Medium fiend (demon), chaotic evil
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +5 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (-5) | 17 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 13 (+1) | 14 (+2) |
Saving Throws Dex +5, Cha +4
Skills Stealth +7
Damage vulnerabilities radiant
Damage Resistances acid, fire, necrotic, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities cold, lightning, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Spell Immunities (suggested) Transmutation
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Abyssal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 4 (1100 XP)
Incorporeal Movement. The demon can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
Light Sensitivity. While in bright light, the demon has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Shadow Possession (suggested). As an action, the shadow demon can attempt to possess a humanoid within 100 feet of it that it can see. The target must make a Charisma saving throw against the shadow demon’s spell save DC (12). On a failure, the shadow demon’s body disappears, and the target’s body becomes its new host. The target’s soul is trapped in the shadow demon’s original location, where it remains aware of its surroundings but can’t move or take actions. The shadow demon retains its alignment, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, and its Incorporeal Movement, Light Sensitivity, and Shadow Stealth traits. It otherwise adopts the target’s statistics. It knows everything the target knows, including spells and languages. If the host body drops to 0 hit points, the shadow demon must make a Charisma saving throw against its own spell save DC. On a success, it reappears in an unoccupied space within 100 feet of the host body. On a failure, it dies. The target’s soul returns to its body if it is within 100 feet and alive, ending the possession. As an action, the shadow demon can end the possession voluntarily, causing its body to reappear in an unoccupied space within 100 feet of the host body. The target’s soul returns to its body if it is within 100 feet and alive. The possession lasts until it ends as described above or until it is ended by an effect like dispel evil and good. If the possession ends before the shadow demon returns to its body, its body reappears in an unoccupied space within 100 feet of the host body. If its body is destroyed or more than 100 feet away from the host body when it attempts to return to it, the shadow demon dies.
Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the demon can take the Hide action as a bonus action.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack (suggested). The shadow demon make two attacks with its claws and one attack with its bite.
- Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) psychic damage or, if the demon had advantage on the attack roll, 17 (4d6 + 3) psychic damage.
- Claws (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) psychic damage plus 6 (1d6 + 3) necrotic damage or, if the demon had advantage on the attack roll, 10 (2d6 + 3) psychic damage plus 10 (2d6 + 3) necrotic damage.
- Bite (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) psychic damage plus 7 (1d8 + 3) necrotic damage or, if the demon had advantage on the attack roll, 12 (2d8 + 3) psychic damage plus 10 (2d8 + 3) necrotic damage.
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 shadow demon is a fiendish creature that was once a full-fledged demon, but lost its physical form and most of its power when it failed to reform properly in the Abyss. Now, it exists as a living shadow, a dark and twisted reflection of its former self. A shadow demon looks like a tall, slender humanoid with small batlike wings and a body composed of darkness. Both the long fingers and slender toes of the creature end in terrible claws that inflict gaping wounds on enemies. Shadow demons are driven by malice and hatred, seeking to corrupt and destroy all life. They are cunning and deceptive, using their abilities to possess and manipulate mortals to further their evil schemes.
COMBAT
Shadow demons prefer to avoid direct combat, as they are vulnerable to light and magic. Instead, they use their stealth and incorporeality to ambush and surprise their enemies, striking from the shadows with their claws that can drain the mind and soul of their victims. Shadow demons can also use their magic jar ability to take over the body of a humanoid, trapping the original soul in a gemstone or in the shadow demon’s former location. This allows them to infiltrate and sabotage groups of adventurers, cults, or even entire societies. Shadow demons are loyal to no one but themselves, and will betray their allies or hosts if it suits their interests.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Shadow demons originate from the Abyss, the chaotic and evil plane of existence where demons dwell. However, they are often summoned or banished to other planes by powerful spellcasters, either for service or punishment. Shadow demons can be found in any dark and gloomy place, such as dungeons, ruins, caves, or haunted houses. They sometimes form alliances with other creatures of darkness, such as vampires, wraiths, or night hags, but they are ultimately selfish and treacherous.
Shadow demons live in small villages throughout the Lower Planes. They have a high sense of the aesthetic, and their villages are noted for the sculptures of pure darkness. (Shadow demons cannot use the ability to sculpt darkness outside of the Lower Planes, and the time and concentration required to do so prevents its use in combat.) Many villages are built around a gate to some other plane. These gates are tiny (only a few feet tall) and well hidden.
Shadow demons are a race of traders in the Lower Planes. They deal in minds that they have captured in dark gems. An imprisoned intellect of great power and lore, such as a wizard with a high reputation, can interest many buyers and provoke intense bidding wars. The shadow demons trade the captured intellects for raw evil magic, which they shape by unknown processes into more shadow fiends.
Shadow demons seek powerful minds to imprison and sell, but sometimes they inadvertently steal the intellects of braggarts and know-alls. These little minds, prone to brag of their status, thereby attract a shadow demon’s notice. Soon the victims find themselves on a trading block in the Lower Planes.
Some say the powers of the Lower Planes have close ties to the shadow demons, and that the powers can command the demons to do their bidding at any time.
ECOLOGY
Shadow demons are unnatural beings that defy the laws of nature. They do not need to eat, drink, sleep, or breathe, and they are immune to most diseases and poisons. They do not reproduce or age, and they can only be killed by magic or sunlight. Shadow demons feed on the negative emotions and memories of their prey, especially fear, pain, and despair. They also collect souls as a form of currency or power source, trading them with other fiends or using them to fuel their spells. Shadow demons have a negative impact on the environment, as they spread corruption and darkness wherever they go.