Death Knight Aspirant
Monster Manual (2025) p. 93
- Size
- Small
- Type
- undead
- Alignment
- chaotic evil
- AC
- 20
- Initiative
- 4
- Hit Points
- 178 (21d8+84)
- Speed
- walk 30 ft.
- Saving Throws
- Wis +5, Dex +4
- Immunities
- necrotic, poison
- Condition Immunities
- exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
- Senses
- darkvision 120 ft.
- Passive Perception
- 11
- Languages
- Abyssal, Common
- Challenge
- 11
- Lineage
- Death Knight
- Environment
- any
Traits
Proficiency Bonus
+4
Treasure
Armaments: The monster's treasure hoard features magic items with the noted theme. The Dungeon Master's Guide details treasure hoards appropriate for each theme.
Size
Small, Medium
Magic Resistance
The aspirant has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Marshal Undead
Undead creatures of the aspirant's choice (excluding itself) in a 60-foot Emanation originating from it have Advantage on attack rolls and saving throws. It can't use this trait if it has the Incapacitated condition.
Actions
Multiattack
The aspirant makes three Dread Blade attacks.
Dread Blade
Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 5 ft. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) Slashing damage plus 10 (3d6) Necrotic damage.
Hellfire Orb (Recharge 5-6)
Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 15, each creature in a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point the aspirant can see within 120 feet of itself. Failure: 21 (6d6) Fire damage plus 21 (6d6) Necrotic damage. Success: Half damage.
recharge
D5
Spellcasting
The aspirant casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15):
- At will: Phantom Steed
- 1/day each: Destructive Wave (Necrotic), Dispel Magic
Reactions
Parry
Trigger: The aspirant is hit by a melee attack roll while holding a weapon. Response: The aspirant adds 4 to its AC against that attack, possibly causing it to miss.
Spells
Phantom Steed [5.5e], Destructive Wave [5.5e], Dispel Magic [5.5e]
Other data
description
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.
Death Knight Aspirant: When the leader of a villainous order rises as a death knight, their wicked devotees might join them in their cursed existence as death knight aspirants. These followers bear a measure of their leader's power and serve as they did in life, obediently following the death knight's decrees and heralding its terrible will.