monster

Beholder

CR 13

Large Aberration, Lawful Evil

Reveal Stat Block

Armor Class

Hit Points

190 (20d10 + 80)

Speed

5 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)

str

dex

con

int

wis

cha

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day, or 4/Day in Lair).If the beholder fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

Multiattack.The beholder uses Eye Rays three times.

Bite.m 8, reach 5 ft. ({@damage 3d6 + 3) Piercing damage.

Eye Rays.The beholder randomly shoots one of the following magical rays at a target it can see within 120 feet of itself (roll 1d10; reroll if the beholder has already used that ray during this turn): {'type':'item','name':'1: Charm Ray','entries':['wis 16. 13 ({@damage 3d8) Psychic damage, and the target has the Charmed|XPHB condition for 1 hour or until it takes damage. Half damage only.'] {'type':'item','name':'2: Paralyzing Ray','entries':['con 16. The target has the {'type':'item','name':'3: Fear Ray','entries':['wis 16. 14 ({@damage 4d6) Psychic damage, and the target has the Frightened|XPHB condition until the end of its next turn. Half damage only.'] {'type':'item','name':'4: Slowing Ray','entries':['con 16. 18 ({@damage 4d8) Necrotic damage. Until the end of the target's next turn, the target's Speed|XPHB is halved; the target can't take Reactions; and it can take either an action or a Bonus Action|XPHB on its turn, not both. Half damage only.'] {'type':'item','name':'5: Enervation Ray','entries':['con 16. 13 ({@damage 3d8) Poison damage, and the target has the Poisoned|XPHB condition until the end of its next turn. While Poisoned|XPHB, the target can't regain Hit Points|XPHB. Half damage only.'] {'type':'item','name':'6: Telekinetic Ray','entries':['str 16 (the target succeeds automatically if it is Gargantuan). The beholder moves the target up to 30 feet in any direction. The target has the {'type':'item','name':'7: Sleep Ray','entries':['wis 16 (the target succeeds automatically if it is a Construct or an Undead). The target has the {'type':'item','name':'8: Petrification Ray','entries':['con 16. 1 The target has the Restrained|XPHB condition and repeats the save at the end of its next turn if it is still Restrained|XPHB, ending the effect on itself on a success. 2 The target has the Petrified|XPHB condition instead of the Restrained|XPHB condition.']} {'type':'item','name':'9: Disintegration Ray','entries':['dex 16. 36 ( {'type':'item','name':'10: Death Ray','entries':['dex 16. 55 (

Legendary Actions.The creature can take 3 legendary actions...

Chomp.The beholder makes two Bite attacks.

Glare.The beholder uses Eye Rays.

Beholder

Infamous Many-Eyed Tyrant

Beholders—also known as eye tyrants—number among the most notorious inhabitants of the Underdark. Few creatures in the multiverse are as loathed and feared as these maniacal horrors.

A beholder's distinctive, globular body is dominated by an oversize maw and a gigantic central eye. Ten stalks ending in smaller eyes crown its form. From each of these eleven eyes, a beholder can unleash a different magic power. The central eye can deactivate magic, while the smaller eyes emit rays that inflict various dooms—such as petrifying creatures, disintegrating them, slaying them outright, or other effects.

Beholders possess utterly alien minds. Most exhibit paranoid, narcissistic, and megalomaniacal tendencies, and they act on agendas beyond human reasoning. While some keep to themselves, others force weaker creatures into their service. Still others cultivate grand ambitions, creating networks of minions to manipulate groups, settlements, and whole nations in the Underdark and sometimes the surface world.

Few creatures loathe beholders more than other beholders. Every beholder views itself as the physical and intellectual pinnacle of its species. To them, all other beholders are aberrant rivals to be dominated or destroyed. Conflicts between beholders can last for decades and lay waste to vast subterranean realms.

Beholders are a particular threat to adventurers because both gravitate toward mysterious ruins and sites of great magic. Many beholders collect the magic items and petrified|XPHB bodies of heroes they've defeated, displaying them as trophies.

Beholder Lairs

Beholders lurk in cavern complexes they've carved using their eye rays deep in the Underdark or in lairs created for them by their servants.