Small fiend (devil), lawful evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 22 (5d6 + 5)
Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (+0) | 15 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 11 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 8 (-1) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Dex +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 12
Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the devil’s darkvision.
Flyby. The devil doesn’t provoke an opportunity attack when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.
Limited Spines. The devil has twelve tail spines. Used spines regrow by the time the devil finishes a long rest.
Magic Resistance. The devil has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The spined devil makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its fork or two with its tail spines.
- Multiattack (suggested). The spined devil makes four attacks: one with its bite, one with its fork, one two with its tails pines.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.
- Fork. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
- Tail Spine. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 20/80 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) fire 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 spined devil, also known as a spinagon, is a small fiend that serves as a messenger, spy, scout, or lackey for the infernal armies of the Nine Hells. It has a humanoid body covered with reddish scales and spines, a pair of bat-like wings, a long forked tail, and a snarling face with sharp teeth and glowing eyes. A spined devil’s spines are not only for defense, but also for offense, as it can fling them as fiery projectiles at its enemies. A spined devil speaks Infernal and can communicate telepathically with other devils within 120 feet. A spined devil has long, razor-sharp talons on its feet and carries a small military fork or other nasty weapon.
COMBAT
A spined devil is a cowardly and cunning creature that prefers to avoid direct confrontation unless it has a clear advantage. It uses its flyby ability to dart in and out of melee range, biting and stabbing with its fork, or staying at a distance and hurling its tail spines. A spined devil has limited spines, however, and once it runs out of them, it becomes more vulnerable. A spined devil also has magic resistance and can see through magical darkness, making it harder to surprise or affect with spells. A spined devil is immune to fire and poison, and resistant to cold and non-silvered weapons.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A spined devil lives in the Nine Hells of Baator, where it serves as a loyal minion of the archdevils and their lieutenants. It carries messages, gathers intelligence, herds lesser devils into battle, and runs errands for more powerful baatezu. A spined devil is often assigned to a specific master or task, and it strives to fulfill its duty without fail, fearing the wrath of its superiors. A spined devil also seeks promotion and power, but it knows its place in the infernal hierarchy and does not challenge those above it. A spined devil is despised by most other devils for its weakness and servility, but it is also respected for its usefulness and reliability.
A spined devil is common throughout the layers of Baator and plentiful in layers three through seven. It can sense the presence of good-aligned creatures within 60 feet, and it hates them with a passion. If it discovers intruders, it flies off to call a more powerful baatezu. It does not attack or fight unless cornered and unable to barter its way out. A spined devil might even compromise its message to avoid combat.
A spined devil’s advancement process is strange and dependent on the whims of those it has served. When a spined devil advances, its former masters decide how much advancement it receives. Therefore, if a spined devil serves a gelugon well, it may be promoted as high as amnizu. Stories tell of the pit fiend Greth advancing a spinagon to a hamatula.
ECOLOGY
A spined devil is a fiend that feeds on the pain and suffering of others. It delights in tormenting and corrupting mortals, leading them into temptation and darkness. A spined devil is not a natural creature, but a product of infernal transformation. It was once a mortal soul that was condemned to the Nine Hells for its evil deeds in life, and then twisted into a devilish form by the dark powers of Baator. A spined devil can only be killed permanently in the Nine Hells; otherwise, it reforms there after some time.