Death Knight
Source: Monster Manual (2024) p. 92, FRHoF
Death Knights
Haunted Commanders of Unliving Legions
Champions of evil, death knights are armor-clad, skeletal warlords. Combining devastating martial prowess and blasphemous magic, these undying tyrants lead unholy legions against the living or brood in cursed citadels. Every death knight is haunted by a legacy of tragedy and dishonor that drives it to commit greater evils.
Statblock
"name": "Death Knight (XMM)"
"size": "Small or Medium"
"type": "undead"
"alignment": "Chaotic Evil"
"ac": !!int "20"
"hp": !!int "199"
"hit_dice": "21d8 + 105"
"modifier": !!int "12"
"stats":
- !!int "20"
- !!int "11"
- !!int "20"
- !!int "12"
- !!int "16"
- !!int "18"
"speed": "30 ft."
"saves":
- "dexterity": !!int "6"
- "wisdom": !!int "9"
"damage_immunities": "necrotic, poison"
"condition_immunities": "[exhaustion](../../../Compendium/rules/conditions#exhaustion),\
\ [frightened](../../../Compendium/rules/conditions#frightened), [poisoned](../../../Compendium/rules/conditions#poisoned)"
"senses": "[Darkvision](../../../Compendium/rules/senses#darkvision) 120 ft., passive Perception\
\ 13"
"languages": "Abyssal, Common"
"cr": "17"
"traits":
- "desc": "If the death knight fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead."
"name": "Legendary Resistance (3/Day)"
- "desc": "The death knight has [Advantage](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/advantage-xphb)\
\ on saving throws against spells and other magical effects."
"name": "Magic Resistance"
- "desc": "Undead creatures of the death knight's choice (excluding itself) in a\
\ 60-foot [Emanation](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/emanation-area-of-effect-xphb)\
\ originating from it have [Advantage](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/advantage-xphb)\
\ on attack rolls and saving throws. It can't use this trait if it has the [Incapacitated](../../../Compendium/rules/conditions#incapacitated)\
\ condition."
"name": "Marshal Undead"
- "desc": "If the death knight is destroyed before it atones for its evil, it gains\
\ a new body in 1d10 days, reviving with all its [Hit Points](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/hit-points-xphb).\
\ The new body appears in a location significant to the death knight."
"name": "Undead Restoration"
"actions":
- "desc": "The death knight makes three Dread Blade attacks."
"name": "Multiattack"
- "desc": "*Melee Attack Roll:* +11, reach 5 ft. *Hit:* 12 (2d6 + 5) Slashing\
\ damage plus 13 (3d8) Necrotic damage."
"name": "Dread Blade"
- "desc": "*Dexterity Saving Throw:* DC 18, each creature in a 20-foot-radius [Sphere](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/sphere-area-of-effect-xphb)\
\ centered on a point the death knight can see within 120 feet. *Failure:* 35\
\ (10d6) Fire damage plus 35 (10d6) Necrotic damage. *Success:* Half damage."
"name": "Hellfire Orb (Recharge 5-6)"
- "desc": "The death knight casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material\
\ components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 18):\n\
\n**At will:** [Command](../../../Compendium/spells/command-xphb), [Phantom Steed](../../../Compendium/spells/phantom-steed-xphb)\n\
\n**2/day each:** [Destructive Wave](../../../Compendium/spells/destructive-wave-xphb)\
\ (Necrotic), [Dispel Magic](../../../Compendium/spells/dispel-magic-xphb)"
"name": "Spellcasting"
"reactions":
- "desc": "Trigger: The death knight is hit by a melee attack roll while holding\
\ a weapon. _Response:_ The death knight adds 6 to its AC against that attack,\
\ possibly causing it to miss."
"name": "Parry"
"legendary_description": "Legendary Action Uses: 3. Immediately after another creature's\
\ turn, the death knight can expend a use to take one of the following actions.\
\ The death knight regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns."
"legendary_actions":
- "desc": "The death knight uses Spellcasting to cast [Command](../../../Compendium/spells/command-xphb).\
\ The death knight can't take this action again until the start of its next\
\ turn."
"name": "Dread Authority"
- "desc": "*Constitution Saving Throw:* DC 18, one creature the death knight can\
\ see within 120 feet. *Failure:* 17 (5d6) Necrotic damage, and the target's\
\ [Hit Point](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/hit-points-xphb) maximum decreases\
\ by an amount equal to the damage taken. *Failure or Success:* The death knight\
\ can't take this action again until the start of its next turn."
"name": "Fell Word"
- "desc": "The death knight moves up to half its [Speed](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/speed-xphb),\
\ and it makes one Dread Blade attack."
"name": "Lunge"
"source":
- "XMM"
- "FRHoF"
"image": "Compendium/bestiary/undead/token/death-knight-xmm.webp"
