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Rakshasa

Medium · Fiend · CR 13 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Monstrous Menagerie

161 (19d8+76)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Medium

Type Fiend

Alignment Chaotic Evil

XP 10000

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 40 ft (12.2 m)

Swim 20 ft (6.1 m)

Climb 20 ft (6.1 m)

Crawl 20 ft (6.1 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 13

Skills

Deception +10 Insight +8

Languages

Common, Infernal, one other

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances

bludgeoning and slashing from nonmagical weapons

Traits

Innate Spellcasting

The rakshasas innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 18). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At Will: Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Major Image
3/Day Each: Charm Person, Dominate Person, fly (self only), Invisibility (self only), locate person, Modify Memory, True Seeing

Actions

Claw

+8 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d6+3 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage. If the target is a creature it is cursed. Whenever a cursed creature takes a long rest it is troubled by terrible visions and dreams and gains no benefit from the rest. The curse can be lifted with remove curse and similar magic.

Fly

(3rd-Level; V, S, Concentration) The rakshasa gains a fly speed of 60 feet.

Invisibility

(2nd-Level; V, S, Concentration) The rakshasa is invisible for 1 hour or until it attacks or casts a spell.

Multiattack

The rakshasa makes two attacks.

Rapier

+8 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d8+3 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.

Sweet Promises

The rakshasa targets a creature that can hear it within 60 feet offering something the target covets. The target makes a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure the target is charmed until the end of its next turn and stunned while charmed in this way.

Bonus Actions

Quickened Spell

The rakshasa casts invisibility or fly.

Read Thoughts

The rakshasa magically reads the surface thoughts of one creature within 60 feet that it can see. Until the end of the rakshasas turn, it has advantage on attack rolls and on Deception, Insight, Intimidation, and Persuasion checks against the creature.

Shapeshift

The rakshasa magically changes its form to that of any Medium or Small humanoid or to its true form. While shapeshifted, its statistics are unchanged.

Reactions

Counterproposal

The rakshasa uses Sweet Promises on a creature that attacked it or attempted to target it with a spell.

About Rakshasa

Rakshasa is a medium fiend with a Challenge Rating of 13. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 16 and possesses 161 hit points (derived from 19d8+76).

Rakshasa has communication capabilities including Common, Infernal, one other. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Rakshasa

1 tips available

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

Flight Control Strategy: Target flying creatures with spells like 'Hold Person', 'Web', or 'Grease' to ground them. Without flight restriction, they can escape melee range easily. Consider area denial spells below their flight altitude to force them into disadvantageous positions.

Player Guide: Facing Rakshasa

1 strategies available

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

Counter Flight Advantage: This creature can fly! Use ranged attacks, reach weapons, or spells like 'Thunderwave' to push it away. Consider 'Gust of Wind' or 'Earthbind' to ground it. Melee characters need fly speed or flight magic to engage.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 13.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 17 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 18,200 XP
Hard: 27,300 XP
Deadly: 36,400 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 Rakshasa?: Rakshasa has a Challenge Rating of 13, making it appropriate for parties of level 13.0.
What type of creature is Rakshasa?: Rakshasa is a Medium Fiend, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Rakshasa speak?: Rakshasa can communicate in Common, Infernal, one other.