Large aberration, lawful evil
Armor Class 15 (breastplate)
Hit Points 127 (17d10 + 34)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +4
Proficiency Bonus +7 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 15 (+2) | 21 (+5) | 19 (+4) | 21 (+5) |
Saving Throws Int +9, Wis +8, Cha +9
Skills Arcana +9, Insight +8, Perception +8, Stealth +5
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 18
Languages Deep Speech, Undercommon, Telepathy (2 miles)
Challenge 9 (5000 XP)
Creature Sense. The ulitharid is aware of the presence of creatures within 2 miles of it that have an Intelligence score of 4 or higher. It knows the distance and direction to each creature, as well as each creature’s Intelligence score, but can’t sense anything else about it. A creature protected by a mind blank spell, a nondetection spell, or similar magic can’t be perceived in this manner.
Magic Resistance. The ulitharid has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Psionic Hub. If an elder brain establishes a psychic link with the ulitharid, the elder brain can form a psychic link with any other creature the ulitharid can detect using its Creature Sense. Any such link ends if the creature falls outside the telepathy ranges of both the ulitharid and the elder brain. The ulitharid can maintain its psychic link with the elder brain regardless of the distance between them, so long as they are both on the same plane of existence. If the ulitharid is more than 5 miles away from the elder brain, it can end the psychic link at any time (no action required).
Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). The ulitharid’s innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 17 ). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:
- At will: detect thoughts, levitate
- 1/day each: confusion, dominate monster, eyebite, feeblemind, mass suggestion, plane shift (self only), project image, scrying, telekinesis
Expert Spellcaster (suggested). All saving throws against the Ulitharid innate spellcasting abilities are made with disadvantage.
Regeneration (suggested). The ulitharid uses its mind powers to regenerate 1d4 hit points per hour.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack (suggested). The Ulitharid can make six attacks with its tentacles or one attack with its extract brain ability if conditions are met.
- Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 27 (4d10 + 5) psychic damage. If the target is Large or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 14) and must succeed on a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw or be stunned until this grapple ends.
- Tentacles (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) psychic damage. If the target is Large or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 14) and must succeed on a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw or be stunned until this grapple ends. Add +2 to the escape DC for each tentacle grappling the target. If at any moment the target is grappled by at least four tentacles, then the mind flayer can activate the extract brain ability as a swift action.
- Extract Brain. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one incapacitated humanoid grappled by the ulitharid. Hit: 55 (10d10) piercing damage. If this damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the ulitharid kills the target by extracting and devouring its brain.
- Mind Blast (Recharge 5-6). The ulitharid magically emits psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw or take 31 (4d12 + 5) psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. A target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
- Mind Blast (suggested). The ulitharid magically emits psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must suvvessfully roll with disadvantage a DC 21 Intelligence saving throw or take 23 (4d8 + 5) psychic damage and suffer the same effect of the feeblemind spell.
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
Ulitharids, or Noble Illithid, are the rare and powerful variants of mind flayers, the sinister psionic creatures that enslave and devour the brains of other races. Ulitharids are favored by their god, the elder brain, and have the authority to command lower illithids and all other humanoids that fall under their dominion.
Ulitharids are easily distinguished from their lesser kin by their imposing stature and their extra tentacles. They stand at least 7½ feet tall, towering over most other creatures. Their skin is dark mauve, darker than normal mind flayers. They have six writhing tentacles around their mouths, instead of four, and each tentacle is lined with sharp teeth that can tear flesh and bone.
Ulitharids wear elaborate robes and headresses that conceal their grotesque bodies and signify their noble status. They often adorn themselves with jewelry and symbols of their power.
Ulitharids have extraordinary intellects that surpass those of most other beings. They can comprehend the spoken languages of many races, but they rarely speak aloud, as their mouths are poorly adapted for vocalization. Instead, they use their innate telepathy to communicate with any creature within range of their mind.
COMBAT
The ulitharid’s six faceted tentacles are much stronger than those of normal illithids, allowing the monster to quickly reach a victim’s brain once the tentacles have grasped the victim’s head. Each tentacle inflicts damage upon a successful hit and only three tentacles are needed to secure a grip that enables the creature to bore into the opponent’s head in search of his brains.
A ulitharid’s mind blast is also much more deadly than its common counterpart. It has the same area of effect as a normal mind blast – a cone-shaped burst of psionic energy – but those who fail to resist its power with a penalty become feebleminded, losing their intelligence and memory.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Ulitharids, or Noble Illithids, are the elite and rare variants of the mind flayers, the sinister psionic creatures that enslave and devour the brains of other races. Ulitharids are revered by their common kin as minor godly beings, and they serve as caretakers for the community’s elder brain, a massive pool of cerebral fluid that houses the brains of deceased illithids. Ulitharids also act as ambassadors to other illithid cities, and as rulers of small illithid villages or outposts. Some scholars speculate that ulitharids are subservient to even more powerful illithids, but these mysterious entities have never been encountered by surface dwellers.
ECOLOGY
Ulitharids have a much longer lifespan than normal illithids, reaching up to 250 years of age. They also undergo a longer metamorphosis process, spending twice as much time as tadpoles before transforming into their final form. Ulitharids are the apex predators of the Underdark, the vast network of caverns and tunnels that lies beneath the surface world. Few creatures dare to oppose them, as they are armed with formidable psionic powers and a hunger for brains.