Death Knight

CreatureMMp. 472014

Medium undead, chaotic evil

Armor Class
20 (plate armor, shield)
Hit Points
180 (19d8 + 95)
Speed
30 ft.
Challenge
17 (18,000 XP)
STR
20
+5
DEX
11
+0
CON
20
+5
INT
12
+1
WIS
16
+3
CHA
18
+4
Saving Throws
Cha +10, Dex +6, Wis +9
Damage Immunities
necrotic; poison
Condition Immunities
exhaustion; frightened; poisoned
Senses
darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages
Abyssal, Common

Traits

Magic Resistance.

The death knight has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Marshal Undead.

Unless the death knight is incapacitated, it and undead creatures of its choice within 60 feet of it have advantage on saving throws against features that turn undead.

Actions

Multiattack.

The death knight makes three longsword attacks.

Longsword.

Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) slashing damage, or 10 (1d10 + 5) slashing damage if used with two hands, plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage.

Hellfire Orb (1/Day).

The death knight hurls a magical ball of fire that explodes at a point it can see within 120 feet of it. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. The sphere spreads around corners. A creature takes 35 (10d6) fire damage and 35 (10d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Reactions

Parry.

The death knight adds 6 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the death knight must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.

Spellcasting

Spellcasting.

The death knight is a 19th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 18, +10 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following paladin spells prepared:

Raw data
{
  "ac": [
    {
      "ac": 20,
      "from": [
        "{@item plate armor|phb}",
        "{@item shield|phb}"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "cr": "17",
  "hp": {
    "average": 180,
    "formula": "19d8 + 95"
  },
  "cha": 18,
  "con": 20,
  "dex": 11,
  "int": 12,
  "str": 20,
  "wis": 16,
  "name": "Death Knight",
  "page": 47,
  "save": {
    "cha": "+10",
    "dex": "+6",
    "wis": "+9"
  },
  "size": [
    "M"
  ],
  "type": "undead",
  "speed": {
    "walk": 30
  },
  "trait": [
    {
      "name": "Magic Resistance",
      "entries": [
        "The death knight has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects."
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Marshal Undead",
      "entries": [
        "Unless the death knight is {@condition incapacitated}, it and undead creatures of its choice within 60 feet of it have advantage on saving throws against features that turn undead."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "__prop": "monster",
  "action": [
    {
      "name": "Multiattack",
      "entries": [
        "The death knight makes three longsword attacks."
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Longsword",
      "entries": [
        "{@atk mw} {@hit 11} to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. {@h}9 ({@damage 1d8 + 5}) slashing damage, or 10 ({@damage 1d10 + 5}) slashing damage if used with two hands, plus 18 ({@damage 4d8}) necrotic damage."
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Hellfire Orb (1/Day)",
      "entries": [
        "The death knight hurls a magical ball of fire that explodes at a point it can see within 120 feet of it. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a {@dc 18} Dexterity saving throw. The sphere spreads around corners. A creature takes 35 ({@damage 10d6}) fire damage and 35 ({@damage 10d6}) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "immune": [
    "necrotic",
    "poison"
  ],
  "senses": [
    "darkvision 120 ft."
  ],
  "source": "MM",
  "passive": 13,
  "hasFluff": true,
  "hasToken": true,
  "miscTags": [
    "AOE",
    "MLW",
    "MW"
  ],
  "reaction": [
    {
      "name": "Parry",
      "entries": [
        "The death knight adds 6 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the death knight must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "alignment": [
    "C",
    "E"
  ],
  "languages": [
    "Abyssal",
    "Common"
  ],
  "senseTags": [
    "SD"
  ],
  "soundClip": {
    "path": "bestiary/death-knight.opus",
    "type": "internal"
  },
  "traitTags": [
    "Magic Resistance"
  ],
  "actionTags": [
    "Multiattack",
    "Parry"
  ],
  "damageTags": [
    "F",
    "N",
    "S"
  ],
  "reprintedAs": [
    "Death Knight|XMM"
  ],
  "languageTags": [
    "AB",
    "C"
  ],
  "spellcasting": [
    {
      "name": "Spellcasting",
      "type": "spellcasting",
      "spells": {
        "1": {
          "slots": 4,
          "spells": [
            "{@spell command}",
            "{@spell compelled duel}",
            "{@spell searing smite}"
          ]
        },
        "2": {
          "slots": 3,
          "spells": [
            "{@spell hold person}",
            "{@spell magic weapon}"
          ]
        },
        "3": {
          "slots": 3,
          "spells": [
            "{@spell dispel magic}",
            "{@spell elemental weapon}"
          ]
        },
        "4": {
          "slots": 3,
          "spells": [
            "{@spell banishment}",
            "{@spell staggering smite}"
          ]
        },
        "5": {
          "slots": 2,
          "spells": [
            "{@spell destructive wave} (necrotic)"
          ]
        }
      },
      "ability": "cha",
      "headerEntries": [
        "The death knight is a 19th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save {@dc 18}, {@hit 10} to hit with spell attacks). It has the following paladin spells prepared:"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "attachedItems": [
    "longsword|phb"
  ],
  "hasFluffImages": true,
  "conditionImmune": [
    "exhaustion",
    "frightened",
    "poisoned"
  ],
  "damageTagsSpell": [
    "A",
    "C",
    "F",
    "L",
    "N",
    "R",
    "T",
    "Y"
  ],
  "referenceSources": [
    "AATM",
    "BGDIA",
    "BMT",
    "CM",
    "CoA",
    "DC",
    "DIP",
    "DSotDQ",
    "EGW",
    "GoS",
    "SatO",
    "TCE",
    "VEoR",
    "WDMM"
  ],
  "spellcastingTags": [
    "CP"
  ],
  "savingThrowForced": [
    "dexterity"
  ],
  "conditionInflictSpell": [
    "incapacitated",
    "paralyzed",
    "prone"
  ],
  "savingThrowForcedSpell": [
    "charisma",
    "constitution",
    "wisdom"
  ]
}