They serve as scouts because they can travel the lower planes at will, viewing battles between the baatezu and tanar’ri. They report their findings to the arcanaloths, who use the information in negotiating contracts.
Though powerful, nycaloths endure low status because their information goes to profit others, not themselves. Nycaloths are bitter and jealous of the status of the other greater yugoloths. They scheme constantly to increase their status, often bullying lesser yugoloths to get attention. Sometimes they destroy whole companies of mezzoloths and dergholoths in a fit of rage.
Ecology
Nycaloths are fiendish creatures that have no natural place in the natural order of things. They are not born or created, but rather they are spawned from the foul essence of the lower planes. They have no need for food or water, but they do enjoy consuming the flesh and blood of their enemies or victims. They also have no need for sleep or rest, but they do enjoy torturing or playing with their captives or toys.
Nycaloths have no reproductive cycle or gender, and they do not age or die of natural causes. They can only be killed by violence or magic, and even then they can be brought back to life by their yugoloth masters or allies. Nycaloths have no concept of family or kinship, and they do not care for their own kind or any other creatures. They only care for themselves and their own goals, and they will stop at nothing to achieve them.