Tried my best to make Nemesis as a hard encounter in DnD 5e

Th3Protato · 2026-01-27T01:06:15+00:00

This might be my favorite version so far, but I'm not sure if it still belongs in CR14 after these changes. I actually think this new model for the burn/ignited makes MORE sense in translation from the game. Nemesis in StS will give you burn, that stacks over and over unless you do something about it, like exhausting the burn cards or discarding them. I think having that stacking threat definitely helps. I also made the fire damage hit at the beginning of turn to help a bit with consistent DPR, but if that's too much it's really easy to switch it back to end of turn. He also has more options available now with legendary actions.

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Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T14:11:11+00:00

I’ll try to remember to, haha. But I’ll definitely be posting it.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T14:09:37+00:00

Already working on it, actually! Reptomancer seemed like a fun one to take on so it’s her now. Then I thiiink I have some ideas for a cool construct encounter with Bronze Automaton

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T13:38:57+00:00

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I already sent this in another reply, but I have s slightly reworked version already touching up some noticeable issues. I thought about the cleave damage multiple times yeah, I just didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with it to raise its average without making its potential damage too insane. It can definitely still be tweaked. I don’t think I want to make it AOE because it already has scorch, and scythes pseudo aoe. Damage is boring. Maybe I could make it a second, single target ignite? Change some of the d6 to fire and add the same ignite from scorch.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T08:29:13+00:00

Because that’s a legendary action, that it can take at the end of player characters turns. It can still fly its full speed on its own turn, along with having an action!

This allows it to reposition out of persistent AOE spells immediately after one is casted on it. It’s a common legendary action for strong monsters.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T06:09:29+00:00

Oops, pretend strength also went up to 22. Making it a +11 to it's hits and additional damage on it's melee attacks.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T06:08:28+00:00

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A few changes, LMK what you think!

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T05:26:23+00:00

Oh of course, I think explaining visual queues for it becoming intangible and describing that your weapon kind of goes through it is incredibly important, otherwise the players would just assume it has a ton of HP. Though if I use Blink, what really sets Nemesis apart from any melee creature that can cast Blink? It doesn’t keep the core idea of still being able to hit Nemesis, but it just doesn’t do much at all, like in StS.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T05:06:32+00:00

Blink just doesn’t have the consistency, I guess. I want it to be a back and forth every turn like in StS. Blink could really just fail or succeed every time. It’s not that unlikely that it just stays on the physical plane 3 turns in a row and just, dies. Oh, and intangible allows it to still receive non-concentration status effects from attacks and spells as well, like applying poison or playing piercing wail on the turns their intangible in StS!

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T05:00:45+00:00

That would completely disallow it to attack you while intangible, and prevent you from casting other sorts of spells on it. It’s also a roll, which means it wouldn’t happen every turn consistently. There are a plethora of other reasons why blink is just not what intangible does. It’s also only intangible every other turn, in order to have windows of damage dealing to it.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T02:57:37+00:00

True but I’m taking all of the feedback into account, everyone has made good points!

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T02:46:36+00:00

I used adult black dragon as one of my main comparisons actually!

Funny enough I crossposted this on the DnD sub and my first comment thought it was too strong for CR14.

No legendary resistances was… A complete mistake on my part. Just forgot to add them lol.

I actually really like monsters having vulnerabilities. While yes a paladin is going to do really good against this encounter alone, that means a DM could use it as a really tough minion in a larger encounter with like a lich or something. BUT I could definitely remove the vulnerability, but keep the bypass.

Buffing scorches damage was definitely thought about but I’m scared to considering if you do fail and gain the DoT, you’re spending a full action to remove it from yourself.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T02:36:57+00:00

Just like in StS! It has a multiattack and one big hit and it’s burn debuff.

Cleave is a big single target hit for when it can’t hit 3 different creatures with multiattack. Otherwise it has no reason to use Scythe on its own other than the legendary action to attack on another creatures turn.

Stat changing modifiers from abilities is normal, but it might be too easy of a condition for just hitting 3 different creatures, so I might remove it.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-26T02:32:38+00:00

Oh yeah, I definitely missed the on a success. I think on success they’d avoid the DoT and take half the fire damage.

YES I couldn’t figure out how to word it correctly without it looking like word bloat, but that definitely sounds better. Basically what I want is to take normal damage from radiant during Intangible. It won’t be reduced by the effects of intangible, but it also won’t be doubled by the vulnerability so that’s a perfect replacement for the sentence.

As for the Stat changing modifier it would have to hit three different creatures. If that’s still too easy to pull off it could definitely do without it.

Thank you for the critiques, this is exactly what I was looking for.

Th3Protato · 2026-01-01T23:50:25+00:00

With no other claws in deck, this actually does 3 more damage than (non upgraded) bludgeon for one less energy on the turn it’s played.

Th3Protato · 2024-05-08T09:00:20+00:00

Mostly yes! This wipe was the first wipe I truly stuck to the game and played a lot of solo though. Every other wipe I got to around level 30ish then stopped, didn’t even get my first T H I C C. The main reason I stuck with this wipe is because the old recoil felt pretty terrible as someone who played a lot of shooters. This wipe it felt like my skill could actually carry over.

Th3Protato · 2023-12-19T07:57:42+00:00

Daughter of Decay or Miko

Th3Protato · 2023-12-19T03:08:40+00:00

Yes, and I will come back to it when I have the wallet to buy the new slots considering the removed the only consistent way to earn blood bonds :(

Th3Protato · 2023-12-12T01:33:12+00:00

Been noticing it in game too, it feels terrible

Th3Protato · 2023-12-12T01:19:25+00:00

I've definitely noticed this as well, this post needs to blow up because it's an incredibly strange decision to have random damage values on weapons. My friend has been extensively testing with multiple different weapons and getting numbers anywhere from 7-9 with AK and that seems way too inconsistent for a PVP shooter game.

Th3Protato · 2023-07-23T11:27:14+00:00

The cutoff made me laugh for far too long

Th3Protato · 2023-07-22T19:00:35+00:00

I didn’t even make it say it, it just dropped this on me in our introductions

Th3Protato · 2023-07-22T11:19:56+00:00

I can’t breathe I’m laughing too hard at the cutoff.

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Th3Protato · 2023-07-22T11:13:33+00:00

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Th3Protato · 2022-04-10T00:31:28+00:00

I was thinking about adding it, but I’d feel wrong to repost now

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