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Herald Of Blood

Huge · Fiend · CR 12 · Neutral Evil

Source. Tome of Beasts

15 (natural armor)

115 (10d12+50)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Huge

Type Fiend

Alignment Neutral Evil

XP 8400

Initiative Bonus +1

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Fly 50 ft (15.2 m)

Swim 30 ft (9.1 m)

Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 240 ft (73.2 m)

Passive Perception 17

Saving Throws

Strength +10 Constitution +9 Wisdom +7

Skills

Arcana +6 Perception +7

Languages

Common, Draconic, Infernal, Void Speech

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities

fire, poison

Damage Resistances

piercing, lightning

Condition Immunities

exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned

Environments

Arctic or Tundra Caves Coast Desert Forest or Jungle Grassland or Plains Hills Laboratory Lake Mountain Ocean Ruins Sewer Shadowfell The Abyss Astral Plane Elysium Ethereal Plane Feywild Hell Material Plane Plane of Air Plane of Earth Plane of Fire Plane of Water Swamp or Marsh Temple Badlands Tomb Underworld Urban

Traits

Blood Armor

The herald of blood takes no damage from the first attack against it each round and ignores any nondamaging effects of the attack.

Gift of Blood

As an action, the herald of blood can transform any fey, human, or goblin into a red hag, if the target willingly accepts this transformation.

Grant Blood Rage

As a bonus action, the herald of blood can grant a single living creature blood rage, giving it advantage on attacks for 3 rounds. At the end of this time, the target gains 1 level of exhaustion and suffers 13 (2d12) necrotic damage from blood loss.

Humanoid Form

A herald of blood can assume a humanoid form at will as a bonus action, and dismiss this form at will.

Melting Touch

When a herald of blood scores a critical hit or starts its turn with a foe grappled, it can dissolve one metal or wood item of its choosing in that foe's possession. A mundane item is destroyed automatically; a magical item survives if its owner makes a successful DC 17 Dexterity saving throw.

Actions

Call of Blood (Costs 2 Actions)

Melee Weapon Attack. +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., all creatures in reach. Hit: 39 (6d12) necrotic damage and each target must make a successful DC 17 Constitution saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion.

Engulfing Protoplasm

+10 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 2d12 acid damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d12 + 6) slashing damage and the target must make a successful DC 17 Dexterity saving throw or be grappled by the herald of blood (escape DC 16). While grappled this way, the creature takes 39 (6d12) acid damage at the start of each of the herald's turns. The herald can have any number of creatures grappled this way.

Majesty of Ragnarok (Costs 3 Actions)

The herald of blood emits a terrifying burst of eldritch power. All creatures within 100 feet and in direct line of sight of the herald take 32 (5d12) necrotic damage, gain 2 levels of exhaustion, and are permanently blinded. Targets that make a successful DC 15 Charisma saving throw are not blinded and gain only 1 level of exhaustion.

Legendary Actions

Call of Blood

Cost 2

Majesty of Ragnarok

Cost 3

Move

Cost 1

The herald of blood moves up to half its speed.

About Herald Of Blood

Herald Of Blood is a huge fiend with a Challenge Rating of 12. It has a neutral evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 115 hit points (derived from 10d12+50).

Herald Of Blood has communication capabilities including Common, Draconic, Infernal, Void Speech. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Herald Of Blood

2 tips available

When using Herald Of Blood 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.
Aquatic Combat: This creature can swim at 30 ft. It has advantage in water environments. Consider fighting on land or using water-based spells against it.

Player Guide: Facing Herald Of Blood

2 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.
Aquatic Combat Defense: This creature can swim at 30 ft! It has advantage in water. Fight on land if possible. Use 'Control Water' or drain water sources to limit its mobility.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 12.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 16 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 15,600 XP
Hard: 23,400 XP
Deadly: 31,200 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 Herald Of Blood?: Herald Of Blood has a Challenge Rating of 12, making it appropriate for parties of level 12.0.
What type of creature is Herald Of Blood?: Herald Of Blood is a Huge Fiend, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Herald Of Blood speak?: Herald Of Blood can communicate in Common, Draconic, Infernal, Void Speech.