Sanctioner
Huge • Celestial • Lawful Good
Armor Class 18
Hit Points 252 (24d12 + 96)
Speed 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
Initiative +8 (18)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 16 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 20 (+5) | 22 (+6) | 20 (+5) |
Skills Investigation +10, Perception +16
Damage Resistances radiant
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, frightened
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 26
Languages all; telepathy 120 ft.
CR 15 (XP 13,000; PB +5)
Divine Awareness. The sanctioner knows if it hears a lie.
Eternal Vigil. The sanctioner can't be surprised.
Sanctioned Space. The area in a 30-foot emanation originating from the sanctioner is difficult terrain for creatures of the sanctioner’s choice.
Magic Resistance. The sanctioner has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Unusual Nature. The sanctioner doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The sanctioner makes four Eye Beam attacks and uses its Sanction.
Eye Beam. Ranged Spell Attack: +12, reach 90 ft. Hit: 13 (3d8) radiant damage. Additionally, the next attack roll by a creature other than the sanctioner against the target is made with advantage. This effect lasts until the start of the target’s next turn.
Sanction. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 20, one creature within 90 feet of the sanctioner that it can see. Failure: 26 (4d12) psychic damage, and the sanctioner can inflict one of the following effects until the end of the target’s next turn. The target can choose not gain an additional effect, in which case it takes an extra 15 force damage that bypasses resistance or immunity.
- The target can take only one thing: action, bonus action, or movement.
- When the target casts a spell, it must expend a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s level (without gaining any additional benefits from upcasting), or the spell fails.
- When the target makes an attack roll, it must expend one hit die, or the roll is considered a 1.
- When the target makes an attack roll, casts a spell, or uses an ability, it can only target itself or the closest other creature it can see.
- At the start of its turn, the target must use its reaction to move up to its speed in a direction of the sanctioner’s choice.
BONUS ACTIONS
Additional Penalty. Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 20, one creature affected by the sanctioner’s Sanction. Failure: The sanctioner inflicts an additional different effect of that ability.
REACTIONS
Denied (Recharge 5-6). Trigger: A creature within 60 feet of the sanctioner that it can see takes damage. Response: The target takes no damage from that damage instance.
Sanctioner
Huge • Celestial • Lawful Good
Armor Class 17
Hit Points 199 (21d12 + 63)
Speed 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
Initiative +6 (16)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) |
Skills Investigation +8, Perception +13
Damage Resistances radiant
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, frightened
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 23
Languages all; telepathy 120 ft.
CR 12 (XP 8,400; PB +4)
Divine Awareness. The sanctioner knows if it hears a lie.
Eternal Vigil. The sanctioner can't be surprised.
Sanctioned Space. The area in a 30-foot emanation originating from the sanctioner is difficult terrain for creatures of the sanctioner’s choice.
Magic Resistance. The sanctioner has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Unusual Nature. The sanctioner doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The sanctioner makes four Eye Beam attacks and uses its Sanction.
Eye Beam. Ranged Spell Attack: +10, reach 90 ft. Hit: 9 (2d8) radiant damage. Additionally, the next attack roll by a creature other than the sanctioner against the target is made with advantage. This effect lasts until the start of the target’s next turn.
Sanction. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 18, one creature within 90 feet of the sanctioner that it can see. Failure: 19 (3d12) psychic damage, and the sanctioner can inflict one of the following effects until the end of the target’s next turn. The target can choose not gain an additional effect, in which case it takes an extra 15 force damage that bypasses resistance or immunity.
- The target can take only one thing: action, bonus action, or movement.
- When the target casts a spell, it must expend a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s level (without gaining any additional benefits from upcasting), or the spell fails.
- When the target makes an attack roll, it must expend one hit die, or the roll is considered a 1.
- When the target makes an attack roll, casts a spell, or uses an ability, it can only target itself or the closest other creature it can see.
- At the start of its turn, the target must use its reaction to move up to its speed in a direction of the sanctioner’s choice.
BONUS ACTIONS
Additional Penalty. Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 18, one creature affected by the sanctioner’s Sanction. Failure: The sanctioner inflicts an additional different effect of that ability.
REACTIONS
Denied (Recharge 6). Trigger: A creature within 30 feet of the sanctioner that it can see takes damage. Response: The target takes no damage from that damage instance.
Sanctioner
Huge • Celestial • Lawful Good
Armor Class 19
Hit Points 299 (26d12 + 130)
Speed 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
Initiative +10 (20)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) | 20 (+5) | 22 (+6) | 24 (+7) | 22 (+6) |
Skills Investigation +12, Perception +19
Damage Resistances radiant
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, frightened
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 29
Languages all; telepathy 120 ft.
CR 18 (XP 20,000; PB +6)
Divine Awareness. The sanctioner knows if it hears a lie.
Eternal Vigil. The sanctioner can't be surprised.
Sanctioned Space. The area in a 30-foot emanation originating from the sanctioner is difficult terrain for creatures of the sanctioner’s choice.
Magic Resistance. The sanctioner has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Unusual Nature. The sanctioner doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The sanctioner makes four Eye Beam attacks and uses its Sanction.
Eye Beam. Ranged Spell Attack: +14, reach 90 ft. Hit: 16 (3d10) radiant damage. Additionally, the next attack roll by a creature other than the sanctioner against the target is made with advantage. This effect lasts until the start of the target’s next turn.
Sanction. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 22, one creature within 90 feet of the sanctioner that it can see. Failure: 32 (5d12) psychic damage, and the sanctioner can inflict one of the following effects until the end of the target’s next turn. The target can choose not gain an additional effect, in which case it takes an extra 15 force damage that bypasses resistance or immunity.
- The target can take only one thing: action, bonus action, or movement.
- When the target casts a spell, it must expend a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s level (without gaining any additional benefits from upcasting), or the spell fails.
- When the target makes an attack roll, it must expend one hit die, or the roll is considered a 1.
- When the target makes an attack roll, casts a spell, or uses an ability, it can only target itself or the closest other creature it can see.
- At the start of its turn, the target must use its reaction to move up to its speed in a direction of the sanctioner’s choice.
BONUS ACTIONS
Additional Penalty. Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 22, one creature affected by the sanctioner’s Sanction. Failure: The sanctioner inflicts an additional different effect of that ability.
REACTIONS
Denied (Recharge 5-6). Trigger: A creature within 60 feet of the sanctioner that it can see takes damage. Response: The target takes no damage from that damage instance.
QUICK REFERENCE
USING MONSTER VARIANTS
Monster variants allow the GM to adjust encounters to better match the party’s strength, narrative needs, or world-building logic. A weaker variant may represent a juvenile, wounded, or lesser specimen, while a stronger variant can serve as a leader, champion, ancient creature, or apex predator.
Variants can be used to fine-tune difficulty without changing the core identity of the monster, making them ideal for scaling encounters, reinforcing hierarchy within a faction, or creating memorable boss-style enemies. You can even use the same stat block but different variants in the same encounter if you want.
Design Note. Each monster is primarily balanced around its normal version. Weaker and stronger variants are derived adjustments and may not always preserve every tactical nuance or “feel” of the original creature. GMs are encouraged to review variants carefully and adjust abilities or tactics as needed to best suit their table.