Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Dread Knight

Medium · Undead · CR 19 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Monstrous Menagerie

262 (25d8+150)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Undead

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 22000

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Swim 15 ft (4.6 m)

Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Truesight 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 20

Saving Throws

Dexterity +9 Constitution +12 Intelligence +8 Wisdom +10 Charisma +11

Skills

History +8 Intimidation +11 Perception +10

Languages

the languages it knew in life

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

cold, fire, necrotic, poison

Condition Immunities

charmed, fatigue, frightened, poisoned, stunned

Traits

Undead Nature

A dread knight doesnt require air, sustenance, or sleep.

Unholy Aura

The dread knight and allies within 30 feet have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magic effects and against features that turn undead. Other creatures of the dread knights choice within 30 feet have disadvantage on saving throws against spells and other magic effects.

Actions

Fire Blast

1/day

A fiery mote streaks from the dread knights finger to a point within 120 feet and blossoms into a 20-foot-radius sphere of black fire which spreads around corners. Each creature within the area makes a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw taking 63 (18d6) fire damage on a failed saving throw or half damage on a success. This damage ignores fire resistance and treats immunity to fire damage as fire resistance.

Ice Wall

1/day

The dread knight magically creates a wall of ice on a solid surface it can see within 60 feet. The wall is flat 1 foot thick and can be up to 50 feet long and 15 feet high. The wall lasts for 1 minute or until destroyed. Each 10-foot section has AC 12 30 hit points vulnerability to fire damage and immunity to cold necrotic poison and psychic damage.

If the wall enters a creatures space when it appears, the creature is pushed to one side of the wall (creatures choice)

The creature then makes a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw taking 49 (14d6) cold damage on a successful save or half damage on a success.

Soul Wrack

1/day

A creature within 60 feet makes a DC 16 Constitution saving throw taking 70 (20d6) necrotic damage and falling prone on a failed save or taking half damage on a success.

Summon Fiendish Steed

1/day

A fell nightmare or wyvern magically appears in an empty space within 5 feet. The steed follows the dread knights commands and acts on its turn. It may attack on the turn on which it is summoned. It remains until the dread knight dismisses it as an action or it is killed.

Bonus Actions

Break Magic

The dread knight ends all spell effects created by a 5th-level or lower spell slot on a creature, object, or point within 30 feet.

Cursed Greatsword

+12 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d6+6 plus 4d6 necrotic damage.

The dread knight makes a cursed greatsword attack.

About Dread Knight

Dread Knight is a medium undead with a Challenge Rating of 19. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 18 and possesses 262 hit points (derived from 25d8+150).

Dread Knight has communication capabilities including the languages it knew in life. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Dread Knight

2 tips available

When using Dread Knight in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Fire Damage Mitigation: This creature deals fire damage. Advise players to have fire resistance ready or use water-based tactics. Consider environmental fire hazards that could backfire on the creature.
Cold Damage Strategy: Cold-based attacks can slow or freeze. Prepare 'Heat Metal' or fire spells as countermeasures. Ice terrain can be used to create difficult terrain for melee characters.

Player Guide: Facing Dread Knight

2 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

Fire Damage Protection: This creature deals fire damage! Get fire resistance from spells like 'Resistance' or potions. Avoid fighting near flammable objects. Water spells can counter fire attacks.
Cold Damage Protection: This creature deals cold damage! Get cold resistance or use fire spells. Avoid water surfaces - they can freeze and create difficult terrain. 'Heat Metal' can counter cold.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 19.

High-Level Solo Encounter:

This creature is too powerful for a single level-20 character. You need 2.0 character(s) at maximum level (20) to face this creature.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 38,000 XP
Hard: 57,000 XP
Deadly: 76,000 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Dread Knight?: Dread Knight has a Challenge Rating of 19, making it appropriate for parties of level 19.0.
What type of creature is Dread Knight?: Dread Knight is a Medium Undead, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Dread Knight speak?: Dread Knight can communicate in the languages it knew in life.